This blog is a complete Explanation of Burning of Fossil Fuels. It defines Fossil Fuels along with their Main Types. It also elaborates Advantages, Disadvantages and Uses of Fossil Fuels. This also contains detailed description of Environmental and Health Effects of Fossil Fuel Burning.
1. What does Fossil Fuel mean?
Fossil Fuel is any organic material contain carbon compounds or hydrocarbon compounds that is formed naturally under the Earth’s surface. These are remains of Living organisms that are used as fuel.
Fossil is a material that is basically remain of plants, animals or microorganisms that lived on Earth before millions of years. They degraded under the pressure of climate or land degradation. With passing years they are buried under the surface of earth and with high temperature and pressure they are transformed into Fuels that can be source of energy in future. Most of the heating processes, in industries and in normal life, depends upon the utilization of Fossil Fuels. These are best for using as heating system by burning them. But the fossil fuels are limited and they cannot restore on its own in a short period of time.
These are Non-renewable in nature and cannot be restored naturally in a short time like Renewable resources. This is the reason, the burning of Fossil Fuels is a Non-sustainable way to produce energy. They produce in millions of years and humans are using them with great speed and very frequently. This procedure itself is exploitation of Natural Resources that are formed in million of years and they need millions of years to restore once again.
2. What are some main Types of Fossil Fuels?
Fossil Fuels are present in wide variety that humans are utilizing for Industrial Processes and for routine use. Following are some of the most Main Types of Fossil Fuels:
i. Petroleum:
Petroleum, also known as Oil, is a black or green color liquid. It is a naturally occurring liquid that we can refine into Fuel. It is mainly formed by remains of ancient Marine organisms and it exists in different Geographical Locations. Petroleum is frequently used in the Industrial Processes and Transportation. It is also a big contributor in Industrial Pollution.
ii. Natural Gas:
Natural Gas is a naturally occurring gas beneath the Earth’s surface that mainly contains Methane and small amounts of Hydrocarbons in it. It is best option for heating purposes such as Cooking, Electricity generation, Heating things and much more. We also use it as fuel for certain Vehicles. Natural Gas is also a huge contributor in Industrial Pollution.
iii. Coal:
Coal is a sedimentary rock that is found under the Earth’s surface. It is a combustible material that contains Carbon and it is used for heating and producing energy out of the Heat. It contains other materials including Nitrogen, Sulfur and Oxygen. This is suitable for burning and heating purposes. Coal contributes in deterioration of Land, Water and Air as well.
iv. Orimulsion:
It is a synthetic Fuel derived by the Fossil Fuel bitumen, that is used as energy source for producing Electricity and other forms of energy. It is a replacement of heavy oil and coal fuels. This fuel contains nickel, vanadium and sulfur with a high sulfur content than gas and coal. This fuel is useful for the Industrial Processes but, it is also a contributor to Industrial Pollution.
These are 4 main Types of Fossil Fuels used in different processes. This blog contains information about Burning of Fossil Fuels.
3. What do you know about Burning of Fossil Fuels?
Burning of fossil fuels is common from the Stone age and ancient times of Human Civilization. People use to burn leaves, wood, fuels etc. for cooking, producing useful things and for many other purposes. The process of burning of fossil fuels have shown a lot of benefits and advantages to the people on Earth. But it does not have any good impact on the Environment and Natural systems of Earth. After the start of industrial era, the fossil fuel burning turned into high level burning in the Factories, Industries and Manufacturing stations. This cast a huge addition in the Emissions that emits by Fossil Fuel Burning. Tons of CO2, NOx, SOX and particulate matter starts adding into the atmosphere every year.
This cause the acceleration of Environmental Problems and deterioration of the Environment. Many Green House Gases starts adding into the Environment Anthropogenically. This elevates the Impacts of Climate Change, Global Warming, Industrial Pollution, Water Pollution, Land Pollution and mainly Air Pollution in the Environment. As the fossil fuels are limited and they emits very harmful Air Pollutants into the Air, so we can say that Fossil Fuel Burning is an Environmental Problem itself. This blog is all about Fossil Fuel Burning.
4. What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Fossil Fuel Burning?
Advantages
Disadvantages
1. Fossil Fuels are a Cheap source of Energy and are easily available in Nature.
1. Fossil Fuels are Non-renewable source of Energy and restores in millions of years.
2. These are reliable source of Energy with amazing outputs.
2. We should be very careful in utilization of Fossil Fuels because they can lead to sudden disasters.
3. Their transport is very easy if we compare it with other Energy sources.
3. Their burning adds tons of Green House Gases and Major Air Pollutants into the Environment.
4. Fossil Fuels creates many jobs for people such as starting from mining of fossil fuels to Industrial Processes.
4. Fossil Fuels utilize a huge amount of water for their working and pollute that water during the process.
5. They produce huge amount of electricity and they have a great potential to generate electricity.
5. These are biggest contributor of Carbon dioxide emissions from the industries that leads to Climate Change and Global Warming.
6. Fossil Fuels are naturally present in the Environment and we do not create them.
6. Their Burning deteriorate Land, Water and Air at the same time and is a big cause of Pollution.
5. What are the Uses of Fossil Fuel Burning?
Following is the list of uses of Fossil Fuels:
- We use Fossil Fuels for Burning, Heating and cooking purposes at home.
- These are utilized in the production of Electricity.
- Fossil fuels are a significant part of Vehicles and Transportation.
- The burning of fossil fuels provide different facilities in the Industrial Processes such as production of different products, cosmetics, paints, computers etc.
- These are best for Incineration and Combustion processes.
- They are reliable and suitable materials for Heating processes so they are used in almost every sector for heat production.
These are some of the major uses of Fossil Fuel Burning. This blog is all about Burning of Fossil Fuel.
6. What are the Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuel Burning?
Fossil Fuel Burning can be beneficial for Economic and Developmental ways, but unfortunately it is not beneficial for the Environment and we consider it as an Environmental Problem. Following are some Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuel Burning:
1) Air Pollution:
As we all know Fossil Fuel contains Carbon and Hydrocarbons as the main building blocks. Many of them also have Nitrogen, Sulfur and Oxygen. Almost all the constituents of Fossil Fuels contributes in the formation of Major Air Pollutants such as CO, CO2, NOx and SOX. These gases are frequently added into the Environment during Fossil Fuel Burning. Some of them are Green House Gases, while some are even more dangerous Air Pollutants. The industrial Areas around the world have a very bad Air Quality because of addition of Harmful Gases into the air. This is the main cause of Air Pollution and Industrial Pollution.
2) Climate Change:
The gases that adds as the result of Fossil Fuel Burning into the atmosphere, leads to the alteration in natural systems and Environmental Composition. As the gas emitted in the most concentration is Carbon Dioxide, that is a warming gas and is the biggest contributor in Global Warming. These gases traps Heat and cause heating of the Earth’s Atmosphere. In the same way this heating cause the Melting of Glacier, Extreme Weather events, Sea Level Rise and many other such Climate Change Impacts occurs. This is the reason Fossil Fuel Burning play a significant role in the occurrence of Climate Change and also Global Warming.
3) Smog and Acid Rain:
As these Air Pollutants frequently adds into the Earth’s atmosphere, they combines with the clouds to form Acid Rain. Acid rain is the mixture of harmful gases and water into the sky and then it falls on the surface of the Earth through Precipitation. This is very dangerous Environmental condition that can cause degradation and damage to the Environment. In the same way, when the winter season start to arrive, these pollutants are accumulates with droplets and suspends into the Air and form Smog. This Smog is very injurious for Environment and Biodiversity on Earth. All these extreme Environmental Conditions occurs as a result of Fossil Fuel Burning.
4) Land Degradation:
The sites where there is construction of Industries. The places near to that locations faces Environmental Degradation at great levels. There are many reasons behind that, first reason is the Industrial Wastes that are disposed inefficiently in the nearby locations cause Land degradation and Nutrient loss. Second reason is the deterioration of Air Quality and accumulation of Harmful Air Pollutants over a geographical Area. These phenomena adds toxic pollutants into Air, Water and Land. In this land may lose its fertility and become barren in few years. This is why Industrial Areas are Toxic for the Environment and Fossil Fuel Burning is the most significant reason behind this condition.
5) Water Pollution:
Most of the industries in Developing Countries are very irresponsible in the case of Disposing their Industrial Wastes efficiently. The inappropriate discharges of chemicals and toxic solvents from the Industries cause addition of these solvents and chemicals directly into the Water Bodies. This exposure cause Water Pollution of the whole water body and the water is not able to use and irrigate the land. The evaporation of that water takes these pollutants into the atmosphere. Water Pollution results from the leftovers of the Fossil Fuel Burning and when they are exposed to the Environment they cast very bad impacts on the Environment and Health of Living Organisms.
These are some Main Environmental Impacts of Fossil Fuel Burning. This blog is all about Burning of Fossil Fuels.
7. What are the Health Effects of Fossil Fuel Burning?
Following is the List of Health Effects of Fossil Fuel Burning:
- The emissions from Fossil Fuel Burning leads to the occurrence of Respiratory Disorders into the Human Being sand Animals.
- These emissions also cause Extreme Weather Events such as Storm, Hail, Smog and Acid Rain.
- Its effects can even lead to Cancer, Heart Diseases and Premature Deaths.
- Living near Polluted Water and in Air Pollution can lead to Allergies, Irritation and Skin diseases.
- Fossil Fuel related pollution leads to millions of deaths of people every year around the globe.
- Heat-related illnesses and Infectious diseases are common effects of Fossil Fuel Burning.
These are some of the Health Effects of Fossil Fuels among Living Organisms. This blog is all about Burning of Fossil Fuels.
8. Conclusion:
Fossil Fuels are an important part of our Industrial Processes of Present era. This burning is beneficial and suitable for Economic and Manufacturing purposes. But is cast very bad impacts on the Environment as it deteriorates the Air, Land and Water Quality in the Environment. And it is a big source of Industrial Pollution. This blog discusses the Uses, Advantages, Disadvantages, Environment and Health Effects of Fossil Fuel Burning in detail.
We should be aware of the consequences of the Fossil Fuel Burning that is common on Industrial Levels. It is our duty to reduce or eliminate Fossil Fuel burning in order to protect our Environment or Save the Earth. We should work on Sustainable and Eco-friendly alternatives instead of Fossil Fuels in order to reduce Air Pollution and Environmental Degradation.
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