An Overview of Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuel is an umbrella term used to refer to hydrocarbons like petroleum, coal, natural gas, tar sands which are found on the earth's surface. The fuels were formed from the fossilized remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago. The remains were then pushed deeper and deeper into the earth's crust where they were subjected to intense heat and pressure. Additionally, these fuels are also termed as a non-renewable source of energy as they are finite. The effect of fossil fuels has been explained below.
Types of Fossil Fuels
The three conventional fuels and their environmental impacts have been explained below.
Natural Gas
It is a gaseous form of hydrocarbon which is non-toxic, odourless, and colourless. It has methane as its major component. They are generally found near other fossil fuel reserves like coal and petroleum. However, in certain cases, gas reservoirs also exist without any oil. This is known as dry gas.
Natural Gas in its purest form cannot be used. Instead, it is processed into much cleaner fuel for mass consumption. During processing, many other gases are also extracted as by-products. This includes nitrogen, propane, ethane, carbon dioxide, which can be utilized for other purposes.
Among all the other fossil fuels, natural gas is the cleanest. Compared to coal, it releases around half of the carbon dioxide and only one-tenth of air pollutants when it is used for electricity generation. Consequently, the effect of fossil fuels like natural gas on the environment is also less.
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is another fossil fuel that is found buried deep beneath the earth's surface. The word Petroleum was derived from the two Latin words 'Petra' which means rock and 'oleum' meaning oil. Much of the Petroleum found in the world today formed during the Mesozoic period when plankton, algae, and other living organisms got buried deep under the seafloor.
This fuel whose main components are carbon and hydrogen holds significant influence as a world energy source. Petroleum is used to manufacture several essential objects that we require on a day to day basis. Accordingly, the effect of fossil fuel like petroleum on the environment is also the highest.
This includes products like gasoline, plastics, paints, detergents, dyes, pesticides, rubber, and the likes. Indeed due to its high demand in almost every country of the world, it is sometimes termed as liquid gold. Some of the major Petroleum producing countries include the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, which constitute around 40% of the world's petroleum supply.
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Coal
This fossil fuel was formed from the remains of plants and vegetation in swamp areas and peat bogs that got buried deep under the earth’s crust due to tectonic plate movement and other natural processes. Due to extreme heat and pressure, during the burial process, the remains of vegetation were first converted to peat and then finally into coal.
This process of conversion of vegetable matter to peat to anthracite is known as coalification. It is a crucial process in the sense that many of the physical and chemical properties of coal are determined during this process which is known as the ‘rank’ of coal. Based on this rank, coal can be subdivided into several types – Anthracite, Bituminous, Subbituminous, and Lignite.
Apart from coalification, several other factors determine the quality of coal. This includes the following.
Depth at which the coal was buried
The temperature and pressure of the depth
The time duration of the coal formation in a particular deposit
Vegetation type
Did you know?
Coal formation first began during the Carboniferous Period of the Palaeozoic era, which lasted from 360 million to 290 million years ago. It is also known as the first coal age.
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Effect of Fossil Fuels on the Environment
Conventional sources of energy fossil fuels are one of the world's biggest sources of energy. It is used to generate electricity, heat homes, run vehicles, power industries, as well as manufacture many essential products.
As such, our life as we know it is heavily dependent on these fuels – Petroleum, coal, natural gas.
However, like everything, it comes at a price. The harmful effects of fuels have had a significant impact on our environment in several ways.
Harmful Effects of Fossil Fuels on the Ecosystem
First and foremost drilling in sea beds and coal mining significantly impacts the natural ecosystem of a particular place. For instance, when new coal mines are found, forests, grasslands, and even villages are cleared in most cases to build roads for smooth transportation of coals. This disturbs the everyday lifestyle of not only human beings living in that area but also of animals and birds residing in that particular area.
Effect of Fossil Fuel on Human Health
Digging for natural gas and oil around human habitat may have a severe health impact on nearby communities. For instance, due to some unforeseen damage, the air or drinking water may get contaminated, resulting in fatalities or disabilities.
Environmental Impact of Fossil Fuels
The use of the latest technology to derive Petroleum from the sea bed reduces groundwater level and results in land degradation. Burning fossil fuels affects the air too by creating pollution.
The Harmful Effect of Burning Fuel
Lastly, fossil fuels when burned emit harmful carbon and other poisonous gases that trap heat, thereby accelerating global warming and other climate changes. The oceans which absorb most human-made carbon have become more acidic compared to at the start of the industrial revolution.
Lastly, it is essential to remember that these fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy. This means they are not abundant in nature. If we use them without paying any heed to sustainable consumption, then they will get exhausted quickly, and there will not be fuel left for future generations.
So besides responsible usage, it is now high time that we look for other renewable sources of energy to meet our needs and to avoid the toxic effect of fossil fuels.
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FAQs on Fossil Fuels
1. What exactly are fossil fuels, and why do they have that name?
Fossil fuels are natural substances formed deep within the Earth from the remains of ancient living organisms. They are called 'fossil' fuels because they are made from the fossilised remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. We burn them as 'fuel' to release a large amount of energy for electricity, heat, or transport.
2. How are fossil fuels like coal and petroleum formed?
The formation of fossil fuels is a very slow process. It begins when dead plants and animals get buried under layers of sediment like mud and sand. Over millions of years, intense heat and pressure from the layers above cook these remains without oxygen. This process, called anaerobic decomposition, transforms plant matter into coal and tiny marine organisms into oil and natural gas.
3. What are the main types of fossil fuels and what are they used for?
The three main types of fossil fuels are:
- Coal: A solid, rock-like fuel primarily used to generate electricity in power plants and in some industrial processes like steel manufacturing.
- Petroleum (Crude Oil): A liquid fuel that is refined into petrol, diesel, and jet fuel for transportation. It is also used to make plastics, medicines, and fertilisers.
- Natural Gas: A gaseous fuel mainly used for heating homes, cooking, and generating electricity with lower emissions than coal or oil.
4. Why are fossil fuels considered a non-renewable source of energy?
Fossil fuels are called non-renewable because they cannot be replaced within a human lifetime. The process of their formation takes millions of years, but we are consuming them at a much faster rate. Once we use up the existing reserves, they are essentially gone for good, unlike renewable sources like sunlight or wind.
5. What are the main environmental problems caused by using fossil fuels?
Burning fossil fuels releases harmful substances into the atmosphere, causing several environmental issues. The most significant problems are:
- Air Pollution: Releases pollutants like soot and sulphur dioxide.
- Global Warming: Produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas that traps heat and warms the planet.
- Acid Rain: Gasses like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix with rainwater to form acid rain, which damages forests, buildings, and aquatic life.
6. How do fossil fuels differ from renewable energy sources like solar and wind power?
The main difference lies in their origin and availability. Fossil fuels are finite resources extracted from the Earth, and their use causes significant pollution. In contrast, renewable energy sources are inexhaustible or can be replenished naturally. They harness ongoing natural processes like sunlight (solar), wind, and water (hydro) and are generally much cleaner for the environment.
7. What is fracking and how does it relate to fossil fuels?
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a drilling technique used to extract natural gas or oil that is trapped in deep layers of shale rock. The process involves injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals into the rock to create cracks, or fractures. These cracks allow the trapped gas and oil to flow out so they can be collected.
