buiteNLand summary CH3
3.1 - the earth is warming up!
Facts
here are some facts about global warming that almost all climate
scientists agree on:
- the earth is warming up
- greenhouse gasses heat up the earth
- the chance of catastrophes or tipping points is not high. a tipping
point is a change in the climate after which it’s no longer possible to
return
- global warming will continue even if all greenhouse gas emissions
are stopped today
- the effects of global warming are already being felt
causes
Due to the enhanced greenhouse effect it will almost be 1 degree hotter
on earth in 2018 than 140 years ago. Of the last sixteen years, fourteen
were warmer than ever measured. one hundred businesses account for
71% off CO2 emissions.
consequences
In the past everything had to be done with muscle. but since the industrial
revolution, there have been machines that draw energy from burning
harmful fuels. By emitting greenhouse gasses, we are changing the
structure of the atmosphere. as a result of global warming:
- the sea level rises. This is because glaciers and ice caps melt.
- the weather becomes more extreme.
- agricultural yields fall in areas where it is becoming drier, resulting
in hunger and malnutrition
- the navigability of many rivers is reducing.
because of all these consequences, the number of climate migrants
worldwide will increase, especially in LEDCs
, 3.2 - the transition to sustainable energy sources
traditional energy sources
Brown coal, coal, crude oil and natural gas are fossil fuels. These energy
sources are still being used, but they have disadvantages. fossil fuels run
out, that’s why we speak of non-renewable energy sources. if you extract
crude oil and natural gas in the old-fashioned way - so without using too
much effort - you speak of conventional oil and gas. but if you use difficult
and expensive techniques before you can extract crude oil or natural gas
from the ground you speak of unconventional oil and gas. This is difficult
because these sources are not locked up nicely in a reservoir rock, but are
in solid hard source rock.
An example of this is shale gas. The process of extracting unconventional
oil and gas is called fracking. a mixture of water, sand and chemicals is
sprayed into the rock under high pressure, creating cracks and releasing
gas and oil.
Another example of unconventional oil is tar sand. tar sands are deposits
of sand and clay with oil in solid form.
There is also nuclear energy. It is the most powerful of the traditional
energy sources: just one kilo of uranium can provide enough energy for
5000 households for a year. Nuclear energy is generated in nuclear power
plants. This creates radioactivity. if that is released, it can be deadly.
from traditional to sustainable energy sources
for many years, energy consumption per capita and therefore the carbon
footprint per capita. was increasing due to the growing population and
increasing prosperity. when it became clear that burning fossil fuels was
bad for the earth, and therefore ultimately for man. an energy transition
had to start. We need to switch to energy sources that don’t run out and
do not emit CO2. a switch to renewable energy sources is therefore
necessary.
3.1 - the earth is warming up!
Facts
here are some facts about global warming that almost all climate
scientists agree on:
- the earth is warming up
- greenhouse gasses heat up the earth
- the chance of catastrophes or tipping points is not high. a tipping
point is a change in the climate after which it’s no longer possible to
return
- global warming will continue even if all greenhouse gas emissions
are stopped today
- the effects of global warming are already being felt
causes
Due to the enhanced greenhouse effect it will almost be 1 degree hotter
on earth in 2018 than 140 years ago. Of the last sixteen years, fourteen
were warmer than ever measured. one hundred businesses account for
71% off CO2 emissions.
consequences
In the past everything had to be done with muscle. but since the industrial
revolution, there have been machines that draw energy from burning
harmful fuels. By emitting greenhouse gasses, we are changing the
structure of the atmosphere. as a result of global warming:
- the sea level rises. This is because glaciers and ice caps melt.
- the weather becomes more extreme.
- agricultural yields fall in areas where it is becoming drier, resulting
in hunger and malnutrition
- the navigability of many rivers is reducing.
because of all these consequences, the number of climate migrants
worldwide will increase, especially in LEDCs
, 3.2 - the transition to sustainable energy sources
traditional energy sources
Brown coal, coal, crude oil and natural gas are fossil fuels. These energy
sources are still being used, but they have disadvantages. fossil fuels run
out, that’s why we speak of non-renewable energy sources. if you extract
crude oil and natural gas in the old-fashioned way - so without using too
much effort - you speak of conventional oil and gas. but if you use difficult
and expensive techniques before you can extract crude oil or natural gas
from the ground you speak of unconventional oil and gas. This is difficult
because these sources are not locked up nicely in a reservoir rock, but are
in solid hard source rock.
An example of this is shale gas. The process of extracting unconventional
oil and gas is called fracking. a mixture of water, sand and chemicals is
sprayed into the rock under high pressure, creating cracks and releasing
gas and oil.
Another example of unconventional oil is tar sand. tar sands are deposits
of sand and clay with oil in solid form.
There is also nuclear energy. It is the most powerful of the traditional
energy sources: just one kilo of uranium can provide enough energy for
5000 households for a year. Nuclear energy is generated in nuclear power
plants. This creates radioactivity. if that is released, it can be deadly.
from traditional to sustainable energy sources
for many years, energy consumption per capita and therefore the carbon
footprint per capita. was increasing due to the growing population and
increasing prosperity. when it became clear that burning fossil fuels was
bad for the earth, and therefore ultimately for man. an energy transition
had to start. We need to switch to energy sources that don’t run out and
do not emit CO2. a switch to renewable energy sources is therefore
necessary.
