Coal: A Climate CrisisCoal: A Climate Crisis

How is America’s biggest How is America’s biggest energy source (and now energy source (and now

China’s) affecting our planet?China’s) affecting our planet?

What is the greenhouse effect?What is the greenhouse effect?

Radiation from sun hits Radiation from sun hits EarthEarthEarth absorbs some and Earth absorbs some and converts this energy to converts this energy to infrared, which is radiated infrared, which is radiated back into the atmosphere back into the atmosphere on its way to spaceon its way to spaceInfrared is absorbed by Infrared is absorbed by greenhouse gasesgreenhouse gasesTrapped infrared energy Trapped infrared energy is re-radiated back to is re-radiated back to Earth’s surfaceEarth’s surface

What are greenhouse gases?What are greenhouse gases?

Break up of Greenhouse Gases in

Atmosphere

20%

16%60%

1%

3%

CarbonDioxide

Ozone

Methane

NitrousOxide

WaterVapor

Carbon Dioxide (COCarbon Dioxide (CO22))

Methane (CHMethane (CH44))

Water Vapor (HWater Vapor (H22O)O)

Nitrous Oxide (NNitrous Oxide (N22O)O)

Tropospheric Ozone Tropospheric Ozone (O(O33) )

How does COHow does CO22 affect Earth? affect Earth?

The more COThe more CO22 in in

atmosphere, the hotter atmosphere, the hotter the climatethe climate

Slightest COSlightest CO22 changes changes

cause temperature cause temperature increaseincrease

Current COCurrent CO22 level is 380 level is 380

ppm (parts per million), a ppm (parts per million), a dramatic increase of 100 dramatic increase of 100 ppm over stable levels for ppm over stable levels for the past 10,000 years. the past 10,000 years.

What is the problem with coal?What is the problem with coal?

Coal energy Coal energy production emits production emits 1,894 million metric 1,894 million metric tons of COtons of CO22 annually annually in the U.S.in the U.S.Production emits Production emits sulfur, a gas that sulfur, a gas that causes acid rain, causes acid rain, mercury, a mercury, a neurotoxin, and other neurotoxin, and other pollutants.pollutants.

How is coal used for electricity?How is coal used for electricity?

Can the process be cleaner?Can the process be cleaner?

Coal turned into gas Coal turned into gas before burning, and before burning, and sulfur and nitrogen sulfur and nitrogen are removedare removed

Leftover COLeftover CO2 2

sequestered instead sequestered instead of blown into of blown into atmosphereatmosphere

What is carbon sequestration?What is carbon sequestration?

Pumping carbon into Pumping carbon into “carbon sinks”—an “carbon sinks”—an area that absorbs area that absorbs carboncarbonNatural sinks—Natural sinks—oceans, forests, soil, oceans, forests, soil, rocks, atmosphererocks, atmosphereCarbon can be Carbon can be pumped into empty oil pumped into empty oil reservesreserves

U.S.24%

Russia6%

China14%

India5%

Japan5%

Germany3%

U.K.2%

Other41%

U.S.

Russia

China

India

Japan

Germany

U.K.

Other

Percent of Total Emissions By Percent of Total Emissions By CountryCountry

COCO22 Emissions Per Capita Emissions Per Capita

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Country

Met

ric

To

ns

What is the Kyoto Protocol?What is the Kyoto Protocol?

Global treaty to Global treaty to reduce greenhouse reduce greenhouse gas emissionsgas emissions

Calls for 5.2% Calls for 5.2% reduction from 1990 reduction from 1990 greenhouse gas greenhouse gas levels by 2010 (29% levels by 2010 (29% reduction from reduction from anticipated future anticipated future levels)levels)

What do the countries do? What do the countries do?

Countries have individual reduction goals Countries have individual reduction goals (European Union by 8%, U.S. was asked (European Union by 8%, U.S. was asked to cut 7%)to cut 7%)

Emissions trading—countries who produce Emissions trading—countries who produce less greenhouse gases than their limit less greenhouse gases than their limit allows can sell ability to produce the allows can sell ability to produce the leftover amount to other countriesleftover amount to other countries

Who ratified the Kyoto Protocol?Who ratified the Kyoto Protocol?

160 countries 160 countries including the including the European Union, European Union, Japan, India, China, Japan, India, China, Russia, and Canada Russia, and Canada

U.S. and Australia are U.S. and Australia are the only two industrial the only two industrial nations which have nations which have refused to ratify the refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.Kyoto Protocol.

Quiz- True or False?Quiz- True or False?

1.1. Earth reflects solar radiation out into the Earth reflects solar radiation out into the atmosphere as infraredatmosphere as infraredFalse.False. Earth radiates infrared. Reflection occurs when the energy Earth radiates infrared. Reflection occurs when the energy leaving is the same as what came in. Radiation occurs when the leaving is the same as what came in. Radiation occurs when the energy is changed before it leaves. In this case, the energy is energy is changed before it leaves. In this case, the energy is changed from short wave UV rays to long wave infrared rays.changed from short wave UV rays to long wave infrared rays.

2.2. Earth’s temperature is directly correlated Earth’s temperature is directly correlated to the amount of COto the amount of CO22 in the atmosphere. in the atmosphere.True.True. As the level of CO As the level of CO22 changes, the average temperature changes, the average temperature

changes.changes.

Quiz- True or False?Quiz- True or False?

3.3. Carbon Dioxide is the most abundant Carbon Dioxide is the most abundant greenhouse gas.greenhouse gas.False.False. Carbon Dioxide only makes up about 20% of all Carbon Dioxide only makes up about 20% of all greenhouse gases, while water vapor can make up over 60%. greenhouse gases, while water vapor can make up over 60%.

4.4. Under the Kyoto Protocol, each country Under the Kyoto Protocol, each country must reduce its emissions by 5.2%.must reduce its emissions by 5.2%.False.False. Each country has its own individual goal. A reduction of Each country has its own individual goal. A reduction of 5.2% from the 1990 records is the overall global goal.5.2% from the 1990 records is the overall global goal.

Quiz- Multiple ChoiceQuiz- Multiple Choice

1.1. How much will the Kyoto Protocol reduce How much will the Kyoto Protocol reduce greenhouse gas emissions based on greenhouse gas emissions based on what the 2010 level was predicted to be?what the 2010 level was predicted to be?

A.A. 9%9%

B.B. 19%19%

C.C. 29%29%

D.D. 39%39%

Quiz- Multiple ChoiceQuiz- Multiple Choice

2.2. Which of the following statements is NOT Which of the following statements is NOT true about coal?true about coal?

A.A. It is the most used energy source in the U.S.It is the most used energy source in the U.S.

B.B. It is sequestered in oceans.It is sequestered in oceans.

C.C. It is burned to heat steam to run a turbine.It is burned to heat steam to run a turbine.

D.D. It produces nitrogen and sulfur oxides when burned.It produces nitrogen and sulfur oxides when burned.

The carbon dioxide produced when coal is used for energy is The carbon dioxide produced when coal is used for energy is sequestered, not the coal.sequestered, not the coal.

Quiz- Multiple ChoiceQuiz- Multiple Choice

3.3. What is the current amount of COWhat is the current amount of CO22 in in

Earth’s atmosphere?Earth’s atmosphere?A.A. 280 ppm280 ppm

B.B. 200 ppm200 ppm

C.C. 360 ppm360 ppm

D.D. 380 ppm380 ppm

Quiz- Multiple ChoiceQuiz- Multiple Choice

4.4. Which of the following is NOT a Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?greenhouse gas?

A.A. Water vaporWater vapor

B.B. MethaneMethane

C.C. SulfurSulfur

D.D. OzoneOzone

Sulfur causes acid rain, but is not a greenhouse gas.Sulfur causes acid rain, but is not a greenhouse gas.

BibliographyBibliography1.1. "Mechanisms Under the Kyoto Protocol." "Mechanisms Under the Kyoto Protocol." United Nations Framework United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate ChangeConvention on Climate Change. 5 May 2006. United Nations. 30 May . 5 May 2006. United Nations. 30 May 2006 <http://unfccc.int/kyoto_mechanisms/items/1673.php>. 2006 <http://unfccc.int/kyoto_mechanisms/items/1673.php>.

2.2. Romero, Simon. "2 Industry Leaders Bet on Coal But Split on Cleaner Romero, Simon. "2 Industry Leaders Bet on Coal But Split on Cleaner Approach." Approach." New York TimesNew York Times 28 May 2006. 28 May 2006.

3.3. Saito, Shigeyuki. "CO2 Emissions by Country." Saito, Shigeyuki. "CO2 Emissions by Country." OM SolarOM Solar. 10 July 2005. . 10 July 2005. 31 May 2006 <http://www.omsolar.net/en/omsolar1/co2_emissions.html>.31 May 2006 <http://www.omsolar.net/en/omsolar1/co2_emissions.html>.

4.4. "Kyoto Protocol Status of Ratification." "Kyoto Protocol Status of Ratification." United Nations Framework United Nations Framework Convention on Climate ChangeConvention on Climate Change. 18 Apr. 2006. United Nations. 2 June . 18 Apr. 2006. United Nations. 2 June 2006 2006 <http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/kyoto_protocol/application/<http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/kyoto_protocol/application/pdf/kpstats.pdf>. pdf/kpstats.pdf>.

5.5. Abbot Power PlantAbbot Power Plant. 2004. Champaign, Illinois. . 2004. Champaign, Illinois. Coal—Illinois' Black Coal—Illinois' Black TreasureTreasure. Illinois State Geological Survey. 3 June 2006 . Illinois State Geological Survey. 3 June 2006 <http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/servs/pubs/geobits-pub/geobit12/gb12a.htm>. <http://www.isgs.uiuc.edu/servs/pubs/geobits-pub/geobit12/gb12a.htm>.

6.6. Blasing, T.j., and Sonja Jones. "Current Greenhouse Gas Blasing, T.j., and Sonja Jones. "Current Greenhouse Gas Concentrations." Concentrations." Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis CenterCarbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center. Feb. 2005. . Feb. 2005. CDIAC. 11 June 2006 <http://cdiac.ornl.gov/pns/current_ghg.html>. CDIAC. 11 June 2006 <http://cdiac.ornl.gov/pns/current_ghg.html>.