Fossil Fuels
Description:
Carbon found in fossil fuels come in many different forms. The most common form of carbon based fossil fuel is oil & coal. Oil is also referred to as “petroleum”. Crude oil comes from ancient plants from millions of years ago and contains various hydro-carbon based fuels such as diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene & methane to name a few.
Other carbon based products include oil, which is used as a lubricant, and tar, which is used for asphalt.
Carbon found in fossil fuels come in many different forms. The most common form of carbon based fossil fuel is oil & coal. Oil is also referred to as “petroleum”. Crude oil comes from ancient plants from millions of years ago and contains various hydro-carbon based fuels such as diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene & methane to name a few.
Other carbon based products include oil, which is used as a lubricant, and tar, which is used for asphalt.
Fossil Fuels Spinner |
Roll the Spinner To Determine Where to Move to Next:
|
Carbon Transfer Process: Fossil Fuel Formation
NET EFFECT: CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and incorporated into (petroleum based) chemicals.
Carbon Flux: less than 1 Billion Metric Tons / Yr
Usually, when living things die they decompose, releasing the carbon from which they are built into the atmosphere.
In some cases, these organic remains are instead preserved in an oxygen-poor environment such as the bottoms of certain ocean basins or in stagnant swamps such as the coal swamp as shown that existed during the carboniferous period in Earth's history. These remains accumulate and, over millions of years, are buried and incorporated into rock.
Heat and pressure transform the preserved organic material into coal, oil, and natural gas. Coal forms from land plants. Oil and natural gas form primarily from the remains of microscopic marine organisms. Gasoline is refined from oil and scientists estimate that the raw material needed to produce one gallon of gasoline is approximately 100 tons of ancient life. The net effect is to store carbon in the rocks of Earth.
Carbon Flux: less than 1 Billion Metric Tons / Yr
Usually, when living things die they decompose, releasing the carbon from which they are built into the atmosphere.
In some cases, these organic remains are instead preserved in an oxygen-poor environment such as the bottoms of certain ocean basins or in stagnant swamps such as the coal swamp as shown that existed during the carboniferous period in Earth's history. These remains accumulate and, over millions of years, are buried and incorporated into rock.
Heat and pressure transform the preserved organic material into coal, oil, and natural gas. Coal forms from land plants. Oil and natural gas form primarily from the remains of microscopic marine organisms. Gasoline is refined from oil and scientists estimate that the raw material needed to produce one gallon of gasoline is approximately 100 tons of ancient life. The net effect is to store carbon in the rocks of Earth.