Fossil+fuels+and+climate+change

Sara Geriak & Devrin Rivera


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Explanation:__** On a daily bases we burn alot of gasoline, oil, coal and natural gas. These sources are veryimportant of energy because they power our cars, run our businesses and provide electricit, pretty much everything we use. But burning these fossil fuels also produces harmful greenhouse gas emissions into our planet. These gases collect in the atmosphere and create a wall that prevents the earth’s excess heat from leaving. As the wall gets bigger, the earth’s temperature increases. This is magnifying the natural greenhouse effect and the result is climate change.



__**Fossil Fuels**__ Fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of fuel called hydrocarbons, which includes oil, natural gas, and coal. They are found in deposits beneath the earth's surface and were formed millions of years ago by dead organisms. Today, they are used as fuel for most of the energy needs in many countries, including the US. ~ Oil and gas comes from dead marine organisms on the sea floor. For oil and gas to form, the dead matter has to settle on an area of the sea floor that is stagnant, were there is no oxygen or other organisms to break down the remains. As the sediment pile becomes deeper, the dead organisms become exposed to heat an pressure, which causes them to turn in oil and gas. ~ Coal is made of dead plants on land in lowland swamps. The plants are trapped in stagnant, waterlogged soil that prevents the plants from breaking down. This forms a material called, peat, which is converted to coal through being exposed to heat and pressure. ~

__**Effect on Climate**__

When fossil fuels are burned, they release greenhouse gases (such as CO2) into the atmosphere. While these gases remain in the atmosphere, they trap heat that is generated by the sun, heating up the earth. The more greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere, the warmer the earth gets. This is called the greenhouse effect.*

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Over the past few decades, the earth's temperature has increased along with the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is believed to be caused by human activity and the use of fossil fuels.*

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