Gl bal Warming Fossil Fuels and Pollution The Future of Air Quality Julie Kerr Casper, Ph.D FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTION: The Future of Air Quality Copyright © 2010 by Julie Kerr Casper, Ph.D All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher For information contact: Facts On File, Inc An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Casper, Julie Kerr Fossil fuels and pollution : the future of air quality / Julie Kerr Casper p cm.—(Global warming) Includes bibliographical references and index ISBN 978-0-8160-7265-1 (hardcover) ISBN 978-1-4381-2741-5 (e-book) Fossil fuels—Environmental aspects—Juvenile literature Pollution—Environmental aspects—Juvenile literature Environmental protection—Juvenile literature I Title TP 318.3.C37 2010 363.738'74—dc22 2009012612 Facts On File books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755 You can find Facts On File on the World Wide Web at http://www.factsonfile.com Text design by Erik Lindstrom Illustrations by Dale Williams Composition by Hermitage Publishing Services Cover printed by Bang Printing, Brainerd, MN Book printed and bound by Bang Printing, Brainerd, MN Date printed: January 2010 Printed in the United States of America 10 This book is printed on acid-free paper Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction vi x xii 1 Energy, Fossil Fuels, and Global Warming 14 21 Energy Sources—Fossil Fuels Measuring Energy Fossil Fuels and Global Warming Global Energy Use 2 Greenhouse Gases, Health, and the Environment Greenhouse Gases Global Warming Potential Greenhouse Emissions and the Biggest Contributors The State of the Union in Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions Health Issues Associated with Global Warming Emissions and Oil: Quick Facts 3 Evolution since the Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution Donora, Pennsylvania, Smog, 1948 The Great London Smog Acid Rain The Clean Air Acts Coal Plant Pollution 26 26 29 33 41 51 52 62 63 69 69 72 72 77 Modernization and Global Warming Environmental Time Line The Green Industrial Revolution 4 Global Warming and Pollution: Buildings and Homes Green Buildings Increased Productivity—Real-Life Examples Energy Efficiency Operation Change Out: the Military Challenge Green Homes The ENERGY STAR® Program 5 Global Warming and Pollution: Green Transportation Energy Efficiency Fuel Economy Contributors to Global Warming and Pollution New Technology In the News—the Top Environmentally Friendly Cars 6 Global Warming and Pollution: Cities and Industry Global Warming and Cities Global Warming and Industry Industry Arguments against Global Warming Action and Why They Are Wrong The Other Global Warming—a Look into the Future 7 Global Warming: Agriculture Today Agricultural Greenhouse Gases and Pollution Renewable Energy Generation In the News—What Is Happening Today Making a Difference: Solutions to the Problem 8 Fuel Technology Biofuels and Clean Vehicles Alternative and Advanced Fuels New Fuel Technology 79 80 83 87 88 89 91 96 97 97 108 109 111 115 117 121 124 124 135 141 144 149 149 151 157 165 170 170 174 186 9 Green Technology: Tomorrow’s Cars Today Driving into the Future Hybrids Electric Vehicles Flexible Fuel Vehicles Fuel Cells Plug-in Vehicles Air-Powered Vehicles Cars of the Future 10 Conclusions—the Future of Air Quality Is It Too Late? The Future of Air Pollution and Climate Change Health and Environmental Impacts Public Awareness as a Foundation The Future of Air Quality Management What Happens Next? Appendixes Distribution of Total U.S Greenhouse Gas Emissions by End-Use Sector, 2007 U.S Emissions of Greenhouse Gases, Based on Global Warming Potential, 1990, 1995, and 2000–2007 World Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Region, 1990–2030 Chronology Glossary Further Resources Index 197 197 199 201 202 203 206 207 208 210 210 212 213 214 215 217 224 224 228 229 232 238 245 258 Preface We not inherit the Earth from our ancestors— we borrow it from our children T his ancient Native American proverb and what it implies resonates today as it has become increasingly obvious that people’s actions and interactions with the environment affect not only living conditions now, but also those of many generations to follow Humans must address the effect they have on the Earth’s climate and how their choices today will have an impact on future generations Many years ago, Mark Twain joked that “Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.” That is not true anymore Humans are changing the world’s climate and with it the local, regional, and global weather Scientists tell us that “climate is what we expect, and weather is what we get.” Climate change occurs when that average weather shifts over the long term in a specific location, a region, or the entire planet Global warming and climate change are urgent topics They are discussed on the news, in conversations, and are even the subjects of horror movies How much is fact? What does global warming mean to individuals? What should it mean? The readers of this multivolume set—most of whom are today’s middle and high school students—will be tomorrow’s leaders and scientists Global warming and its threats are real As scientists unlock the mysteries of the past and analyze today’s activities, they warn that future vi Preface generations may be in jeopardy There is now overwhelming evidence that human activities are changing the world’s climate For thousands of years, the Earth’s atmosphere has changed very little; but today, there are problems in keeping the balance Greenhouse gases are being added to the atmosphere at an alarming rate Since the Industrial Revolution (late 18th, early 19th centuries), human activities from transportation, agriculture, fossil fuels, waste disposal and treatment, deforestation, power stations, land use, biomass burning, and industrial processes, among other things, have added to the concentrations of greenhouse gases These activities are changing the atmosphere more rapidly than humans have ever experienced before Some people think that warming the Earth’s atmosphere by a few degrees is harmless and could have no effect on them; but global warming is more than just a warming—or cooling—trend Global warming could have far-reaching and unpredictable environmental, social, and economic consequences The following demonstrates what a few degrees’ change in the temperature can The Earth experienced an ice age 13,000 years ago Global temperatures then warmed up 8.3°F (5°C) and melted the vast ice sheets that covered much of the North American continent Scientists today predict that average temperatures could rise 11.7°F (7°C) during this century alone What will happen to the remaining glaciers and ice caps? If the temperatures rise as leading scientists have predicted, less freshwater will be available—and already one-third of the world’s population (about billion people) suffer from a shortage of water Lack of water will keep farmers from growing food It will also permanently destroy sensitive fish and wildlife habitat As the ocean levels rise, coastal lands and islands will be flooded and destroyed Heat waves could kill tens of thousands of people With warmer temperatures, outbreaks of diseases will spread and intensify Plant pollen mold spores in the air will increase, affecting those with allergies An increase in severe weather could result in hurricanes similar or even stronger than Katrina in 2005, which destroyed large areas of the southeastern United States Higher temperatures will cause other areas to dry out and become tinder for larger and more devastating wildfires that threaten forests, wildlife, and homes If drought destroys the rain forests, the Earth’s vii viii Fossil Fuels and Pollution delicate oxygen and carbon balances will be harmed, affecting the water, air, vegetation, and all life Although the United States has been one of the largest contributors to global warming, it ranks far below countries and regions—such as Canada, Australia, and western Europe—in taking steps to fix the damage that has been done Global Warming is a multivolume set that explores the concept that each person is a member of a global family who shares responsibility for fixing this problem In fact, the only way to fix it is to work together toward a common goal This seven-volume set covers all of the important climatic issues that need to be addressed in order to understand the problem, allowing the reader to build a solid foundation of knowledge and to use the information to help solve the critical issues in effective ways The set includes the following volumes: Climate Systems Global Warming Trends Global Warming Cycles Changing Ecosystems Greenhouse Gases Fossil Fuels and Pollution Climate Management These volumes explore a multitude of topics—how climates change, learning from past ice ages, natural factors that trigger global warming on Earth, whether the Earth can expect another ice age in the future, how the Earth’s climate is changing now, emergency preparedness in severe weather, projections for the future, and why climate affects everything people from growing food, to heating homes, to using the Earth’s natural resources, to new scientific discoveries They look at the impact that rising sea levels will have on islands and other areas worldwide, how individual ecosystems will be affected, what humans will lose if rain forests are destroyed, how industrialization and pollution puts peoples’ lives at risk, and the benefits of developing environmentally friendly energy resources The set also examines the exciting technology of computer modeling and how it has unlocked mysteries about past climate change and global warming and how it can predict the local, regional, and global Preface climates of the future—the very things leaders of tomorrow need to know today We will know only what we are taught; We will be taught only what others deem is important to know; And we will learn to value that which is important —Native American proverb ix ... 6 Global Warming and Pollution: Cities and Industry Global Warming and Cities Global Warming and Industry Industry Arguments against Global Warming Action and Why They Are Wrong The Other Global. .. xii 1 Energy, Fossil Fuels, and Global Warming 14 21 Energy Sources Fossil Fuels Measuring Energy Fossil Fuels and Global Warming Global Energy Use 2 Greenhouse Gases, Health, and the Environment... problem Fossil Fuels and Pollution Energy Sources Fossil Fuels Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, derived from coal and petroleum (fuel oil or natural gas) They are formed from the fossilized