Environmental Science 1021F/G Lecture 9: Down in the Dirt
10 Mar 2020
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Document Summary
Core message: human society runs on energy, and coal continues to be a major reliable energy source. However, coal mining causes irreversible environmental degradation and the byproducts of mining and burning coal pose significant risks. Despite these drawbacks and the availability of renewable, cleaner energy sources, coal"s availability and industrial presence keep it a major energy player. Researchers are developing ways to lessen the impact of burning coal, but as long as we continue to use it, the impact of mining will remain. Coal = fossil fuel formed when plant material is buried in oxygen poor conditions and subjected to high heat and pressure over a long time. Mountaintop removal = surface mining technique that uses explosives to blast away the top of a mountain to expose the coal seam underneath, the waste rock and rubble is deposited in a nearby valley. Energy = the capacity to do work.
