ESS 101 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Sulfur Dioxide, Halliburton, United States Geological Survey
15 Apr 2016
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Benefit: natural gas as fossil fuel vs. others = amount of energy per atom of carbon is much higher. We can get a lot more work per molecule of co2 emitted - helps reduce carbon emissions from economy to help climate change. Con: methane = main component burns more cleanly than coal or gasoline but leaks into atmosphere and is 30x more potent than carbon dioxide: official estimates of methane leaks by epa = 75% too low (http://news. sciencemag. org/earth/2014/02/natural-gas-coal-good-climate-trade-despite-leaks- researchers-argue) More gas had been leaking into the atmosphere than epa estimated. Argument: switching gas for coal in power generation offers a bridge to lower greenhouse gas emissions in the future. Natural gas: produces less greenhouse gas co2 than coal, but leaks methane into atmosphere (which is what it"s mainly comprised of) from where it"s produced to the furnace, gas stove, or power plant where its burned.
