Fossil Fuels
Water is an essential resource
which impact the usage of almost A fossil fuel is a hydrocarbon-containing material formed
all other resources. Previously we underground from the remains of dead plants and animals
got to know about the importance that humans extract and burn to release energy for use.
of water conservation along with The main fossil fuels are coal, petroleum and natural gas,
the different methods like water which humans extract through mining and drilling.
harvesting. We also got to know
Coal is a sedimentary deposit composed
about the importance of dams in
predominantly of carbon that is readily combustible.
addition to their advantages and
problems caused by these dams. Petroleum is a complex mixture of
Petroleum and Coal are fossil fuels hydrocarbons that occur on Earth in liquid,
which also use water in their gaseous, or solid form. The term is often
refining process. restricted to the liquid form, commonly called
About 250 litres of crude oil.
freshwater are required per
tonne of coal produced
Coal
● Coal is a combustible black or dark brown rock consisting chiefly of carbonized
plant matter, found mainly in underground seams and used as fuel.
● Coal is mostly carbon with variable amounts of other elements, chiefly hydrogen,
sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen. Coal is formed when dead plant matter decays into
peat an is converted into coal by the heat and pressure of deep burial over millions
of years.
● Some of the main uses of coal are:
➔ Electricity Generation: Power generation is the primary use for coal worldwide.
Thermal coal is burnt to create steam that drives turbines and generators for the
production of electricity.
➔ Metal Production: Metallurgical(coking) coal is a key ingredient in steelmaking.
➔ Other Industries: Other major uses of coal include the paper, textile and glass
industries.
➔ Coal is also mainly used in Gasification and Liquefaction and Domestic Use.
Petroleum
Petroleum is a complex mixture of naturally occurring hydrocarbon compounds found in rock which has
been formed over thousands of years by heat and pressure turning organic matter to oil and gas.
Impurities such as sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen are common in petroleum.
Petroleum products include transportation fuels, fuel oils for heating and electricity generation, asphalt
and road oil, and feedstocks for making the chemicals, plastics, and synthetic materials that are in
nearly everything we use.
Over millions of years, heat and pressure from Earth's crust decomposed these organisms into one of the
three main kinds of fuel: oil (also called petroleum), natural gas, or coal. These fuels are called fossil fuels,
since they are formed from the remains of dead animals and plants
Conserving Fossil Fuels
● Though fossil fuels are an integral part of rising economy, they emit large
amounts of harmful gases when burnt. They are non-renewable and also
have irreversible effects on climate.
● Hence, many countries have made it their goal to conserve fuels by using
renewable sources of energy. Renewable sources are healthy and help the
environment to heal faster.
● This practise may help to extend the current reserves of petroleum, coal and
gas for a few more years.
H ow to Make a Difference??
In a large scale there are many ways to judiciously use fossil fuels, such as
shifting to renewable resources like sunlight, wind, etc.
H owever, in a daily basis the best was to conserve fossil fuels is:-
● Using Public Transportation
● Using LED bulbs or Fluorescent tubes in your homes
● Using Biogas instead of LPG
● Carpooling whenever possible
● Ensuring Regular maintenance of vehicles
Overview of Natural Resource Management
Natural Resource Management
refers to the sustainable
utilization of major natural
resources, such as land, water,
air, minerals, forests, fisheries,
and wild flora and fauna.
Together, these resources provide
the ecosystem services that
provide better quality to human
life.
