Eduqas A-Level Geography A110QS
Coastal LandscapesLandscape
Glaciated LandscapesLandscape
Changing Places
Water and Carbon Cycles
Global Migration
Global Governance of the Oceans
Tectonic Hazards
EcosystemsContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: IndiaContemporary theme
Economic Growth and Challenge: ChinaContemporary theme
Development in an African ContextContemporary theme
Energy Challenges and DilemmasContemporary theme
Weather and ClimateContemporary theme
Geographical Skills
Energy Challenges and Dilemmas
Environmental problems of energy extraction, transport and use
- 3 things to know
- Component 3 Section B
Overview
Scale of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, deepwater Horizon disaster and environmental cost of tar sand extraction.
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Why is coal the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel?
What causes acid rain, and which fuel is chiefly responsible?
Questions from this subtopic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
State the scale of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
Model answer
Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions reached about 37 gigatonnes in 2023. Combustion of coal, oil and gas accounts for the great majority of that total.
- 2
Why is coal the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel?
Model answer
Coal contains the highest proportion of carbon relative to hydrogen. Combustion therefore releases more carbon dioxide per unit of energy than oil or gas.
- 3
What causes acid rain, and which fuel is chiefly responsible?
Model answer
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from coal combustion dissolve in cloud droplets to form acids. Deposition acidifies lakes and soils and damages coniferous forest.
- 4
How is sulphur dioxide removed from power station emissions?
Model answer
Flue-gas desulphurisation passes the exhaust through a limestone slurry that absorbs sulphur dioxide. Gypsum is produced as a by-product.
- 5
Why is methane leakage from gas production significant?
Model answer
Methane traps far more heat than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year period. Leaks from wells, pipelines and compressors can offset much of the advantage gas holds over coal.
- 6
Describe the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Model answer
The Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 and eleven workers died. Around 4.9 million barrels escaped over 87 days before the well was sealed.
Other ways to work this
The same content, four other ways.
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Every question in Energy Challenges and Dilemmas, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.