IES - Energy (Lesson)
Energy
How we obtain and use energy is likely to play a crucial role in our environmental future. Fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) presently provide around 80 percent of the energy used in industrialized countries. Supplies of these fuels are diminishing, however, and problems associated with their acquisition and use-air and water pollution, mining damage, shipping accidents, and geopolitics-may limit what we do with remaining reserves. Cleaner renewable energy resources-solar power, wind, geothermal, and biomass-together with conservation, could give us cleaner, less destructive options if we invest in appropriate technology.
Tapped Out
After reading, the National Geographic June 2008 article, Tapped Out, please answer the following self-reflection discussion questions.
Click here to download the article. Links to an external site.
Reflection Questions:
- Today you will read, "Tapped Out", published in National Geographic. The article talks about discovery rates, and how they can be used to forecast future production trends. What is the connection between discovery rates and production? What trends do discovery rates predict for production?
- This article begins with a discussion of an analysis undertaken by Sadad Al Husseini, a Saudi oil geologist. Al Husseini was skeptical of forecasts for future oil production. He decided to carry out quantitative data analysis to determine whether these forecasts were realistic. What did he find out? What method did he apply to collect information and reach his conclusion?
- Do you agree or disagree with the conclusions of Al Husseini? What weaknesses or problems do you see from his method?
Peaking of World Oil Production
Read the following article, published by The Atlantic Council in October 2005.
Click here to download the article. Links to an external site.
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