4d. Climate Change Patterns
In the 1880s, scientists began to keep records of the earth’s temperature. According to the records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the overall average temperature of the earth has risen 2°F in that time. The seven warmest years on record have occurred since 2014. While 2°F may seem like a minor temperature fluctuation, scientists have recorded large-scale changes such as the melting of ice sheets, shifting habitat zones and record heat waves. Most climate scientists agree that human activities are at least partially responsible for the shift in global average temperatures.
Energy generation is one human activity that has contributed to the shift in temperatures. The global demand for energy has increased tenfold in the last 100 years. A large percentage of that demand is met by power plants burning fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal. In the next 25 years, the global demand for energy is predicted to increase by another 50%.
Global Emissions & Fossil Fuel Consumption Trends
As you learned in previous lessons, lignite-fired power plants emit the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The technologies designed to increase efficiency reduce the amount of coal needed to generate electricity, which in turn reduces CO2 emissions. In addition to reducing CO2 emissions, the lignite industry is also researching methods to capture, utilize and store carbon dioxide. The capture and storage of carbon dioxide is also known as carbon sequestration. Continue to the next lessons to learn more.
