Ripple Effect: Connecting Climate Change and Coal
Abstract
Global climate change continues to affect Earth and its processes. We researched and investigated the climate connections between fossil fuels such as coal, extreme weather, and gravity. We learned how dangerous mountaintop removal and storage of wastewater from coal mines can be. The use of fossil fuels is directly related to the number of extreme weather events and the extraction of coal for use as a fuel can cause landslides as land is destabilized by these storms. Coal mining can also leave water polluted and unsafe; extreme weather events such as floods can lead to the spread of this wastewater as gravity can carry the polluted water downhill, posing a threat to ecosystems. The focal point of our findings was on coal use and mining, more importantly, the ripple effect that it has. The most important information from our research was the harmful effects that collecting fossil fuels, such as coal, can have on ecosystems and, eventually, humans. If fossil fuels are used less, mining for coal will not be as necessary. If mining for coal is unnecessary, then mountaintop removal will not be used, so landslides and mudslides in mining areas will decrease in magnitude and frequency. Similarly, if mining for fossil fuels comes to a stop, then wastewater pits will not be necessary and they will not flood over and harm ecosystems. Extreme weather, coal, and gravity factor into the complex issue of climate change. Discovering how these connect can help us understand and find solutions to such issues.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMED41D1135S
- Keywords:
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- 0805 Elementary and secondary education;
- EDUCATIONDE: 0815 Informal education;
- EDUCATIONDE: 0855 Diversity;
- EDUCATION