Question

Based on the information provided in the Table below and some elemental chemistry (e.g., combustion reactions), justify numerically the statement that from a greenhouse emissions perspective natural gas is a cleaner source of electricity than coal Heating Value Coal Grade Anthracite Semi-Anthracite Low-volatile bituminous Medium-volatile bituminous High-volatile bituminous A High-volatile bituminous B (Btu/lb) 12910 13770 14340 13840 13090 12130 (kJ/kg) 30080 32084 33412 2247 30499 28262 High-volatile bituminous C Sub-bituminous B Sub-bituminous C Lignite Natural gas (CHa) 10750 9150 8940 6900 23000 25047 21319 20830 16077 Considering the GWP for methane and CO2 and please write a short paragraph on the climate change risks associated with the extensive extraction and use of natural gas (10 points).

Answer 1

Methane (CH4) is estimated to have a GWP of 28–36 over 100 years.CH4 emitted today lasts about a decade on average, which is much less time than CO2. But CH4 also absorbs much more energy than CO2.The CH4 GWP also accounts for some indirect effects, such as the fact that CH4 is a precursor to ozone.In the first two decades after its release, methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.About 25% of the manmade global warming we're experiencing today is caused by methane emissions.CBM(Coal Bed Methane) production also involves release of methane into atmosphere, often referred as fugutive methane.