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Fossil Fuels : The Source Of Energy

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In the United States and Across the Globe
In today’s society fossil fuels are the primary source of energy for most of the industrialized world. Utilizing fossil fuels has been vital to the industrialization development. Throughout industrialization of many parts of the world, energy has been needed at a much higher density then before and fossil fuels have fulfilled that need. Coal, gas, and oil are the three major sources of fossil fuels in the world. Despite other means of energy, such as wind power, hydroelectric power and so on, fossil fuels are still the main source of energy across the continent. Without a doubt, fossils fuels are critical to the function of society. “Fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) are the dominant source of energy today and will be for decades to come.” (Everett, B. 2012, October).
Formation
“Fossil Fuels- coal, petroleum (oil) and natural gas- are concentrated organic compounds found in the Earth’s crust. The fossil fuels found in today’s society were formed hundreds of millions of years ago from prehistoric plants and animals. When these plants and animals died, their bodies decomposed and buried under layers of mud, rock, and sand. “The long-term carbon cycle operates over millions of years and involves the exchange of carbon between rocks and the Earth 's surface. There are many complex feedback pathways between carbon burial, nutrient cycling, atmospheric carbon dioxide and oxygen, and climate” (Berner, R. 2009, April 20). Fossil

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