VCE Environmental Science

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After the worst floods in decades and the serious threat of a major cyclone, Queensland has been struck with an unprecedented environmental disaster. A cargo ship, which lost containers during the cyclone, had it’s hull damaged by the containers and a significant quantity of diesel fuel (about 1,000 tonnes of oil) leaked from the ship. Moreton Island has been most severely affected, with oil washing ashore over 50 km of beach.

Martin Taylor from WWF said everything from fish and crabs to waterbirds, dugongs and dolphins, would feel the effects – in fact, every level of the food chain.

Nine MSN report here: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/770634/oil-spill-clean-up-begins-in-qld

The Age Video here: http://media.theage.com.au/national/national-news/queenslands-oil-spill-clean-up-416195.html

Cosmos magazine article here: http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/2619/birds-and-turtles-risk-queensland-oil-spill

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This week we have been watching the ABC documentary – “Crude – the incredible journey of oil” – which describes how oil is formed from the ancient sunlight trapped by algae, how oil was discovered and changed the way we live and shows interviews with scientists who believe we have past the point of no return in terms of our fossil fuel usage. The site also has great resources including an oil timeline, products made from oil, the irony of oil and alternatives to oil.

Answer one of the following questions in the comments section:

1. What does the term ‘peak oil’ refer to?

2. Where are most of the earth’s oil reserves located and why?

3. Where did modern man first drill for oil and what was the first main use for the mined product?

4. Name at ten products of crude oil.

5. Why is oil so useful and sought after?

6. Why is oil referred to as a fossil fuel?