Hydraulic Fracking

Hydraulic fracking is a way to extract natural gas from the ground. To remove the gas the engineers drill far down into the earth into layers of shale then pump a high pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals. The mixture fractures the shale that then releases the natural gases. The high pressured mixture then pushes the gases to the top of the drilling site.

While the idea of finding full on American soil may sound very nice but fracking has cause many problems with the environment. The first major problem is that fracking needs massive amounts of waters. The problem is extremely evident in Texas when the drought was at the worst point there was a massive reservoir that was next to many local farms but the water could not be used by the farmers because it was owned by a major oil company. The second biggest problem is that the chemicals used during the fracking process are known carcinogens. A carcinogen is a chemical that is known to cause cancer. After the drilling operation the chemicals can contaminate the ground water risking pollution of the ground water and well water used by civilians. There is also a worry that fracking will cause small earth tremors. Before fracking was invented stats like Oklahoma never had earth quakes but now have small earth quakes. The fracturing of the shale is thought to cause small disturbances that cause the small tremors.

Carbon Cycle Lab Questions

Step 1:

If only one half of the flora in the world existed in 2110 (perhaps due to deforestation), what do you predict the atmospheric carbon level would be ? How would you change the simulation to reflect this?

If there were only half the flora in world, there would be more CO2 levels in the atmosphere.  We would change the tree level to half of what it was originally.

What is the relationship between increased carbon in the ocean and increased carbon in the soil? How else might carbon be transferred to soil?

As carbon increases in the ocean, carbon in the soil also increases.  Carbon can be transferred to soil through carbon-based lifeforms.

Using the data generated by the simulation, determine the mathematical relationship between the percentage increase in fossil fuel consumption and the increase in atmospheric carbon. Is the relationship linear?

They are directly proportional to each other and the relationship is not linear.

Step 2:

What is the relationship between an increase in fossil fuel consumption and increased carbon in terrestrial plants? How might this change flora populations? What impact could twenty years at this level of consumption have on flora?

As we increase consumption, the carbon in terrestrial plants increases until we run out of coal, and oil, then it peaks and goes on a decline from there.  This could increase flora populations.  The flora would decrease.

What is the relationship between an increase in total carbon concentration (the smokestack) and increased carbon in the ocean surface? How might this change marine life populations? What impact could fifty years at this level of emissions have on marine fauna? On marine flora?

As the total carbon concentration increases, the amount of carbon on the ocean surface also increases; marine life would be affected by this because there is less room for oxygen. 

In addition to circulating through the carbon cycle, where else might excess carbon be found? In fifty years, where would you be most likely to see excess carbon?

Right now a lot of the excess carbon is deep underground, but in fifty years it will most likely be on the ocean floor, or in the atmosphere. 

Which areas are most highly (and quickly) affected by an increase in carbon emissions (and increase in fossil fuel consumption)? How would these effects manifest themselves? What are the dangers/benefits to these areas?

Timeline

Geological Timeline
If the formation of the earth and the events after were a fourteen foot pole vault the earth would be created on the ground. As you shot into the air at 9'10" in the air, the early formation of Pangaea could be seen. Once you reach 13'4.47" in the air the Jurassic period would have begun. As you slowly continue to clime at  13'9.84" you be able to see early primates roaming the earth. And right  before you clear the bar at 13'11.9996532" you could finally see the beginning of the existence of modern man. After that you 
would be able to fly over the bar and fall into present times.