Environmental Science, 10th Edition (Cunningham)

<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::::/sites/dl/free/8888888555/484165/google.jpg','popWin', 'width=210,height=178,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (34.0K)</a>

Take a virtual field trip with Google Earth!
Google Earth is a free, online application that uses satellite imagery to allow the user to zoom across the globe in a realistic, virtual environment. Downloading Google Earth is free at http://www.earth.google.com.

An overview manual is available by clicking here... Google Earth Overview (342.0K)

To continue:
- Make sure you have the Google Earth software installed and running.
- Copy the following latitude and longitude and paste into the "Fly to" field under the Search tab.
- Hit "Enter" for Google Earth to take you to the specified coordinates, then come back here and read the following overview.

Latitude/Longitude: 39.0664, -78.6609

Overview: Mountain Top Removal, p. 424

If you zoom in on this site, you can see the heavy earth moving equipment as well as the headwall where rock is being cut away to expose the coal. If you zoom out, you can follow the scar made by mining for many kilometers.

There are many larger mines elsewhere in West Virginia and nearby states, but most are too low resolution in Google Earth (at the time of this writing) to be very visible.

1			Is coal a clean burning fuel?
			A)	Yes, coal is completely pure in its natural state and burns clean.
			B)	Coal occasionally contains some impurities in its natural form and sometimes releases contaminants when burned.
			C)	No, coal is often impure, and burning releases contaminants (as well as carbon dioxide) into the air.
2			Many impurities occur in coal, such as sulfur and mercury. Are these removed safely when the coal is burned?
			A)	Yes, the process of burning coal naturally transforms any impurities into harmless types of particulate matter.
			B)	Yes, the coal can be easily sifted to remove the impurities during the first stage of burning.
			C)	No, burning releases contaminants which cause health risks and environmental damage, but newer technologies such as integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants can greatly reduce the environmental costs of coal burning.