When Will We Run Out of Oil?

Kristy from the United Kingdom wrote:
When will we run out of oil?

GLOBIO Traveling Teacher says:

Hi Kirsty,

Yes, eventually we will run out of oil if we continue to use it like we do today - to power our cars, warm our houses, make paints, and make plastics.
Oil (and coal and natural gas) is created by plants and animals that died millions of years ago. Buried in the earth under pressure and heat they combine to form fossil fuels - like oil. This process takes a very long time, millions of years, to form even a small amount of fossil fuel. The problem is we are using up this fossil fuel faster than it can be created.

Our solution is to conserve now the oil we have - using it wisely - and begin to search very hard for new ideas and resources to power of cars and airplanes, create plastics and all the other things we now use oil for.

Thanks for the great question,
GLOBIO Traveling Teacher

What is Global Warming?

Karan from India wrote:
What is global warming?

GLOBIO Traveling Teacher says:

Hi Karan,

That's a very important question. Global warming means: an increase in the average temperature near the Earth's surface (ocean and land). Some of things that may make the temperature rise are caused by natural events like gases from volcanoes and other events are caused by humans, such as exhaust from vehicles and cutting of large areas of forest. If this warming continues every year then it creates Climate Change. Many people use the term Global Warming and Climate Change to mean the same thing - but they are not exactly the same. Climate Change means any changes in the climate - not always warmer, it could be colder, and it could mean more rain or storms like typhoons. Climate change has been going on since the beginning of the Earth

Thanks for the great question,
GLOBIO Traveling Teacher