Environmental Impact
Besides destruction of the affected areas, coal fires often emit toxic gases, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and methane. China's coal fires, which consume an estimated 20 – 200 million tons of coal a year, make up as much as 1 percent of the global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels.
One of the most visible changes will be the effect of subsidence upon the landscape. Another local environmental effect, can include the presence of plants or animals that are aided by the coal fire. The prevalence of otherwise non-native plants can depend upon the fire's duration and the size of the affected area. For example, near a coal fire in Germany, many Mediterranean insects and spiders were identified in a region with cold winters, and it is believed raised ground temperatures above the fires permitted their survival.
Read more about this topic: Coal Seam Fire
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