The variations in the annual production of fossil fuels in the UKwwere documented from 1981 until 2000. The data is illustrated by the line graph provided where production is quantified in energy units, a relative energy quantity which compares energy produced with that produced from 1 million tonnes of oil.
In overview, petroleum remained as the highest produced fuel during the time period. While natural gas gained popularity after a certain period in time, coal has seen reduced production over time.
Firstly, petroleum was the most exploited of the fossil fuels, with the most fluctuations in productions. Rising steeply from 90 units in 1981, productions stagnated and peaked at 140 units for following 3 years. During the proceeding three-year period, figures dropped sharply to 100 units in 1990. However, after 1992, productions gained considerable momentum and the values recovered to plateau at the 140 unit mark and exceed mark between 1998 and 1999.
Secondly, coal has had an overall decline in extractions. With only 80 units produced during the initial 2 years, a drastic drop in productions was observed. Consequently, productions plummetted to roughly 36 units in 1984. Later, productions only recovered partiallly to only three-fourths its initial value (60 units) by the end of 1986. During the upcoming years, the productions fell gradually to its lowest to an estimated 32 units in the year 2000.
Thirdly, natural gas was the least extracted of the fossil fuels which had dramatic alteration in trends. Productions remained at an equilibrium of 40 units (half of the initial coal productions) from 1981 to 1989. In contrast to the preceding years, a gradual upsurge in productions was recorded, causing the energy output to peak at 100 units during 2000. Moreover, between the years 1991 and 1992, an approximately equal output (of 50 units) was recorded to that of coal.