EARTHS NATURAL RESOURCES Natural Resources actual or potential

EARTH’S NATURAL RESOURCES

Natural Resources - actual or potential form of wealth supplied by nature. Examples: q Metals � Arable land � Fossil fuels � Old-growth forests � Coal � Oil � Water � Sun � Air � Crops

Renewable Resources - energy sources that can be recycled or replaced by natural processes in less than 100 years Advantages: � Stays for a long time � They are constant Disadvantages: � Expensive � Can harm wildlife � Not reliable � Some put off Examples: �Sun �Wind �Water (groundwater) �Geothermal energy �Forests (trees) �

Nonrenewable Resources - resources that cannot be replaced by natural processes in more than 100 years Advantages: � We need it to make gasoline Examples: � Fossil fuels � Natural gas � Nuclear energy Disadvantages: � Will eventually run out � Acid rain � Air pollution � Water pollution

Fossil Fuels - an energy resource formed from the decayed remains of ancient plants and other organisms Advantages: � A chemical energy is changed into heat and light � Easy to find � Produce large amounts of energy Examples: � Coal � Oil Disadvantages: � Pollutes the atmosphere � Possibly causing climate change � NONRENEWABLE

Coal formed from the remains of ancient swamp vegetation that turned into a soft, brown/black material Advantages: � Changes a chemical to heat and light � Creates energy/electricity � Easy to burn Disadvantages: � Pollutes the atmosphere � Mining it can scar landscape Examples: � Lignite � Bituminous � Anthracite

Oil and Natural Gases - formed over millions of years from the decay of algae and other microscopic ocean organisms called plankton Advantages: � Changes into heat and light � Power vehicles � Power stoves, ovens, fireplaces Disadvantages: � Develops over long periods of time � Air/Water pollution Examples: � Lamp oil � Gasoline � Diesel fuel � Crude oil

Solar Energy - energy from the sun Advantages: � Does not cause hazardous/toxic pollution � RENEWABLE Examples: � Solar panels � Flat mirrors Disadvantages: � We do not have the technology to harness all of its energy � Expensive to cover large areas with solar panels � Noise pollution

Wind Energy - energy produced by wind Advantages: � Nonpolluting (air, land) � Not harmful to the environment � Does not produce waste � RENEWABLE Examples: � Windmills � wind farms Disadvantages: � Few regions have winds strong enough to generate electricity on a large scale � Noise pollution

Hydroelectric Power - production of electricity using water Advantages: � Does not cause pollution and it is � RENEWABLE Examples: � Niagara Falls � Water falls � Dams Disadvantages: � Reservoirs behind the dam can fill up with sediment � Increased erosion

Geothermal Energy - heat from the magma and hot rock that surrounds it that can be used to generate electricity Advantages: � Does not cause pollution � Does not use fuel � Efficient � RENEWABLE Examples: � Geysers � Hot springs Disadvantages: � Sometimes not found, close to Earth’s surface � Can release hot, salty water at Earth’s surface

Nuclear Energy - energy produced by splitting the nuclei of certain elements in a process known as fission (releasing the energy by changing water to steam) Advantages: � Powerful and efficient � Reduces fossil fuels used (lessens cost and lessens greenhouse gas emissions) Examples: q Power plants fueled by uranium Disadvantages: � Storing nuclear waste makes its use limited � Radioactive wastes take a long time to break down � Nuclear accidents

Groundwater - water that soaks into the ground and collects in small spaces between bits of soil and rock Advantages: q Part of water cycle q Free to harvest q RENEWABLE Example: � Used in industries and on farms Disadvantages: � It takes a long time for it to move through rock layers � Much to be done to keep water safe � Huge effort to harvest

Forests - a thick growth of trees and underbrush covering an extensive tract of land Advantages: Disadvantages: � Takes in carbon and stores it � No forests = more � Purifies the air carbon in the atmosphere � Ingredients for medicines � Might cause � Balances the climate global warming) � Regulates the water cycle � RENEWABLE Examples: � Yellowstone � Yosemite � Amazon

Mineral Resources - metal objects that come from rocks Advantages: � Sometimes large deposits of valuable minerals are found in one place � Can be mined for profit � RENEWABLE Disadvantages: � Costs a lot to get the minerals out of the rocks Example: � hematite makes motorcycle parts and saw blades � Diamonds � Gold � Salt � Copper � Iron, etc.

Abiotic Factors - any nonliving part of the environment Examples: � Air current � Temperature � Moisture (water) � Light � Soil

Biotic Factors - any living or once living organism in the environment Examples: � Animals � Plants � Insects � Humans

The End!!!