Chapter 5 Earth s Resources and Environmental Protection 2014 Pearson Education Inc What Is a Natural Resource Anything created through natural processes that people use and value Defined by three elements of society Cultural values Technology Economic system 2014 Pearson Education Inc Supply and Demand Amount of labor raw materials and machinery required for production will determine the actual cost of production Greater supply lower price corn Strong desire higher price Super Bowl tickets 2014 Pearson Education Inc Substitutability Many natural resources are valued for specific properties Several substances may serve the same purpose Stabilizes prices Limits resource scarcity 2014 Pearson Education Inc Sustainability Nonrenewable resources Not replaced or renewed in practical time span Gas oil coal metals Renewable resources Replaced continually Can be depleted Air wind water solar cannot be depleted 2014 Pearson Education Inc Geologic and Energy Resources Geologic resources are substances that we derive from the lithosphere They are materials used to construct roads and buildings manufacture goods and power transportation 2014 Pearson Education Inc Variations in Mineral Use Historic rise and fall of demand and price Resources concentrated in particular countries Cartels groups of producers that agree to control production to drive up price 2014 Pearson Education Inc Depletion and Substitution There are four consequences of substitution 1 Demand for the mineral will decrease slowing its rate of depletion 2 Mining companies will have added incentive to find and exploit new deposits of the mineral 3 Recycling of the mineral will become more feasible 4 Research to find substitute materials will intensify 2014 Pearson Education Inc Solid Waste Disposal Solid waste is disposed of in three ways Landfills Incineration Recycling Our throwaway culture is a modern invention 2014 Pearson Education Inc Landfill Disposal Sanitary landfills receive about 55 of solid waste generated Reduce air and water pollution Many becoming full and closing Public objection to new landfills NIMBY 2014 Pearson Education Inc Incineration Incineration reduces the bulk of trash by three fourths Remaining ash requires far less landfill space Incineration also provides energy Burning releases some toxic substances into the air while some remain in the ash 2014 Pearson Education Inc Recycling Reduces need for landfills and incinerators Reuses natural resources Barriers Waste separation Consumer resistance Lack of market 2014 Pearson Education Inc Energy Resources Renewable energy Solar energy from the Sun Hydroelectric and wind power from movements of air and water Geothermal energy from heat within Earth 2014 Pearson Education Inc Energy from Fossil Fuels Oil natural gas coal created from remains of plants and animals millions of years ago 2014 Pearson Education Inc US and Canadian Energy Usage U S and Canadian industry Natural gas Oil Coal 2014 Pearson Education Inc Hydrofacturing Rapid growth of natural gas and oil production through hydrofracturing or fracking technology Horizontal drilling so that gas in a relatively large area can be accessed from a single drill site 2014 Pearson Education Inc The Future of Fossil Fuels Oil resources Inaccessible places Unconventional sources oil shale Problems Air pollution carbon dioxide emissions Land and water impacts 2014 Pearson Education Inc Nuclear Power Used exclusively to generate electricity Problems Potential accidents Radioactive waste Public opposition High cost 2014 Pearson Education Inc Renewable Energy Resources Biomass Hydroelectric power Solar energy Wind energy Geothermal energy 2014 Pearson Education Inc Biomass Fuel is derived from burning wood or processing of other plant material and animal waste Energy is generated by burning or conversion to charcoal alcohol or methane gas 2014 Pearson Education Inc Hydroelectric Power It supplies about one fourth of the world s electricity which is more than any other source except for coal Canada China Brazil and the United States are the largest producers of hydroelectric power 2014 Pearson Education Inc Solar Energy Solar energy is used in two principal ways Thermal energy Photovoltaic electricity production Solar energy can be generated either at a central power station or in individual homes 2014 Pearson Education Inc Wind Energy Wind generated electricity is one of the fastest growing renewable energy technologies Negative visual impacts and hazards to birds 2014 Pearson Education Inc Air Pollution Air pollution is a human caused concentration of trace substances at a greater level than occurs in average air Common air pollutants Chemical components Particulates particles of dust ash and other materials 2014 Pearson Education Inc Urban Air Pollution Large volume of pollution in a small area Three weather factors contribute Lack of wind Temperature inversions Sunlight Santiago Chile 2014 Pearson Education Inc Water Resources Water is our most immediate resource other than air 2014 Pearson Education Inc Wastewater and Disease Wastewater comprises about 15 of the flow of U S rivers In rich countries strict legislation requires treatment facilities to be upgraded In the developing world untreated sewage often goes directly into rivers that also supply drinking water Waterborne diseases such as cholera typhoid and dysentery are major causes of death in developing countries 2014 Pearson Education Inc Chemical and Toxic Pollutants Any waste discharged onto or into the ground may pollute streams or groundwater Pesticides Fertilizers Toxic substances 2014 Pearson Education Inc Controlling Pollution Most common strategy is removal before pollutants enter the environment Pollution prevention Use of non toxic substances Recycling potential pollutants 2014 Pearson Education Inc Forests Cover one third of Earth s surface Uses Renewable natural resource sustained yield Timber paper wood products Recreational Ecosystem Habitat Carbon storage Biodiversity 2014 Pearson Education Inc Balancing Competing Interests Resolving user conflict Balancing resource and recreation Government involvement Marketplace demands 2014 Pearson Education Inc End of Chapter 5 2014 Pearson Education Inc