Natural Resource Non Renewable Oil Coal Natural gas Renewable Water Wood How do we use nature Life on Planet Earth Notes Last Exam 4 16 15 Energy Consumption of fossil fuels non renewable for gas and electricity Buildings Use of materials and space for housing offices and other buildings Timber and paper The cutting of trees for consumer products Food and Fiber The use of land water and fertilizers for grazing and crop land Seafood The fishing of wild stock or use of resources How do we change nature How we impact nature Reducing biodiversity Increasing genetic resistance in pest species and disease causing bacteria Eliminating natural predators Introducing harmful species Using renewable degrading natural resources faster than they can be replenished water Disrupting natural cycles Relying heavily on fossil fuels Reducing and degrading natural habitats Human actions such as fossil fuels use pollution disease spread and habitat destruction cause Global warming increase in average global temp Results Rise in sea levels Change in precipitation patterns Alterations to wildlife cycles Species loss increases with human population rise Freshwater depletion All these problems increase with an increase in world population 7 159 440 570 The US has the 3rd largest population in the world 317 861 395 Greenhouse gasses Largest source electricity Human Uses An ecological footprint is our biological demand or use of resources Ways to Reduce the Ecological Footprint The use of renewable energy Solar 09 U S energy expensive Wind 1 17 U S energy expensive Living Green Nuclear 8 U S energy expensive limited life hazardous waste Biomass biofuels waste wood 4 32 U S energy land use limited quantities large emissions Hydroelectric 3 15 U S energy Dams disturb habitats Geothermal 18 U S energy expensive requires more technology some release noxious fumes Recycle and reuse Driving less and carpooling Reduce energy usage compact fluorescent light bulbs turning off electronic etc Reduce water usage buy local food low flow appliances etc Use renewable energy sources solar wind etc The importance of Biodiversity and Conservation Biodiversity adds stability to natural environments Economic services in the form of required resources energy raw materials water medicines etc It can take millions of years for nature to recover for us gone means gone Energy source estimates Average 50 70 years but lots of variation Aesthetic and moral argument The beauty of the natural world and other living species have a right to exist regardless of their usefulness to people Fracking A drilling method called hydraulic fracturing better known as hydro fracking or fracking in which large amounts of sand water and chemicals are injected deep underground at high pressure Used to extract fossil methane and propane and oil Size of Reserves Estimates vary widely and run anywhere from 25 75 years Economic Reserves Water Impacts Economy Example North Texas Dallas Ft Worth 8 2 Billion yr 84 000 jobs Indirect financial impacts local retail land leasing and royalties industrial and construction restaurants Challenges Housing shortage increased traffic strain on local schools loss of open land worker shortage in some areas Example Ohio and PA region 3 5 million gallons over 2 5 days current power plants use 53 7 billion gallons a day 10 2 billion for public use Source recycled from fracking use and local rivers and streams No regulation on water withdrawals natural hydrological conditions existing water uses and ecological health Concerns over groundwater contamination 34 of public water comes from groundwater the rest from surface water Land Impacts Air Impacts 5 8 acres per drill pad 3 200 pads in PA alone for Marcellus Shale 2 500 additional well permits issued Habitat fragmentation soil erosion noise pollution no water disposal Fracking has been linked to earthquakes here in OH Release of ground level ozone Methane release shorter life but 2x as potent as CO2 as greenhouse gas Waste Other gasses CO2 Carbon dioxide S02 Sulfur dioxide NO2 Nitrogen dioxide H2S Hydrogen sulfide Smog in some rural fracking areas has increased to levels higher than large cities 1 million gallons a day waste water created water sand benzene radium lubricants surfactants biocides Often contains radioactive levels too high to be treated by normal water treatment plants This water is often released back into rivers Waste water often seeps back into surrounding ground Biomaterials Nature and man combine Matter surface or constructs that interact with or are inspired by biological systems Inspirations Spider silk extremely strong Shark scales reduce drag for swimming Pine cone scales water resistant Lotus plant water and dust repellent Gecko defies gravity Inspired by Nature is often the inspiration for new super materials Strong threads and fabrics body armor adhesives medical implants Interact with Biomaterials are also those that are designed to work within a biological system Joint implants Bone mending materials Neural microchip implants and Permanent hearing aids Pros and Cons The natural world can and has been an endless source of scientific engineering inspiration The downside we often cannot replicate in a few years what evolution has perfected over millions 4 23 15 Spider Venom Peptides protein building blocks in spider venom have been shown to block pain signals Research 45 000 known spider species 205 tested for pain control 40 showed pain blocking potential New sources are needed because Chronic pain is widespread in adults Current painkillers can be addictive Abuse rates on the rise Possible Benefits Non addictive spider venom is more specific than current opiates Non addiction could mean long term use and wider availability with less restriction Other venom sources Black mamba snake morphine replacement non addictive Sun anemone autoimmune disorders psoriasis MS and rheumatoid arthritis Attacks specific white cells Scorpions centipedes and assassin bugs Development Impacts to Nature Habitat fragmentation One large natural area becomes many smaller ones or flow is disrupted Pollution Chemical material light sound land and water Species displacement Disruption of natural cycles Habitat type change forest to farm field to strip mall etc Economic Benefits Jobs Increase of tax base new businesses households etc Beneficial infrastructure roads sewer electricity etc In flow of money to local economy Compromise Equal compromise is rare Some laws