Natural Resources

Natural Resources

ESE 2010ESE 2010

Origins of Resources1. Biotic: resources

obtained from the biosphere

1. Examples: forests, animals, minerals and decaying matter

2. Abiotic: resources comprised of nonliving things.

1. Examples: land, water, air, ores (gold, copper, iron), Uranium and Plutonium

Stages of Development

1. Potential Resources: those that exist in a region and may be used in the future

1. example: Petroleum may exist in many parts of India, in sedimentary rock, but until it is drilled and put to use, it remains potential

2. Actual Resources: those that have been surveyed, quality and quantity determined, and are being used in present times

1. example: Wood processing depends on the technology available and the cost involved.

2. Reserve: the part of the actual resource that can be developed profitably.

Types of Resources1. Non-exhaustible

Resources

2. Renewable Resources

3. Non-renewable Resources

Types of Resources Cont.1. Non-exhaustible: Amounts of these resources are

not affected, in quantity, by human consumption

1. wind

2. sunlight

3. air

2. Renewable: Amounts are depleted by human use, but may be replenished in a reasonable amount of time, thus maintaining flow.

1. crops

2. water

3. forests

Types of Resources Cont.

3. Non-renewable (Exhaustible): Formation of non-renewable resources is extremely slow. They can not be replenished once they are depleted. (fossil fuels)

1. Metallic Minerals: can be re-used by recycling

2. Coal and Petroleum: can not be recycled

Fossil Fuels • Fossil fuels take millions

of years to form.

• They are the product of the fossilized remains of dead plants and animals that have been exposed to the heat and pressure deep within the earth’s crust.

• Examples include: petroleum (gasoline), natural gas, and coal.

information on fossil fuels from abcteach.com

Fossil Fuels cont.• It’s estimated that 86% of the world’s energy

comes directly from burning fossil fuels.

• Fossil fuels are the source of energy for almost every machine, including the generators that produce electric energy.

• Fossil fuels are being consumed faster than they can be produced.

• Fossil fuels are a major contributor to air pollution because when they are burned they release many dangerous gases such as nitrogen dioxide, methane, and carbon dioxide.

Solar Energy• The sun brings heat and

light to the world.

• The sun shines naturally and is not affected by human activity. Its intensity varies with the seasons.

• The sun’s rays are used for energy by organisms that undergo photosynthesis. Nearly every organism on the planet gets energy through photosynthesis, directly or indirectly.

Wind• Wind is caused by the uneven

heating of the atmosphere.

• Some areas of the world, such as costal regions, have more wind than others because the terrain of the area is relatively flat and has few obstacles to block the wind from blowing.

• The power of the wind has been used to power windmills that grind grain. Windmills can also use the circular movement of the blades to turn a turbine. This is increasingly used as a means of generating electricity.

Wind cont.• Wind power does not

make greenhouse gas emissions. It does not directly cause pollution.

• However, critics of wind power say a large number of windmills could cause problems for animals, especially migratory birds. Some people think the windmills are unattractive.

Water• Water is the only common

substance that exists on the Earth’s surface that exists as a solid, liquid and gas

• The hydrologic cycle naturally purifies water

• Water can be used for drinking, cooking, or in turbines to create energy

• Problems are that there are limited amounts of fresh water

• about 97% of water is in the oceans

Water Cont.

• What are the processes of the hydrologic cycle?

Natural Resource Management• Natural resource management is a discipline in the

management of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations.

• Natural resource management is interrelated with the concept of sustainable development, a principle that forms a basis for land management and environmental governance throughout the world.

• In contrast to the policy emphases of urban planning and the broader concept of environmental management, Natural resource management specifically focuses on a scientific and technical understanding of resources and ecology and the life-supporting capacity of those resources.

Resources

• information on fossil fuels, solar energy and wind from abcteach.com

• Earth Comm Text