1. Unit One - Chapter Three
Natural Resources

2. Natural Resources
Natural resources – materials God has provided for our use

3. Energy Resources
Renewable resources – resources that can be replaced by natural means in a relatively short amount of time
Nonrenewable resources – resources that cannot be easily replaced

4. Energy Resources – Nonrenewable - Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels – made from the remains of plants and animals that are buried quickly
Three examples of fossil fuels that provide most of the energy we use
Petroleum
Natural Gas
Coal

5. Energy Resources – Fossil Fuels – Petroleum
Petroleum – the liquid form of fossil fuel
Prudhoe Bay Field – the largest known oil field and one of the biggest oil finds in the U.S.A.
Crude oil – oil pumped from wells
Refinery – a factory that separates crude oil into different products
Petrochemicals – chemicals produced from oil
Disadvantages of petroleum
The use of crude oil products can cause pollution.
Oil spills can occur at oil wells and during transportation.

6. Energy Resources – Fossil Fuels – Natural Gas
Natural gas – found in a gaseous state, close to deposits of oil
Much cleaner to burn than oil because it does not contain sulfur
Natural gas does not have an odor, color or taste

7. Energy Resources – Fossil Fuels – Coal
Coal – made from plant material that is quickly buried
Grades of coal
Anthracite – best and cleanest grade of coal
Bituminous – most common type of coal
Lignite – must be dried out before it can be burned
Disadvantages of burning coal
Produces soot and sulfur gases

8. Energy Resources –Nonrenewable - Nuclear Energy
Does not use a fossil fuel, but depends on a nonrenewable resource (mineral) called uranium
Uranium is used in nuclear reactors to produce electricity and power
The nuclear plant in Chernobyl suffered a reactor meltdown and spread pollution for hundreds of miles.
Problems of nuclear energy
The storage of nuclear energy
The used fuel needs special containment and burial to keep it from harming the environment

9. Energy Resources – Renewable Energy
Renewable resources – sources of energy that can be replaced by natural means

10. Energy Resources – Renewable Energy – Hydroelectric Energy
Before it was used to power electricity, water powered wheels for mills that ground grain
Reservoirs – holding areas that help control the flow of water
Hydroelectric energy – produced as water flows from the reservoirs and turns turbines. The turning of the turbines generates electricity.
Advantages of hydroelectric energy
Reservoirs serve as recreational lakes
Reservoirs provide water for irrigation
Disadvantages of hydroelectric energy
Reservoirs require large flooded land areas
Reservoirs require a dam be built across a major river

11. Energy Resources – Renewable Energy – Hydroelectric Energy
Bible Integration
Some resources are renewable. Christians need to be renewed daily through Bible study, prayer, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.

12. Energy Resources – Renewable Energy – Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy – uses heat from the earth to produce steam; no fuel is consumed
Advantages of geothermal energy
Geothermal energy plants are fairly inexpensive to build and operate
Geothermal energy plants do not produce air pollution or radioactive hazards
Disadvantages of geothermal energy
Once heat is produced, water pollutants must be disposed of properly
Geothermal energy plants must be close to areas of hot magma

13. Energy Resources – Renewable Energy – Wind Energy
Windmills have long been used to turn wheels to grind grain.
Wind energy – air movements that generate electrical energy
Advantages of wind energy
Windmills do not cause pollution
Windmills require very little maintenance
Disadvantages of wind energy
Windmills require a steady wind
The energy produced from a windmill cannot be stored
Windmills take up a lot of space (require large land areas)

14. Energy Resources – Renewable Energy – Solar Energy
Solar energy – using the Sun’s energy to power and heat things
High temperatures produce the steam needed to turn a turbine.
Solar field – a solar collection area
Advantages of solar energy
A solar field does not produce pollution
A solar field uses little water
Disadvantages of solar energy
The solar collection cells are expensive
A large amount of land is required
Solar power collection cannot work after sunset

15. Other Resources – Minerals
Mineral – a solid substance found naturally in Earth’s surface; has never been a living organism
Veins – concentrated areas of specific minerals
Ores – materials with usable amounts of metal in them
Smelting – the process used to separate metal from other materials; heating metal to purify it

16. Other Resources – Minerals – Precious Metals
Precious metals – rare metals
Gold
Malleable – soft and shapeable
Uses – coins, jewelry, dentistry, glassmaking, medicine
Silver
Metal that is easily scratched and tarnished
Uses – money, jewelry, electrical parts, ink, glass, mirrors, medicines, making and processing photographic film

17. Other Resources – Minerals – Other Metals
Copper
One of copper’s greatest values is that it is a good conductor of electricity
Uses – money, wiring, and plumbing
Iron
Uses – tools, weapons, pans, paints, appliances, steel
Magnets are attracted to this type of metal
Aluminum
Uses – foil, cars, airplanes, soda cans
Most abundant metal in earth

18. Other Resources – Soil – Conservation
Farmers have learned to rotate crops to help maintain soil fertility. Some may plant corn one year and beans the next year. If farmers plant the same crop year after year, the soil may become unproductive.
Fallow – a period of rest for a field to replenish the nutrients in the soil
Bible Integration – God established the seventh day as a day of rest and worship.
Ground cover – a low-growing crop that prevents soil erosion in unused fields
Contour plowing – a method used to prevent crops and soil from washing away

19. Other Resources – Soil – Modern Farms
Large farms sometimes use modern technology such as satellites and the Global Positioning System (GPS).
The GPS allows farmers to irrigate and fertilize only the areas of the field that need it, rather than the whole field.

20. Other Resources – Water
Three fourths (3/4) of the earth’s surface is covered by water.
Hydrosphere – all of Earth’s water
Water cycle – the path water takes as it travels from land to sky and back to land

21. Other Resources – Water
Condensation
Precipitation
Transpiration – water is released by plants as they carry on photosynthesis
Evaporation
Surface Water
Ocean
Ground Water

22. Other Resources – Water – Oceans
Oceans contain most of Earth’s water.
Oceans are a key factor in providing fresh water for us.
Saline – salty; oceans are salty due to the dissolved minerals and salts that are left behind
Desalination facilities – facilities that are able to remove the salts and other minerals from ocean water
Oceans play a key role in the carbon dioxide-oxygen cycle.
Phytoplankton – tiny ocean plants that carry on photosynthesis
Oceans influence the climates around the world.

23. Other Resources – Water – Oceans
Biblical Integration
Genesis 1:9 – “And God said, ‘let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so.”
God the Father has provided for man’s physical well- being by supplying shelter, food, and water. He has provided for man’s spiritual well-being through Christ’s death on the cross.

24. Other Resources – Water – Fresh Water
Only a small part of Earth’s water is fresh water, and most of that water is frozen.
Ground water – rainwater stored beneath the surface of the earth
Aquifers – layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock that hold and move ground water
Drawdown – occurs when a lot of water is drawn from a well and the water level falls
Biblical Integration
Genesis 16 contains the first Bible reference to a well. The Lord provided this well to sustain Hagar. Hagar named the well Beeriahairoi, a name that reminded her that God lives and sees.

25. Other Resources – Water – Atmosphere
A small amount of Earth’s water is held as water vapor in the atmosphere.
Humidity – water vapor in the air

26. Other Resources – Water – Frozen Water
Seventy percent (70%) of the world’s fresh water is in Antarctica (Earth’s southernmost continent)
Ice sheet – huge expanse of ice
Ice shelf – an ice sheet that floats on water
Icebergs – independently floating pieces of glaciers, ice sheets or ice shelves
Sea ice – frozen ocean water
The geographic North Pole is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. Therefore, it is on ice, not land.

27. Preserving Our Resources
Things you can do to help conserve the resources
Reduce the amount of resources you use.
Reuse materials that would sometimes get thrown away.
Recycle resources and remake them into other products.