Earth’s Resources

Natural Resources The parts of the environment that are useful or necessary for survival of living things. Air, food, water, sunlight, crops Cotton, steel, coal, oil, Categorized as Renewable, Inexhaustible, or Nonrenewable

Renewable Resources These resources are replaced or recycled by Earth or living process Replacement usually can take place within a short amount of time These resources may be part of a cycle. Oxygen, water (‘hydro’ or tidal), crops, Geothermal (earth) O2

Inexhaustible Resources Inexhaustible resources – never will run out Sun, wind, power of tides

Non-renewable Resources Any natural resource that is not easily replaced by nature (MILLIONS of years) Fossil Fuels Coal – used to produce electricity Natural Gas – manufacturing, cooking, heating Oil – power cars, airplanes, trains Minerals & metals Nonrenewable Resources make up 90% of all resources, one day we will be…

Pollution Burning fossil fuels is how you get energy out of them, this results in lots of pollution A pollutant is anything that contaminates the environment. Pollution can affect air, water, and land. Pollution may be caused by people, animals, or nature. Population increasing year after year, more people, more pollution

How pollution affects … AIR - smog, acid precipitation, global warming, greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, indoor air pollution The ozone layer shields the Earth from some of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV). Depletion (thinning) caused primarily by chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s). Which are used as coolants in refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioners.

Ozone Depletion

Acid Rain Emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water vapor in the atmosphere to create sulfuric and nitric acids.

What is the greenhouse effect? changes in the Earth’s atmosphere that may enhance the natural warming process and elevate global temperature Most outgoing heat energy: trapped CO2 CO2 blanket of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 What is the greenhouse effect? CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 C CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2

How pollution affects … WATER - Acid precipitation, wastewater from factories, thermal pollution, people directly dumping, pesticides, waste, sewage, oil spills, rain may wash land pollutants into nearby rivers or lakes The water cycle moves pollution with it and contaminates our fresh water supply

How pollution affects … Land – landfills (trash dump sites), erosion, deforestation, farming, pesticides / insecticides, over population Top soil – rich soil vegetation grows in Biomass (dead plants and animals) add nutrients to soil, natural fertilizers

What can be done?….. Conserve 3 R’s of Conservation Reduce - cut back on using certain types of energy Turn off Lights, TV, and Water when not in use Car pool Walk or ride a bike Use cloth bags when shopping, instead of paper or plastic Buy in bulk (less packaging) Buy energy efficient appliances

What Should I Do? LUNCH A Lunch box containing a thermos of drink, a piece of fruit such as an apple, pear or plum, a sandwich container, chips and/or carrots and celery sticks in a reusable plastic container, napkin. LUNCH B Paper bag containing juice carton, sandwich wrapped in plastic wrap, bag of chips, Twinkie or fruit pie, banana, carrots or celery sticks wrapped in plastic wrap, and a pudding cup, napkin and spoon.

What can be done?….. Conserve Reuse – use items more than once Bring lunch in a reusable container Buy used stuff, like recycled paper Donate used clothing to a shelter

What can be done?….. Conserve Recycle - a form of reusing that requires changing or reprocessing items Avoid filling up landfill space; recycle aluminum, plastic, paper glass, and cardboard as well as tires, batteries and used motor oil. Use composting.  A  compost is recycled plant matter. Food and yard scraps placed in a bin are converted into valuable garden soil in a matter of weeks. Composting can easily reduce by half the volume of material a household sends to a landfill.

Alternatives Wind Power Hydroelectric/Water kinetic energy to electrical energy Upside – no air pollution Downside – not always windy Hydroelectric/Water potential energy to electrical energy Upside – no air pollution Downside – need a lake

Alternatives Geothermal Nuclear Power thermal energy to electrical energy Upside – No air pollution Downside – Very localized Nuclear Power Nuclear energy to electrical energy Upside – No air pollution Downside – radioactive waste

Alternatives Solar Energy radiant energy to thermal energy Upside – No air pollution Downside – Cost