Natural Resources and Energy

Today’s class What is a natural resource? How does the distribution and management of natural resources affect movements of products and people?

What is a Natural resource? Materials from nature – minerals, plant fibers, animal products, and energy – that go into making a good. Availability depends on: –Physical characteristics of the resource –Economic and technological condition of society

Major Resources Coal = Steele for manufacturing Petroleum = Gas, Kerosene, etc. for energy and chemical products Aquifers & Lakes = fresh water

Middle East Algeria & Libya

Asia Over 25% World Coal Deposits North America Over 25% Europe Over 30%

Nigeria 35,900,000,000 Barrels of oil Middle East – 426,000,000,000 Barrels of oil Russia 60,000,000,000 Barrels of oil Venezuela 79,700,000,000 Barrels of Oil Canada 178,8000,000,000 Barrels of Oil World Oil Reserves Mastering the TEKS in World Geography 2011 Libya 39,100,000,000 Barrels of oil

Oil Worldwide and in US, 40% of energy 2/3 of US use is transportation Cheaper to import oil than extract it here (60% imported)

OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Cartel that sets oil prices and supply –Formed to resist European companies –Holds 70% of reserves Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE; Algeria, Libya, Nigeria; Venezuela; Indonesia

Flammable Gas consisting mainly of Methane Burns more clean than both Oil and Coal Extracted from oil fields and gas fields Turned to a liquid to transport Top Producers are United States, Russia, and Iran

Long history as a valuable metal –Conducts electricity –Used as currency Occurs everywhere, even in seawater Example: Gold

Gold helped Union win Civil War Population boom made CA a state in 2 years Agriculture began to boom San Francisco as gateway California Gold Rush

Mineral that includes tantalum Used in cell phones, laptops, etc. Found in Australia, Central Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) Example: Coltan

Mineral that includes tantalum Used in cell phones, laptops, etc. Found in Australia, Central Africa Coltan Good source of income for Congolese But, militias overrun protected areas and smuggle out coltan So Nokia et al. go to Australia instead

The capacity to do work or transfer heat (Nearly) All energy comes from the sun Primary energy sources: heat or do work directly Secondary sources: turn turbines to generate electricity

90% of US energy from fossil fuels Remainder nuclear, hydro Different geography for each source –Coal, natural gas –Hydro –Nuclear –Solar –Wind

Nuclear Solar Wind Hydro

Distribution of Natural Resources encourages Specialization Not all areas of the world have the climate, landforms, soils or minerals for good agriculture – in some regions, farmers are not able to grow certain crops or much food at all. The same goes for other resources which encourages specialization

Specialization Producing or growing a lot of one product which leads to trade.

Saudi Arabia Japan Oil TV’s Camera’s Fruit $ $ $