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Chapter 14: Resource Issues
The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography
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Ch. 14.1 – I. Energy Resources
– Animate versus inanimate power– Energy supply and demand
• Five-sixths of the world’s energy supply comes from coal, natural gas, and oil
– Finiteness of natural resources• Renewable versus nonrenewable resources
– Proven reserves– Potential reserves
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Per Capita Energy Consumption
Figure 14-1
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U.S. Energy Consumption
Figure 14-2
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Outlook for World Petroleum Production
Figure 14-3
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Coal Production
Figure 14-4
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Proven Reserves of Fossil Fuels
Figure 14-5
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Ch. 14.1 – I. Energy Resources (cont.)
– Uneven distribution of fossil fuels• Location of reserves
– Consumption of fossil fuels– Control of world petroleum
• OPEC• Changing supply and demand
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Ch. 14.1 – II. Mineral Resources
– Metallic or nonmetallic• Nonmetallic = 90 percent of extraction is for
building stone• Ferrous metallic minerals = iron ore, chromium,
manganese• Nonferrous metallic minerals = aluminum,
copper, zinc– Precious metals = gold, silver, platinum
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Ch. 14.2 – I. Air Pollution
– Global scale• Global warming
– Greenhouse effect– The ozone layer and CFCs– Critics of global warming (look outside text)
– Regional scale• Acid precipitation and acid deposition
– Local scale• Carbon monoxide • Hydrocarbons and photochemical smog• Particulates
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Global Warming
Figure 14-15
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Acid Deposition in North America & Europe
Figure 14-18
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Smog in Mexico City
Figure 14-19
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Ch. 14.2 – II. Water Pollution
– Sources• Agriculture• Water-using industries• Municipal uses
– Impact on aquatic life• Biochemical oxygen demand• Wastewater and disease
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Ch. 14.2 – III. Land Pollution
– Solid-waste disposal• Sanitary landfills
– Two alternatives to landfills: incineration and recycling
– Hazardous waste disposal• In 2007 = about 47 million tons disposed of in
the United States
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Ch. 14.3 – I. Renewing Resources
– Nuclear energy• Potential accidents
– Three-Mile Island (PA – U.S.) – 1979 – Chernobyl (USSR – Ukr.) – 1986– Fukushima Daiichi (Tokyo – Japan) – 2011
• Radioactive wastes• Bomb material
– Iran, North Korea, terrorists
• Limited uranium reserves• High cost
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Percentage of Electricity Generated from Nuclear Power
Figure 14-23
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Ch. 14.3 – I. Renewing Resources (cont.)
– Leading renewable energy resources• Biomass• Hydroelectric power• Wind power• Geothermal energy• Solar energy
– Active– Passive
• Renewable energy in motor vehicles
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Electricity From Hydroelectric Power
Figure 14-26
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Ch. 14.3 – II. Recycling Resources
– In the United States recycling has steadily increased since 1970
– Recycling collection• Pick-up and processing
– Recyclables are collected in four ways: curbside, drop-off, buy-back, and/or deposit
• Manufacturing of recycled products
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Sources of Solid Waste
Figure 14-30
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Ch. 14.3 – II. Recycling Resources (cont.)
– Other pollution reduction strategies• Reducing discharges• Increasing environmental capacities
– Comparing pollution reduction strategies• It seems clear that consumers must learn to
use/waste less for a safer, cleaner environment
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A Coking Plant
Figure 14-32
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Ch. 14.4 – I. Sustainable Development
– Improving quality of life while preserving resources for future generations
– Conservation• Sustainable use and management of resources
– Preservation• Maintenance of resources in their present
condition
– Impact on economic growth
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Sustainable Development
Figure 14-33
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Pollution Compared to a Country’s Wealth
Figure 14-34
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Ch. 14.4 – II. Biodiversity
– Geographic biodiversity versus biological biodiversity
• Biologists = most concerned with genetic diversity
• Geographers = most concerned with biogeographic diversity
– Biodiversity in the tropics• Occupy 6 percent of Earth’s land area but
contain more than 50 percent of all species
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The End.