3.3 EARTH’S RESOURCES

RENEWABLE AND NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES

• RENEWABLE RESOURCES CAN BE REPLENISHED OVER FAIRLY SHORT SPANS OF TIME, SUCH AS MONTHS, YEARS, OR DECADES

• NONRENEWABLE RESOURCES TAKES MILLIONS OF YEARS TO FORM AND ACCUMULATE

FOSSIL FUELS

• NEARLY 90% OF ENERGY USED IN THE U.S. COMES FROM FOSSIL FUELS

• FOSSIL FUELS ARE HYDROCARBONS THAT MAY BE USED AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY

• THEY INCLUDE COAL, OIL, AND NATURAL GAS

• THE TOP TWO SOURCES OF ENERGY WORLDWIDE IS OIL AND COAL

FOSSIL FUELS - COAL • FORMS FROM PLANT MATERIAL COLLECTED IN SWAMPS

• FOUR STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT:• 1ST STAGE, PEAT, IS PARTIALLY DECAYED PLANT MATERIALS THAT

SOMETIMES LOOKS LIKE SOIL

• 2ND STAGE – PEAT BECOMES LIGNITE, WHICH IS A SEDIMENTARY ROCK THAT IS OFTEN CALLED BROWN COAL

• 3RD STAGE – CONTINUED HEAT AND PRESSURE TRANSFORMS LIGNITE INTO BITUMINOUS COAL, OR SOFT COAL

• BITUMINOUS COAL IS ANOTHER SEDIMENTARY ROCK

• 4TH STAGE – METAMORPHIC ROCK CALLED ANTHRACITE COAL, OR HARD COAL

• AS COAL DEVELOPS, IT BECOMES HARDER AND RELEASES MORE HEAT WHEN BURNED

FOSSIL FUELS - PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

• FORM FROM PLANT AND ANIMAL MATERIAL THAT COLLECTED AND WERE BURIED IN ANCIENT SEAS

• HOW IT WORKS:• CHEMICAL REACTIONS SLOWLY TRANSFORM THE REMAINS INTO LIQUID

(PETROLEUM) AND GASEOUS (NATURAL GAS) HYDROCARBONS

• MATERIALS MOVE THROUGH POROUS SEDIMENT LAYERS UNTIL THEY EITHER REACH THE SURFACE OR IS BLOCKED BY AN IMPERMEABLE LAYER OF SEDIMENT

OIL TRAP DIAGRAM • OIL TRAP – GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS LARGE AMOUNTS OF FLUIDS TO ACCUMULATE – STOPS THE UPWARD MOVEMENT OF OILS AND GAS

• MUST HAVE A PERMEABLE RESERVOIR ROCK THAT ALLOWS OIL AND GAS TO COLLECT

• MUST HAVE A CAP ROCK THAT KEEPS OIL AND GAS FROM ESCAPING TO THE SURFACE

TAR SAND AND OIL SHALE

• TAR SANDS ARE USUALLY MIXTURES OF CLAY AND SAND COMBINED WITH WATER AND BLACK, THICK TAR CALLED BITUMEN

• OIL SHALE IS A ROCK THAT CONTAINS A WAXY MIXTURE OF HYDROCARBONS CALLED KEROGEN

• FUELS DERIVED FROM TAR SANDS AND OIL SHALE COULD BECOME GOOD SUBSTITUTES FOR DWINDLING PETROLEUM SUPPLIES

FORMATION OF MINERAL DEPOSITS

• SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MINERAL DEPOSITS FORM THROUGH IGNEOUS PROCESSES, AND FROM HYDROTHERMAL SOLUTIONS

• ORE IS A USEFUL METALLIC MINERAL THAT CAN BE MINED AT A PROFIT

1. IGNEOUS PROCESSES• PRODUCE IMPORTANT METALLIC

MINERALS, SUCH AS CHROMITE AND PLATINUM

• AS MAGMA COOLS, MINERALS CRYSTALLIZE AND SETTLE

FORMATION OF MINERAL DEPOSITS

2. HYDROTHERMAL SOLUTIONS

• GENERATE SOME OF THE BEST KNOWN ORE DEPOSITS, SUCH AS GOLD, SILVER, AND MERCURY

• HOT, METAL-RICH FLUIDS THAT ARE LEFT DURING THE LATE STAGES OF THE MOVEMENT AND COOLING OF MAGMA

FORMATION OF MINERAL DEPOSITS – HYDROTHERMAL SOLUTIONS

• IN THE FIGURE TO THE RIGHT, MINERAL-RICH HOT WATER SEEP INTO ROCKS, COOLS, AND LEAVES BEHIND MINERAL DEPOSITS

NONMETALLIC MINERAL RESOURCES

• NONMETALLIC MINERAL RESOURCES ARE EXTRACTED AND PROCESSED EITHER FOR THE NONMETALLIC ELEMENTS THEY CONTAIN OR FOR THEIR PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

• EXAMPLES INCLUDE FLUORITE AND LIMESTONE AS FERTILIZER, AND CRUSHED STONE AS A CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES• SOLAR ENERGY USES THE SUN’S RAYS TO SUPPLY HEAT OR ELECTRICITY

• HOW THE ENERGY IS PRODUCED:• SOLAR-POWERED PHOTOVOLTAIC

(PV) PANELS CONVERT THE SUN'S RAYS INTO ELECTRICITY BY EXCITING ELECTRONS IN SILICON CELLS USING LIGHT FROM THE SUN

• ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:• ADVANTAGES - SOLAR ENERGY’S

“FUEL” IS FREE, AND NON-POLLUTING

• DISADVANTAGES – EQUIPMENT AND SETUP IS NOT FREE, SUPPLEMENTAL HEATING OR POWER UNITS NEEDED ON CLOUDY DAYS

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES• NUCLEAR ENERGY , LIKE FOSSIL FUEL PLANTS, PRODUCE ELECTRICITY

BY BOILING WATER INTO STEAM

• HOW IT WORKS:• WATER IS TURNED INTO STEAM, WHICH DRIVES TURBINE GENERATORS TO

PRODUCE ELECTRICITY. THE DIFFERENCE IS THE SOURCE OF HEAT. AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS, THE HEAT TO MAKE THE STEAM IS CREATED WHEN URANIUM ATOMS SPLIT – CALLED FISSION.

• ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES • ADVANTAGES – DOES NOT EMIT CARBON EMISSIONS, MOST ENERGY IS PRODUCED

FROM A SMALL MASS OF FUEL, RELIABLE SOURCE OF ENERGY

• DISADVANTAGES - DISPOSAL OF WASTE IS VERY EXPENSIVE, ACCIDENTS CAN SPREAD RADIATION OVER A WIDE AREA (EX. CHERNOBYL)

DIABLO CANYON NUCLEAR PLANT

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES• WIND ENERGY

• HOW IT WORKS:• ENERGY IN THE WIND TURNS

PROPELLER-LIKE BLADES, WHICH SPIN A WHICH SPINS A SHAFT, WHICH CONNECTS TO A GENERATOR AND MAKES ELECTRICITY

• ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:

• ADVANTAGES – CLEAN FUEL SOURCE, SUSTAINABLE, COST-EFFECTIVE

• DISADVANTAGES – CAUSE NOISE AND VISUAL POLLUTION, MAY DAMAGE LOCAL WILDLIFE

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

• HYDROELECTRIC POWER IS THE POWER GENERATED BY FALLING WATER.

• HOW IT WORKS:

• THE WATER HELD BEHIND A DAM IS A FORM OF STORED ENERGY THAT CAN BE RELEASED THROUGH THE DAM TO PRODUCE

ELECTRIC POWER.

• THE STRONG WATER FLOW THAT RESULTS DRIVES TURBINES AND ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

• ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:

• ADVANTAGES – ELECTRICITY PRODUCED DOES NOT CREATE WASTE PRODUCTS, POWER CAN BE MADE AT A CONSTANT RATE

• DISADVANTAGES – EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO BUILD, DISRUPTS NATURAL HABITAT

GLEN CANYON DAM

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

• GEOTHERMAL ENERGY• HOW IT WORKS:

• INVOLVES GETTING HEAT FROM ROCKS UNDERGROUND AS HOT WATER COMES UP AND WE USE THE STEAM TO DRIVE TURBINES AND GENERATE ENERGY

• ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:• ADVANTAGES – NO POLLUTION, LOW RUNNING COSTS

• DISADVANTAGES – HIGH INITIAL COST, CANNOT BE EASILY TRANSPORTED TO HOMES (ONLY USED IN SURROUNDING AREAS)

THE GEYSERS IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST ELECTRICAL GEOTHERMAL FACILITY

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES• TIDAL POWER IS HARNESSED BY

CONSTRUCTING A DAM ACROSS THE MOUTH OF A BAY OR AN ESTUARY IN COASTAL AREAS.

• HOW IT WORKS:

• THE STRONG IN-AND-OUT FLOW OF TIDAL WATER DRIVES TURBINES AND ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

• ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:

• ADVANTAGES – NO POLLUTION, CANNOT RUN OUT OF IT, VERY EFFICIENT SOURCE OF ENERGY

• DISADVANTAGES – HIGH INITIAL COST, FINDING A GOOD LOCATION IS DIFFICULT, INTENSITY OF SEA WAVES IS UNPREDICTABLE

WATER, AIR AND LAND RESOURCES

• THE WATER PLANET• EACH DAY, PEOPLE USE

FRESHWATER FOR DRINKING, COOKING, BATHING, AND GROWING FOOD

• THE PROBLEM IS:• 98% OF WATER ON EARTH IS

SALTWATER

• 2% IS FRESHWATER

• 68.9% IS IN GLACIERS AND PERMAFROST

• 30.8% IS GROUNDWATER

• 0.3% IS LAKES AND RIVERS

WATER, AIR AND LAND RESOURCES

• THE WATER PLANET• FRESHWATER POLLUTION

• POINT SOURCE POLLUTION COMES FROM A KNOWN AND SPECIFIC LOCATION, SUCH AS FACTORY PIPES.

• NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION IS POLLUTION THAT DOES NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC POINT OF ORIGIN.

• RUNOFF IS THE WATER THAT FLOWS OVER THE LAND RATHER THAN SEEPING INTO THE GROUND, OFTEN CARRYING NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION.

MAJOR TYPES OF WATER POLLUTION

WATER, AIR AND LAND RESOURCES

• EARTH’S BLANKET OF AIR• THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE

ATMOSPHERE HELPS MAINTAIN LIFE ON EARTH

• POLLUTIONS IN THE AIR• THE INCREASE OF CARBON DIOXIDE IN THE

ATMOSPHERE HAS ALTERED THE CARBON CYCLE AND CONTRIBUTED TO GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE—THE UNNATURAL INCREASE IN THE TEMPERATURE OF THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE

• THROUGH A SERIES OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS, THESE POLLUTANTS IN THE AIR ARE CONVERTED INTO ACIDS THAT ARE A MAJOR CAUSE OF ACID PRECIPITATION

WATER, AIR, AND LAND RESOURCES• LAND RESOURCES • EARTH’S LAND PROVIDES

SOIL AND FORESTS, AS WELL AS MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES

• DAMAGE TO LAND RESOURCES

• MINES PRODUCE MANY MINERAL RESOURCES, BUT MINES ARE DESTROYING, SOIL, VEGETATION, AND EARTH’S CONTOURS.

• MINES ALSO CAUSE SOIL EROSION AND POLLUTION THAT CONTAMINATES SOIL AND WATER AND DESTROYS ECOSYSTEMS.

PROTECTING RESOURCES

• KEEPING WATER CLEAN AND SAFE

• CONSERVATION IS THE CAREFUL USE OF RESOURCES.

• POLLUTION PREVENTION MEANS STOPPING POLLUTION FROM ENTERING THE ENVIRONMENT.

PROTECTING RESOURCES

• KEEPING WATER CLEAN AND SAFE• STARTING IN THE 1970’S, THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PASSED SEVERAL LAWS TO PREVENT OR DECREASE POLLUTION AND PROTECT RESOURCES.

• IN 1972, THE CLEAN WATER ACT (CWA) REQUIRED INDUSTRIES TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE POINT SOURCE POLLUTION INTO SURFACE WATERS.

• THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT OF 1974 HELPED PROTECT DRINKING RESOURCES.

PROTECTING RESOURCES

• PROTECTING THE AIR• IN THE 1970’S, CONGRESS

PASSED THE CLEAN AIR ACT, THE NATION’S MOST IMPORTANT AIR POLLUTION LAW.

• NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS (NAAQS) ESTABLISHED FOR SIX “CRITERIA” POLLUTANTS KNOWN TO CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS – CARBON MONOXIDE, OZONE, LEAD, SULFUR DIOXIDE, NITROGEN OXIDES AND PARTICULATES (FINE PARTICLES).

PROTECTING RESOURCES• CARING FOR LAND RESOURCES

• PROTECTING LAND RESOURCES INVOLVES PREVENTING POLLUTION AND MANAGING LAND RESOURCES WISELY.

• COMPOST IS PARTLY DECOMPOSED ORGANIC MATERIAL THAT CAN BE USED AS FERTILIZER.

• RECYCLING IS THE COLLECTING AND PROCESSING OF USED ITEMS SO THAT THEY CAN BE MADE INTO NEW PRODUCTS.