Chapter 13: Natural Resources

13.1 Natural resources support human activity13.2 Minerals and rocks are nonrenewable resources13.3 Resources can be conserved and recycled13.4 Resources can be converted to useful formsChapter 13: Natural ResourcesWarm-up questionsWhat is the major source of energy for the earth system? SunName three forms of energy.mechanical, sound, chemical, heat, electromagneticDescribe ways energy is transferred.radiation, conduction, or convectionWhat resources do you need the most?Think about products you commonly useClothing, books, electronicsWhich materials do you use the most often?What materials are these products made of? Plastic? Cloth? Metal?What if these materials disappeared overnight?

ItemsMaterialsNatural Resources provide materials and energyNatural Resource: any energy source, organism, or substance found in nature that people useEarth system: atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, geosphereProvide all materials needed to support human lifeAtmosphere: air and rainHydrosphere: all watersBiosphere: life, sources of food, fuel, clothing, shelterGeosphere: also sources of food, fuel, clothing, shelter

Natural Resources provide materials and energyCosts and benefits exist in using natural resourcesBurning coal Benefit: produces heatCost: releases smoke that pollutes the airCut down forestsBenefitsCost: exposes soil to air (wind and rain)Strips topsoil harder for new trees to growSoils can clog streams and rivers, killing fish and other animalsSome resources are constantly being replacedRiver water, wind in a windmillSome resources are used faster than they can be replacedFossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas)

Natural Resources provide materials and energyRenewable Resource: a natural resource that can be replaced in nature at about the same rate it is usedEx: sunlight, wind, water, trees, other plantsEx: lumber company plants a new tree for each mature tree it cuts downNumber of trees stays constantNonrenewable Resource: exists in a fixe amount, or is used up faster than it can be replaced in natureSupply is limitedAll resources produced by geologic forces are nonrenewableEx: oil, coal, gas, uranium form over millions of yearsUse faster than can be replaced by nature? Become more scarce and more expensive!Must conserve or develop alternative energy sources (solar and wind)

Think aboutA community wants to use only wind for its energy production. What are some limitations they should consider?

It might take many windmills for energy production to match consumptionIt might not be windy enough for wind to be the sole method of energy production.

Summarize the costs and benefits of using natural resources.Benefit: supplies for all our needsCosts: pollution, soil loss, and depletion of some resources

Compare and contrast renewable and nonrenewable resources. A renewable resource can be replaced at about the same rate it is used. A nonrenewable resource cannot be replaced or can be replaced only over millions of years.

After reading the common uses of each resource: which of these resources are used to generate electricity?Resources used to produce electricity: sunlight, wind, water, coal, oil, natural gas, and uraniumFossil fuels supply most of societys energyCoal, oil, and natural gas electricity, heat, and fuelFossil fuel: a nonrenewable energy resource formed from ancient plants and animals buried in Earths crust for millions of yearsThis energy is a form of stored sunlight!Ancient organisms, that used sunlight, died, formed layers that were compressed heat and pressure coal, oil, and natural gasBurn easily and produce a lot of heatUsed to run most of of USs power plants (electricity) Water stream turns a turbine drives a generator to produce electricity through power lines to towns and citiesBurning produces carbon dioxide (CO2), acids, other pollution

What is the function of the fossil fuel source? to provide heat (to the boiler)

What does the boiler produce? Steam

What does the steam do? turns the turbine

What does the turbine do?drives the generator

Which part of the plant actually produces the electricity? the generatorFossil Fuels - CoalSolidFormed underground from buried and decayed plant materialHarder coal burns hotter and cleaner than softer coalUS, Russia, and China are the major producersSurface mines: overlying rock is stripped away to expose coalDeep mines: miners go underground to dig out coalMostly used to fuel power plants and run factoriesProblems: pollution and destroys landscapes, miners health

Fossil Fuels Oil and Natural GasMost is trapped underground in porous rockheat and pressure push the oil and natural gas upward to nonporous rockWells drilled to bring the oil and natural gas to the surfaceDeposits found under oceans and on landOil transported to refinersHeat breaks oil into different parts:Ex: gasoline, jet fuel, cleaning supplies, plasticsEasily transported: heat homes and power vehiclesProblems: oil spills!, air pollution (smog)Fossil fuels, minerals, and plants supply materials for modern productsOil broken down to different chemicals used to make plasticsPlastics are easily shaped, colored, and formedMinerals are found in cars, airplanes, tools, wiresEx: calcite and gypsum used in building materials and cement20,000 lbs of minerals per year = in products used by YOU!Plants: wood in buildings, furniture, other itemspaper!Source of dies, fibers, and medicines