Chapter 14: Resource Issues

The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography

Introduction

• Resource: substances in environment substances that are useful to humans– Limited

• 2 resource misuses:– Deplete scarce resources for energy– Destroy resources by pollution

Why Are Resources Being Depleted?

• Energy resources– Animate versus inanimate power– Energy supply & demand

• 5/6 of world energy comes from coal, natural gas, &oil

Figure 14-2

Per Capita Energy ConsumptionFigure 14-1

Why Are Resources Being Depleted?• Energy resources

– Finiteness of natural resources• Renewable versus nonrenewable resources

– Proven reserves• Total supply known

– Potential reserves• Undiscovered fields• Enhanced recovery

from known fields• Unconventional

sources

Figure 14-3

Coal ProductionFigure 14-4

Proven Reserves of Fossil Fuels Figure 14-5

Why Are Resources Being Depleted?

• Energy resources– Uneven distribution of fossil fuels

• Location of reserves

– Consumption of fossil fuels

Why Are Resources Being Depleted?• Energy resources

– Control of world petroleum• Sharp conflicts• OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting

Countries)• Changing supply &

demand

Why Are Resources Being Depleted?

• Mineral resources– Metallic or nonmetallic

• Nonmetallic = 90 % of extraction is for building stone

Why Are Resources Being Depleted?

• Mineral resources– Metallic or nonmetallic

• Ferrous metallic minerals = iron ore, chromium, manganese

• Nonferrous metallic minerals = aluminum, copper, zinc

– Precious metals = gold, silver, platinum

Why Are Resources Being Polluted?

• Air pollution– Global scale

• Global warming– Greenhouse effect– Ozone layer & CFCs Figure 14-15

Why Are Resources Being Polluted?• Air pollution

– Regional scale• Acid precipitation & acid deposition

Figure 14-18

Why Are Resources Being Polluted?

• Air pollution– Local scale

• Carbon monoxide • Hydrocarbons & photochemical smog• Particulates

Figure 14-19

Why Are Resources Being Polluted?

• Water pollution– Nonpoint-source vs.

point-source pollution– Sources

• Agriculture• Water-using

industries• Municipal

uses

Why Are Resources Being Polluted?• Water pollution

– Impact on aquatic life• Biochemical oxygen demand• Dead zone• Thermal

pollution

– Wastewater & disease

• U.S. Clean Water Act

Why Are Resources Being Polluted?

• Land pollution– Solid-waste disposal

• Sanitary landfills– Expanded landfill capacities– 2 alternatives to landfills: incineration & recycling

Why Are Resources Being Polluted?• Land pollution

– Hazardous waste disposal• 2007: about 47 million tons disposed of in U.S.• Heavy metals• Pollution,

cancer, death, etc.

Why Are Resources Being Polluted?

• Renewing resources– Nuclear energy

• Potential accidents

• Radioactive wastes

• Bomb material

• Limited uranium reserves

• High cost

– Nuclear fusion

Percentage of Electricity Generated from Nuclear Power

Figure 14-23

Why Are Resources Being Reused?

• Renewing resources– Leading renewable

energy resources• Biomass• Hydroelectric

power• Wind power• Geothermal

energy

Electricity From Hydroelectric PowerFigure 14-26

Why Are Resources Being Reused?

• Renewing resources– Leading renewable energy

resources• Solar energy

– 1% of U.S. energy– Active

» Special devices collect solar energy & convert to power

– Passive» No special devices to

collect solar energy

Why Are Resources Being Reused?

• Renewing resources– Leading renewable energy

resources• Renewable energy in motor

vehicles

Why Are Resources Being Reused?

• Recycling resources– Recycling collection

• Pick-up & processing programs– Curbside

– Drop-off

– Buy-back

– Deposit

• Manufacturing of recycled products– Paper

– Plastic

– Glass

– Aluminum

Figure 14-30

Why Are Resources Being Reused?• Recycling resources

– Other pollution reduction strategies

• Reduce discharges

• Increase environmental capacities

– Comparing pollution reduction strategies

• Consumers use/waste less for safer, cleaner environment

Why Should Resources Be Conserved?

• Sustainable development– Improve quality of life while

preserving resources for future generations

– Conservation• Sustainable use &

management of resources

– Preservation• Maintenance of resources in

their present condition

– Impact on economic growth– Sustainability’s critics

Figure 14-33

Figure 14-34

Why Should Resources be Conserved?• Biodiversity

– Geographic vs. biological biodiversity• Biologists: concerned with genetic diversity• Geographers: concerned with biogeographic diversity

– Biodiversity in the tropics• Occupy 6% of Earth’s land area but contain over 50% of all species

The End.• Thank you for taking Intro to Human Geography with

me. I hope you enjoyed the class. Regardless of the specifics you take away from this class, remember geography & culture are all around you.