What is this…….

What might this be a close up of and how could it be linked

to the topic we

are currently

studying?

What are Resources?

Renewable, Non-Renewable, Flow or Semi-renewable?

RESOURCE – ANY ASPECT OF THE ENVIRONMENT WHICH CAN BE USED TO MEET HUMAN NEEDS.

RESOURCES

NATURAL RESOURCES – are naturally occurring substances

NON-RENEWABLE

(finite)

Non

-re

cycla

ble

Recy

clabl

e

SEMI-RENEWABLE (resources that regenerate over

intermediate timescales 100-

1000 years)

RENEWABLE

FLOW RENEWABLE resources are in

CONSTANT supply and do not need

regeneration

HUMAN RESOURCES

Human resources are the number of people in a

population and it abilities and

skills.

Biotic (resources that regenerate on human

timescales through ecological cycles)

Look at the following resources and classify them as renewable, non-renewable, semi-renewable or flow renewable.

Classification by Source

For example: most fish stocks, shellfish etc come from marine sources.

Minerals are sourced from the Earth’s crust.HEP derives from rivers.

Crops are sourced from farmland.Timber from…..

Geothermal energy…..

However, it is difficult to allocate all resources to broad categories, which makes the source classification

unsatisfactory.

Classification by Geographical Distribution

Point resources are concentrated in small geographical areas. The availability of some minerals such as gold and copper is restricted to small areas both globally and regionally.

Diamond production is also highly localised. Four countries account for nearly three-quarters

of global output.

Diffuse resources are geographically widespread. For example, forests occupy nearly 30% of the Earth’s land surface.

Key Terms

RESOURCE DEPLETION – The consumption of non-renewable finite resources which will eventually lead to their exhaustion.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT – The control of exploitation and use of resources in relation to economic and environmental costs.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - A carefully calculated system of resource management which ensures that the current level of exploitation does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Technology and the Changing Definition of Resources.

• Materials only become resources when the technology exists to find, exploit, process and use them.

• Some resources have been used for thousands of years and their use has been affected by ‘trends’. Can you think of examples?

Technological change and resources in the UK.

Technological Advance

The development of new resources. The replacement of less efficient with

more efficient resources.

The Industrial Revolution

Water power replaced by steam power = rapid development of coalfields from the mid-1700s.

Invention of the Gilchrist-Thomas process in 1878 = development of the Jurassic iron ore fields of Lincolnshire and the East Midlands.

More Recent Developments

Nuclear power = new use for uranium, which led to a significant price increase.

Higher oil prices and advances in deep-sea oil production technology = production of oil and gas in the deeper parts of the North Sea.

Increase in recycling = more important and involving a much wider range of materials and products.

The Development of Uranium as a Resource

Uranium ore mining in

Kakadu National Park,

Australia

Undiscovered until 1789

For a century or more used for colouring glass/glazes for ceramics.

Radioactive properties discovered at the start of the 20th century.

Remained an element with limited uses until the development of nuclear

technology in the 1930s

First uses were in weaponry and uranium became an extremely

valuable resource.

Later technological breakthroughs made in possible to generate electricity from nuclear power.

By 2008 there were 435 nuclear reactors in 30 countries producing

17% of the world’s electricity.

Today uranium is a valuable resource worth $86 per kg

How can changes in society affect the

demand for resources? How can population

itself be seen as a resource?

The Supply and Use of ResourcesCase Study Examples: Water and Tin

The supply and use of resources is determined

by a combination of physical and socio-

economic factors.

The factors which influence the supply and use

of resources change with time.

Changes in the supply and use of resources are

influenced by technology, economics and

societal values.

Water as a Resource

Case Study

World Population and Water Supply

A. Why does the UN expect the global water supply problem to become worse over the next 50 years?

B. Why will the greatest problems be experienced by LEDCs?C. Explain the consequences in LEDCs of (i) poor water supply in terms of quantity and (ii)

poor water supply in terms of quality.D. For an MEDC you have studied in relation to water problems:

i. Explain the causes of these problems andii. Discuss the possible solutions to them.

Tin as a Resource

Definitions

Practice Question

1988-92 1993-97 1998-2002 2003-07

China 2364 2251 2165 2125

Egypt 31.1 28.3 25.7 24.3

India 1426 1299 1196 1142

Mexico 4668 4277 3973 3821

Pakistan 468 415 370 348

Uzbekistan 760 690 642 614

Resource 1 relates to changes in water resource availability in selected countries between 1998 and 2007. Outline a geographical issue indicated and suggest appropriate strategies for its management. (10 marks)

Table 1 Water Resources (m³ per person per year)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPBRel5YmhI&list=PLivjPDlt6ApRrCW7ptwyBy4EBRxN0lYz5&index=19