Post on 05-Jan-2016
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Chapter 14: Chapter 14: ResourcesResources
Why are resources being Why are resources being depleted?depleted?
Two kinds of natural Two kinds of natural resources are resources are especially valuable to especially valuable to humanshumans– MineralsMinerals– Energy resourcesEnergy resources
We depend on We depend on abundant, low-cost abundant, low-cost energy and minerals energy and minerals to run our industries, to run our industries, transport ourselves, transport ourselves, and keep our homes and keep our homes comfortablecomfortable
ProblemProblem– MDCs want to preserve MDCs want to preserve
current standards of current standards of living while LDCs are living while LDCs are struggling to attain a struggling to attain a better standardbetter standard
Energy ResourcesEnergy Resources
Historically people Historically people have relied primarily have relied primarily on power supplied by on power supplied by themselves or by themselves or by animalsanimals– Called animate powerCalled animate power
Energy from flowing Energy from flowing water and burning water and burning biomass fuel biomass fuel supplemented supplemented animate poweranimate power– Biomass =Biomass =
Wood, plant material, Wood, plant material, and animal wasteand animal waste
During the Industrial During the Industrial Revolution, MDCs Revolution, MDCs converted to converted to inanimate powerinanimate power– Generated from Generated from
machinesmachines
Energy ResourcesEnergy Resources
MDCs consume 3x the MDCs consume 3x the amount of energy amount of energy that LDCs dothat LDCs do
North Americans are North Americans are the heaviest per the heaviest per capita consumers of capita consumers of energyenergy– Use ¼ world’s energyUse ¼ world’s energy– Have 1/12 world’s Have 1/12 world’s
populationpopulation
Three substances provide Three substances provide 5/6ths of the world’s energy5/6ths of the world’s energy– CoalCoal– PetroleumPetroleum– Natural gasNatural gas
All three are fossil fuelsAll three are fossil fuels– Residue of plants and Residue of plants and
animals that were buried animals that were buried millions of years agomillions of years ago
Two causes for concernTwo causes for concern– Supply is finiteSupply is finite– Distributed unevenlyDistributed unevenly
Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels
Renewable energyRenewable energy– Essentially unlimited Essentially unlimited
supply and is not supply and is not depleted depleted
Hydroelectric, Hydroelectric, geothermal, fusion, geothermal, fusion, wind, and solar energywind, and solar energy
Non-renewable Non-renewable energyenergy– Forms so slowly that it Forms so slowly that it
cannot be renewedcannot be renewed Fossil fuelsFossil fuels
Proven ReservesProven Reserves– Amount of energy Amount of energy
remaining in deposits remaining in deposits of fossil fuelsof fossil fuels
Potential ReservesPotential Reserves– Energy in deposits that Energy in deposits that
are undiscovered but are undiscovered but thought to existthought to exist
Undiscovered oil fieldsUndiscovered oil fields Enhanced recovery Enhanced recovery
from current fieldsfrom current fields Unconventional Unconventional
resourcesresources– Shale, oil sandsShale, oil sands
Uneven Distribution of Uneven Distribution of Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels
Two important Two important inequalities in global inequalities in global distribution of fossil distribution of fossil fuelsfuels– Some regions have Some regions have
abundant sources, abundant sources, others do notothers do not
– The heaviest The heaviest consumers are in consumers are in different regions that different regions that most of the reservesmost of the reserves
Leads to global Leads to global instabilityinstability
Uneven distributionUneven distribution– CoalCoal
China- 39%China- 39% U.S.- 16%U.S.- 16%
– PetroleumPetroleum Southwest Asia- 40%Southwest Asia- 40% Central Asia- 15%Central Asia- 15%
– Natural gasNatural gas Russia- 25%Russia- 25%
ConsumptionConsumption– U.S. imports more than U.S. imports more than
½ of their petroleum ½ of their petroleum Japan 90%Japan 90%
– LDC’s quickly “catching LDC’s quickly “catching up”up”
Control of World Control of World PetroleumPetroleum
Most intense conflict Most intense conflict over energy will be over energy will be centered on supply of centered on supply of petroleumpetroleum
OPECOPEC– At 1At 1stst western countries western countries
set oil prices and paid set oil prices and paid southwest Asian countries southwest Asian countries a small % of oil profitsa small % of oil profits
– Government policies Government policies changed in 1970s in SW changed in 1970s in SW Asian countriesAsian countries
– Several LDC countries Several LDC countries containing petroleum containing petroleum resources created OPEC resources created OPEC in 1960in 1960
– OPEC was angry at North OPEC was angry at North America and Europe for America and Europe for supporting Israel (1970s)supporting Israel (1970s)
Led to embargoLed to embargo Lifted in 1974, but raised Lifted in 1974, but raised
pricesprices– Caused severe economic Caused severe economic
problems in MDCsproblems in MDCs– LDCS hurt even more!LDCS hurt even more!
Changing Supply and Changing Supply and DemandDemand– The price of oil settled by The price of oil settled by
1980s, 1990s1980s, 1990s– U.S. reduced its U.S. reduced its
dependency on foreign dependency on foreign importsimports
Mineral ResourcesMineral Resources
Earth has 92 elements BUT Earth has 92 elements BUT 99% of the crust contains 99% of the crust contains just 8 elementsjust 8 elements– Oxygen, silicon, Oxygen, silicon,
aluminum, iron, calcium, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and sodium, potassium, and magnesiummagnesium
8 most common combine 8 most common combine with rare ones to create with rare ones to create 3,000 different minerals3,000 different minerals
Each mineral is a potential Each mineral is a potential resourceresource
Minerals are either Minerals are either – MetallicMetallic
Have properties that are Have properties that are valuable for machinery, valuable for machinery, vehicles, industryvehicles, industry
– Non-metallic Non-metallic 90% are building stones90% are building stones Also used for fertilizerAlso used for fertilizer ExamplesExamples
– Phosphorus, Potassium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, SulfurCalcium, Sulfur
Mineral deposits are not Mineral deposits are not distributed evenlydistributed evenly– Australia and China rank Australia and China rank
has two leading has two leading producersproducers
Key Issue #2- Why Are Key Issue #2- Why Are Resources Being Resources Being
Polluted?Polluted? Pollution occurs Pollution occurs
when more waste when more waste is added than a is added than a resource can resource can accommodateaccommodate
Types of pollution:Types of pollution:– AirAir– WaterWater– LandLand
Air PollutionAir Pollution
Definition:Definition:– Concentration of trace Concentration of trace
substances at a greater substances at a greater level than occurs in level than occurs in average airaverage air
Earth’s atmosphere (at Earth’s atmosphere (at ground level) is 78% ground level) is 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% Argon1% Argon
Most common human Most common human activities that cause activities that cause pollutionpollution– Motor vehicles, industry, and Motor vehicles, industry, and
power plantspower plants
Most common air Most common air pollutantspollutants– Carbon monoxide, Sulfur Carbon monoxide, Sulfur
dioxidedioxide
Air pollution concerns Air pollution concerns geographers at three geographers at three levelslevels– GlobalGlobal– Regional Regional – locallocal
Air PollutionAir Pollution GlobalGlobal
– Global warmingGlobal warming Pollution may be causing Pollution may be causing
Earth’s temperature to riseEarth’s temperature to rise
– Greenhouse effectGreenhouse effect Anticipated temp increase on Anticipated temp increase on
Earth caused by carbon dioxide Earth caused by carbon dioxide trapping some of the radiation trapping some of the radiation emitted by the surfaceemitted by the surface
Can have devastating Can have devastating consequences, even if only a consequences, even if only a few degreesfew degrees
– Global-scale ozone damageGlobal-scale ozone damage Stratosphere contains ozone Stratosphere contains ozone
gasesgases– Absorbs dangerous UV raysAbsorbs dangerous UV rays
Threatened by pollutants called Threatened by pollutants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
RegionalRegional– At regional scale, air At regional scale, air
pollution may damage pollution may damage vegetation and water vegetation and water supply through acid supply through acid depositiondeposition
Definition: tiny droplets of Definition: tiny droplets of sulfuric acid and nitric sulfuric acid and nitric acid form and return to acid form and return to Earth’s surfaceEarth’s surface
Leads to acid Leads to acid precipitationprecipitation
LocalLocal– Urban air pollutionUrban air pollution
Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons particulatesparticulates
Water PollutionWater Pollution
American’s consume American’s consume 5,300 liters (1,400 5,300 liters (1,400 gallons) of water per gallons) of water per dayday
Water Pollution Water Pollution SourcesSources– Water-using industriesWater-using industries– Municipal sewageMunicipal sewage– AgricultureAgriculture
Impact on Aquatic LifeImpact on Aquatic Life– Pollution reduces Pollution reduces
Oxygen levelOxygen level
Wastewater and Wastewater and DiseaseDisease– Most MDC’s have Most MDC’s have
passed Clean Water passed Clean Water lawslaws
– Major impactMajor impact Ex. Thames River- Ex. Thames River-
London, EnglandLondon, England
– LDCs have less LDCs have less capacity to treat capacity to treat wastewaterwastewater
Sewage flows into riversSewage flows into rivers Leads to high rates of Leads to high rates of
diseases such as diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, and Cholera, Typhoid, and DysenteryDysentery
Land PollutionLand Pollution
Solid-Waste DisposalSolid-Waste Disposal– The sanitary landfill is The sanitary landfill is
most common strategy most common strategy for disposal of waste in for disposal of waste in the United Statesthe United States
More than ½ of waste More than ½ of waste disposed this waydisposed this way
Number of landfills has Number of landfills has declined since 1990sdeclined since 1990s
– Better compaction Better compaction methods methods
– Recycling and Recycling and incineration have also incineration have also increasedincreased
Can lead to air Can lead to air pollutionpollution
Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste– Disposing is difficultDisposing is difficult
Includes heavy metals , Includes heavy metals , PCB oils, cyanides, PCB oils, cyanides, solvents, acids, and solvents, acids, and causticscaustics
– Can leach into soil, Can leach into soil, poisonouspoisonous
Must report to EPAMust report to EPA Placed in containers and Placed in containers and
buriedburied
Renewing ResourcesRenewing Resources
Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy– Not renewable but seen as Not renewable but seen as
alternativealternative– AdvantageAdvantage
Small amount of material Small amount of material releases large amount of releases large amount of energyenergy
– Supplies 1/6Supplies 1/6thth world’s world’s energyenergy
Mostly in MDCsMostly in MDCs
– ProblemsProblems AccidentsAccidents Radioactive wasteRadioactive waste Material for nucsMaterial for nucs Limited uranium supplyLimited uranium supply Cost/ distributionCost/ distribution
Nuclear FusionNuclear Fusion– Some nuclear power issues Some nuclear power issues
could be addressed by fusioncould be addressed by fusion– Definition:Definition:
Fusing of hydrogen atoms to Fusing of hydrogen atoms to heliumhelium
– Can only occur at high tempsCan only occur at high temps
Leading Renewable Leading Renewable Energy SourcesEnergy Sources
BiomassBiomass– More than ½ of renewable More than ½ of renewable
energyenergy Wood is a renewable resourceWood is a renewable resource Crops such as corn, sugarcane, Crops such as corn, sugarcane,
and soybeans can be used for and soybeans can be used for energyenergy
– Limited useLimited use Energy to grow crops = to outputEnergy to grow crops = to output Forest reducedForest reduced Serves other purposes already Serves other purposes already
such a food, clothing, sheltersuch a food, clothing, shelter
Hydroelectric PowerHydroelectric Power– Use of moving water to create Use of moving water to create
energyenergy Has been used throughout historyHas been used throughout history
– 22ndnd most popular source of most popular source of electricityelectricity
– Can be environmental disasterCan be environmental disaster China – Three Gorges DamChina – Three Gorges Dam
Wind PowerWind Power– Historical source of powerHistorical source of power– BenefitsBenefits
Less change to Less change to environmentenvironment
Greater potential for Greater potential for increased useincreased use
– ProblemsProblems NoisyNoisy Lethal to birdsLethal to birds Visual blightVisual blight
Geothermal EnergyGeothermal Energy– Energy from hot water or Energy from hot water or
steamsteam– Prominent in volcanic areasProminent in volcanic areas– Lots of research currently Lots of research currently
underwayunderway
Solar EnergySolar Energy The ultimate renewable The ultimate renewable
source is solar energysource is solar energy– Currently supply 1% of Currently supply 1% of
electricity to U.S.electricity to U.S. Potential is limitlessPotential is limitless
– Sun’s estimated life = 5 Sun’s estimated life = 5 billion yearsbillion years
Sun’s energy is free, Sun’s energy is free, can’t be owned, can’t be owned, bought, or soldbought, or sold– Does not damage the Does not damage the
environment or cause environment or cause pollutionpollution
Active solar energyActive solar energy– Collect solar energy Collect solar energy
and convert it either to and convert it either to heat energy or to heat energy or to electricityelectricity
Example:Example:– Solar panelsSolar panels
Passive solar energyPassive solar energy– Capture of solar Capture of solar
energy without any energy without any devicesdevices
Example:Example:– South-facing South-facing
windowswindows– greenhousesgreenhouses
Renewable Energy in Renewable Energy in Motor VehiclesMotor Vehicles
Most serious challenge to Most serious challenge to reducing dependence on reducing dependence on non-renewable energy is non-renewable energy is the motor vehiclethe motor vehicle
BatteriesBatteries– Battery-powered, electric cars Battery-powered, electric cars
popular in 1900spopular in 1900s– ShortcomingsShortcomings
Limited rangeLimited range Costs more to operateCosts more to operate Recharging can take several hoursRecharging can take several hours Led to creation of hybridsLed to creation of hybrids
BiofuelsBiofuels– Ethanol can be produced from Ethanol can be produced from
biomass (corn in U.S., biomass (corn in U.S., sugarcane in Brazil)sugarcane in Brazil)
– Takes a lot of energy, is Takes a lot of energy, is source of foodsource of food
Hydrogen fuel cellsHydrogen fuel cells– Convert hydrogen and oxygen Convert hydrogen and oxygen
into water, producing into water, producing electricity and heat in the electricity and heat in the processprocess
Can be used to power motors or Can be used to power motors or electrical deviceselectrical devices
– Obtaining hydrogen a problemObtaining hydrogen a problem Have to separate itHave to separate it
– Hydrogen fuel used to lift Hydrogen fuel used to lift shuttles into orbit, power shuttles into orbit, power shuttle’s electrical systemsshuttle’s electrical systems
– For motor vehicle use would For motor vehicle use would require a new distribution require a new distribution systemsystem
RecyclingRecycling
Definition:Definition:– The separation, The separation,
collection, processing, collection, processing, marketing, and reuse of marketing, and reuse of the unwanted materialthe unwanted material
Increased in U.S. from Increased in U.S. from 1970 from 7% to 33% 1970 from 7% to 33% in 2007in 2007
Main items recycledMain items recycled– Paper, plastic, glass, Paper, plastic, glass,
aluminumaluminum
Sustainable Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment
Definition:Definition:– Development that Development that
meets the needs of the meets the needs of the present without present without compromising the compromising the ability of future ability of future generations to meet generations to meet their own needstheir own needs
ConservationConservation– definition:definition:
Sustainable use and Sustainable use and management of natural management of natural resources such as wildlife, resources such as wildlife, water, air, and Earth’s water, air, and Earth’s resources to meet resources to meet human’s needshuman’s needs
PreservationPreservation– Definition:Definition:
Maintenance of Maintenance of resources in their resources in their present conditionpresent condition
SustainabilitySustainability– Difficult to balance Difficult to balance
environment with environment with concern for economic concern for economic growthgrowth
– Example: ChinaExample: China Has 16 of 20 most polluted Has 16 of 20 most polluted
cities in the worldcities in the world