can be replenished over fairly short spans of time, such as months, years, or decades.
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nonrenewable resources
take millions of years to form and accumulate
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fossil fuels
hydrocarbons that may be used as fuel, including coal, oil, or natural gas
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How does coal form?
When heat and pressure transform plant material over millions of years (Peat, Lignite, Subbituminous, Bituminous, Anthracite)
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How do petroleum and natural gas form?
From the remains of organisms that were buried in ancient seas
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tar sands and oil shales
Fuels derived from _ could become one possible substitute for dwindling petroleum supplies.
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How do mineral deposits form?
Form through igneous processes and hydrothermal solutions
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Ore
a useful metallic mineral that can be mined at a profit
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How do placer deposits form?
Higher density materials get eroded away, since they’re high density, they’re not carries far and will settle out quickly. Sediment of the deposited mineral will then accumulate.
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Nonmetallic mineral resources
Extracted and processed either for nonmetallic elements they contain or used for their physical and chemical properties
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Advantages of Solar Energy
The energy is free for us, solar energy is non-polluting
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Disadvantages of Solar Energy
They take up a lot of space, the sun is not always out
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How does nuclear energy produce energy?
The uranium nuclei such as uranium-235 are bombarded with neutrons. The uranium nuclei split into smaller nuclei and emit neutrons and heat energy. This is called a controlled nuclear reaction.
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Wind power
According to the textbook, in the next 50–60 years, _____________ could meet between 5-10% of the country’s demand for electricity.
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Flowing water
How is hydroelectric power generated?
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geothermal energy
harnessed by tapping natural underground reservoirs of steam and hot water. Those reservoirs can run out, making it the **only exhaustible renewable energy**. Hot water is used directly for heating and to turn turbines that generate electric power.
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Tidal power
harnessed by constructing a dam across the mouth of a bay or an estuary in coastal areas. The strong in-and-out flow of tidal water drives turbines and electric generators.
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.3% -.5%
What percentage of Earth’s water is usable?
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point source pollution
comes from a known and specific location, such as factory pipes
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non-point source pollution
pollution that doesn’t have a specific point of origin
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runoff
the water that flows over the land rather than seeping into the ground, often carrying non-point source pollution
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Carbon dioxide (transportation)
What is the single largest polluter to our atmosphere?
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global warming
The increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has altered the carbon cycle and contributed to **___ -- the unnatural warming 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.
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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
Studied by 16 people
