Academic Earth/Space Science - Chapter 4 : Earth's Resources

Timlin Block 3

renewable resources

can be replenished over fairly short spans of time, such as months, years, or decades.

nonrenewable resources

take millions of years to form and accumulate

fossil fuels

hydrocarbons that may be used as fuel, including coal, oil, or natural gas

How does coal form?

When heat and pressure transform plant material over millions of years (Peat, Lignite, Subbituminous, Bituminous, Anthracite)

How do petroleum and natural gas form?

From the remains of organisms that were buried in ancient seas

tar sands and oil shales

Fuels derived from _ could become one possible substitute for dwindling petroleum supplies.

How do mineral deposits form?

Form through igneous processes and hydrothermal solutions

Ore

a useful metallic mineral that can be mined at a profit

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.

Nonmetallic mineral resources

Extracted and processed either for nonmetallic elements they contain or used for their physical and chemical properties

Advantages of Solar Energy

The energy is free for us, solar energy is non-polluting

Disadvantages of Solar Energy

They take up a lot of space, the sun is not always out

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.

Wind power

According to the textbook, in the next 50–60 years, _____________ could meet between 5-10% of the country’s demand for electricity.

Flowing water

How is hydroelectric power generated?

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.

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.

.3% -.5%

What percentage of Earth’s water is usable?

point source pollution

comes from a known and specific location, such as factory pipes

non-point source pollution

pollution that doesn’t have a specific point of origin

runoff

the water that flows over the land rather than seeping into the ground, often carrying non-point source pollution

Carbon dioxide (transportation)

What is the single largest polluter to our atmosphere?

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.

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

Which gasses contribute to acid rain?

__**Sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide mix with H2O (SULFUR OXIDES)**__

ozone layer

protects us from UV rays

greenhouse effect

UV rays are let in, but infrared aren’t let out (methane, CO2, vapor)

conservation

the careful use of resources

When were the first water pollution laws passed?

1972 (CWA) 1974 (Safe Drinking Water Act)

vein deposits

the deposits of minerals from hydrothermal solutions cooling rock fractures are called

NAAQS established for 6 criteria pollutants to cause health problems

Carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates.

compost

partly decomposed organic material that can be used as a fertilizer

recycling

the collecting and processing of used items so that they can be made into new products

geothermal energy

an exhaustible energy resource