Environmental Science Study Guide: Energy & Natural Resources

Natural Gas

Which of the following is an example of a non-renewable energy source?

China

Which country is currently the largest overall energy consumer in the world?

Nuclear

Which of the following energy sources produces the least amount of greenhouse gases?

River flow and aquatic life

Hydroelectric dams primarily affect which part of the ecosystem?

Habitat disruption and visual impact

Which of the following is a disadvantage of wind energy?

Less than 1%

What percent of the Earth’s water is freshwater available for human use (not frozen or salty)?

Overgrazing

Which of the following land uses is most likely to lead to soil erosion?

Meeting current needs without compromising future availability

Which of the following best describes sustainable resource use?

Works consistently 24/7

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of solar power?

Drip irrigation

Which agricultural practice uses least water overall?

Renewable energy, like solar or wind, comes from sources that refill naturally and don’t run out.

Non-renewable energy, like coal or oil, takes millions of years to form and can run out.

Explain the main difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources. Provide one example of each.

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases which trap heat in the air, causing global warming and climate change.

How does the use of fossil fuels contribute to climate change?

Deforestation destroys habitats and lowers biodiversity.

Land degradation causes soil to erode and makes farming harder.

Describe two environmental problems associated with deforestation and land degradation.

Most of Earth’s water is salty or frozen.

Less than 1% is clean, usable freshwater for people.

Why is freshwater considered a limited resource even though most of the Earth is covered in water?

A big pro is that it makes a lot of electricity with very low emissions.
A big con is the risk of accidents and storing dangerous waste.

What is one major advantage and one major drawback of using nuclear power as an energy source?

Rich countries like the U.S. and Germany use more energy per person and have better access to renewables. Poorer countries like India or Nigeria use less energy but rely more on coal or wood because renewables cost more and tech is limited. They also struggle with low funding, weak infrastructure, and unstable governments. For example, sub-Saharan Africa has lots of sun but not enough solar power systems.

Discuss how energy consumption patterns differ between developed and developing countries. What challenges do developing nations face in shifting toward renewable energy sources? Include examples of specific countries or regions.

Farming uses around 70% of freshwater, which can dry up rivers and underground water. It also pollutes water when chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides run off into lakes, causing too much algae to grow. To help, farmers can use drip irrigation to send water straight to plant roots.

Describe the impact of agriculture on water resources. In your response, address both quantity and quality issues and suggest one solution for each.