Earth science

Resources used more quickly than they are formed

Nonrenewable

Resources that can be replaced more quickly than used

Renewable

Solar radiation converted to electricity via photovoltaic cells

Solar Power

Carbon-rich fuels from remains of dead organisms (heat/pressure)

Fossil fuels

Natural air movement turns a turbine

Wind Power

Water is forced through a turbine

Hydroelectric Power

Organic material burned for fuel

Biomass

Radioactive materials release energy from atoms; needs careful management

Nuclear power

Earth’s interior heat turns water to steam

Geothermal Power

Natural rise/fall of tides turns offshore turbines

Tidal Power

Most heavily used renewable in SC?

Biomass

Nonrenewable resource with no greenhouse gas emissions?

Nuclear power

Resource that can be renewable or nonrenewable depending on management?

Biomass

The 4 nonrenewable resources

Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power.

Represents the Ocean. It is the largest carbon sink on Earth

Carbon Sink

Represents Combustion of Fossil Fuels. This process has increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution.

Process

Represents the Atmosphere. CO2 accumulates here, acting as a greenhouse gas.

The Reservoir

Growing Sink vs. Shrinking Sink

While forests (vegetation) are a major sink, they are currently threatened by deforestation. The atmosphere is currently accumulating carbon at an unnatural rate due to human activity.

Land Sinkage (Subsidence)	Local or Global?	Associated with Rising CO2?	Contribution Mechanism

Local

No

The land drops, making the water level appear higher relative to the coast.

Thermal Expansion

Global

Yes

Ocean water warms, expands, and occupies more volume.

Ice melt

Global

Yes

Melting glaciers/ice sheets add liquid water to the ocean.

Slowing Gulf Stream

Local

Yes

Current slows, causing water to "pile up" along the East Coast.

Subsidence

The sinking of the land surface.

Human Cause of land sinkage

Over-pumping groundwater from aquifers removes the water pressure that supports the soil structure, causing the ground to collapse and compact

Natural Cause (SC Context)

Post-glacial rebound. During the last ice age, heavy glaciers pushed down on the North American continent, causing the edges (like SC) to rise. Now that the ice has melted, the middle is rebounding upward, causing the edges (SC) to sink.

Precipitation

Water falling from the sky.

Runoff

Water flowing over the surface into rivers (does not soak in).

Infiltration

Water soaking into the top layer of soil

Percolation

Water filtering deeper through the ground to recharge groundwater.

Structural

Building physical barriers (e.g., Seawalls).

Nonstructural

Policy/Behavioral changes (e.g., Encouraging managed retreat inland, public education).

Which renewable resource is used most heavily in South Carolina?

Biomass