Earth’s Natural Resources

The lesson focuses on several important types of natural resources that humans depend on.
Resources highlighted: oil, water, wood, and copper.
Connection to everyday items: cell phones are made from these natural resources:
- Plastic Case: Made from petroleum (oil).
- Electronics: Contain copper and other metals.
- Packaging: Made of cardboard from wood.
- Water Use: Manufacturing one cell phone requires 910 liters (240 gallons) of water.
Questions posed:
- Where are these resources located?
- Which resources are found on Earth’s surface, and which are below?
- How does understanding resource formation help in locating them?

The investigation includes the formation, distribution, and mapping of natural resources.
Examining human dependence on natural resources and their uneven distribution across Earth.

Overview:
- One of the largest groundwater sources in the world.
- Main source of freshwater for Australia.
- Water usage management issues - supply used faster than replenished.

Definition: A useful source of material or energy that comes from nature.
Statistics on Earth’s Water:
- 97% is salt water, only about 3% is freshwater.
- Distribution of Freshwater:
  - 69% is frozen in glaciers.
  - 30% is groundwater.
  - 1% is surface water (lakes and rivers).
Usage of freshwater:
- Irrigation of crops.
- Livestock watering.
- Industry uses for energy and products.
- Household consumption (drinking, bathing, etc.).

Renewable Fresh Water:
- Exists as surface water, replenished faster than used.
- Cycle involves rain, evaporation, infiltration.
Nonrenewable Fresh Water:
- Most groundwater is nonrenewable.
- Supply limited and replenished slowly.
- Uneven distribution due to rainfall variance and rock properties.
History of Great Artesian Basin discovery and management.
- Discovered in 1878; irrigation began, leading to depletion concerns.
- Scientists discovered surface water can take 2 million years to infiltrate into the basin again.

Need for the Hoover Dam:
- Rapid population growth in the Southwest requiring more water and electricity.
Design Process:
- Team of over 200 engineers evaluated dam types based on criteria (water storage, flood protection) and constraints (cost, environmental impact).
Types of Dams Studied:
- Earth dams (compact soil).
- Rockfill dams (rock and boulders).
- Arch dams (curved concrete).
- Gravity dams (thick concrete).
- Arch-gravity dam (combination of arch and gravity).
Engineers chose an arch-gravity dam for Hoover Dam for strength and design effectiveness.

Construction period: 1931-1936, created jobs during the Great Depression (21,000 workers).
Environmental consequences:
- Habitat disruption.
- River ecosystem damage (fish movement blocked).
- Water temperature changes affecting aquatic life.
- Sediment trapping harming downstream ecosystems.

Introduction: Petroleum as a major energy source for electricity and transportation.
Ghawar Oil Field: One of the largest oil deposits globally. Daily extraction: 5 million barrels.
Formation Details:
- Marine organisms’ remains turning into oil under heat and pressure.
- Nonrenewable resource due to limited supply.
Discovery and Extraction:
- Mapping started in 1930s, resumed after WWII.
Distribution: Not evenly distributed; concentrated in regions where warm, shallow seas existed.

Definition: Energy from Earth's hot interior; produces 60% of electricity for California's North Coast.
How it Works:
- Hot groundwater contacts hot rock, transferring energy.
- Geothermal plants generate electricity through steam from hot water.
Location Distribution: Concentrated near tectonic plate boundaries, correlates with volcanic activity.
Renewable resource due to the continuous heat supply and water cycle replenishment.

Soil Importance: Essential for agriculture and food production.
Soil Formation:
- Mixture of rock, minerals, water, air, and organic material.
- Formation takes several decades to millions of years.
Soil Fertility: Measured by nutrient content, significantly affects agricultural productivity.
Degradation: Caused by unsustainable farming practices like overgrazing, leading to soil nutrient loss.

Chuquicamata Mine: Largest copper mine, significant mining operations began in the early 1900s.
Copper Formation:
- Occurs at tectonic plate boundaries where magma can concentrate metals.
Environmental impacts of mining include habitat destruction and contaminated water sources.

Global Wood Use:
- Used for various applications including construction, fuel, and products like rayon.
Forest Distribution: Cover about 30% of Earth’s land area, not evenly distributed.
Sustainability Concerns:
- Practices in tree harvesting can lead to deforestation and adverse environmental impacts.
- Implementing sustainable forestry practices is crucial to maintain forest health.

Human population growth leads to increased consumption of resources, straining natural systems.
Consumption Metrics: Total consumption and per capita consumption metrics important for understanding resource impact.
Future Considerations: Addressing sustainable practices and resource management will be vital for future generations.