Geosphere Basics Chapters: 1.2, 14, 15.2

Tragedy of the Commons Commons are natural resources that belong to everyone Land, water, air, “nature” Without regulation, these common areas will become exploited. This is called the “Tragedy of the Commons”. Individuals will do what is in their best interest, but it is often at the downfall of the entire group in the long run.

Urban vs. Rural Urban land: land that is covered mainly with buildings and roads Rural land: land that contains relatively few people and large areas of open space (includes rangeland, forest land, cropland, parks/preserves, wetlands/mountains/deserts/other)

Industrial Revolution Machinery allowed fewer people to have to be farmers Better transportation allowed companies to travel farther distances to their customers Rural area jobs were eliminated Made urban areas grow quickly during the 20th century

Urbanization Problems Deforestation was required to make urban areas more populated (geosphere__________________________) Habitat Fragmentation for roads, buildings, parking lots, etc. (geosphere _______________________________) Infrastructure Problems: Traffic Jams/Substandard Housing Air/Water Pollution Urban Sprawl: rapid expansion of a city into the countryside around the city

Urban Sprawl Results Worn out infrastructure Less farmland Development on lands not suited for building (marginal lands) Heat islands: increased temperature in a city due to roads and buildings absorbing more heat than vegetation Affects local weather patterns=increased rainfall

Desertification The process by which land in arid or semiarid areas becomes more desert-like Happens when land is being farmed, grazed, and deforested faster than it can regenerate Soil loses its fertility and productivity Fewer plants hold topsoil in place PREVENTION: soil-retaining terraces, contour plowing, leaving some vegetation instead of plowing an entire slope, no-till farming, sustainable agriculture, etc.

Mining Chapter 16

Important Definitions Mineral: Naturally occurring, usually inorganic solid that has a characteristic chemical composition, an orderly internal structure, and a characteristic set of physical properties Ore Minerals: Minerals that are valuable and economical to extract-can be metallic or nonmetallic Gangue Minerals: minerals that have no commercial value, but are usually collected with ore minerals and must be separated

Mineral Uses Different minerals have different uses EXAMPLES , table 2 pg. 444

Subsurface vs. Surface Mining Subsurface Mining Room-and-pillar mining: a network of “rooms” are cut into a seam and between the rooms, pillars are left to support the roof Longwall mining: A machine called a shearer moves back and forth across the face of a coal seam and a conveyor takes the coal out of the mine Solution mining: Hot water is injected into the ore and dissolves it while compressed air makes bubbles that lift the ore to the surface

Subsurface vs. Surface Mining Open-pit mining: ore is mined layer by layer downward Solar Evaporation: sea water is placed in shallow ponds and allowed to evaporate, leaving behind salt (sodium chloride) which can be harvested

Environmental Impacts of Mining Abandoned mine clean up Air and noise pollution Water contamination Wildlife displacement Erosion and sedimentation Soil degradation Subsidence: sinking regions of ground from the collapse of parts of an empty mine Underground mine fires can occur when minerals are exposed to oxygen