Chapter 14: Resource Issues The Cultural Landscape: An Introduction to Human Geography

Why Are Resources Being Depleted? Energy resources Animate versus inanimate power Energy supply and demand Five-sixths of the world’s energy supply comes from coal, natural gas, and oil Finiteness of natural resources Renewable versus nonrenewable resources Proven reserves Potential reserves

Per Capita Energy Consumption Figure 14-1

U.S. Energy Consumption Figure 14-2

Coal Production Figure 14-4

Outlook for World Petroleum Production Figure 14-3

Proven Reserves of Fossil Fuels Figure 14-5

Why Are Resources Being Depleted? Energy resources Uneven distribution of fossil fuels Location of reserves Consumption of fossil fuels Control of world petroleum OPEC Changing supply and demand

Why Are Resources Being Depleted? Mineral resources Metallic or nonmetallic Nonmetallic = 90 percent of extraction is for building stone Ferrous metallic minerals = iron ore, chromium, manganese Nonferrous metallic minerals = aluminum, copper, zinc Precious metals = gold, silver, platinum

Why Are Resources Being Polluted? Air pollution Global scale Global warming Greenhouse effect The ozone layer and CFCs Regional scale Acid precipitation and acid deposition Local scale Carbon monoxide Hydrocarbons and photochemical smog Particulates

Global Warming Figure 14-15

Acid Deposition in North America & Europe Figure 14-18

Smog in Mexico City Figure 14-19

Why Are Resources Being Polluted? Water pollution Sources Agriculture Water-using industries Municipal uses Impact on aquatic life Biochemical oxygen demand Wastewater and disease

Why Are Resources Being Polluted? Land pollution Solid-waste disposal Sanitary landfills Two alternatives to landfills: incineration and recycling Hazardous waste disposal In 2007 = about 47 million tons disposed of in the United States

Why Are Resources Being Polluted? Renewing resources Nuclear energy Potential accidents Radioactive wastes Bomb material Limited uranium reserves High cost

Percentage of Electricity Generated from Nuclear Power Figure 14-23

Why Are Resources Being Reused? Renewing resources Leading renewable energy resources Biomass Hydroelectric power Wind power Geothermal energy Solar energy Active Passive Renewable energy in motor vehicles

Electricity From Hydroelectric Power Figure 14-26

Why Are Resources Being Reused? Recycling resources In the United States recycling has steadily increased since 1970 Recycling collection Pick-up and processing Recyclables are collected in four ways: curbside, drop-off, buy-back, and/or deposit Manufacturing of recycled products

Sources of Solid Waste Figure 14-30

Why Are Resources Being Reused? Recycling resources Other pollution reduction strategies Reducing discharges Increasing environmental capacities Comparing pollution reduction strategies It seems clear that consumers must learn to use/waste less for a safer, cleaner environment

Why Should Resources Be Conserved? Sustainable development Improving quality of life while preserving resources for future generations Conservation Sustainable use and management of resources Preservation Maintenance of resources in their present condition Impact on economic growth

Sustainable Development Figure 14-33

Pollution Compared to a Country’s Wealth Figure 14-34

Why Should Resources be Conserved? Biodiversity Geographic biodiversity versus biological biodiversity Biologists = most concerned with genetic diversity Geographers = most concerned with biogeographic diversity Biodiversity in the tropics Occupy 6 percent of Earth’s land area but contain more than 50 percent of all species

The End.