Earth’s Resources Fill in your notes as we go!

Resources A supply that benefits humans – Example: water, land, air, ore etc. – Natural resources: the resources the Earth provides – 2 Types of Natural Resources Renewable Nonrenewable

Renewable resources Natural resources that can be used indefinitely Includes: fertile soil, nitrogen, carbon, living things

Sustainable Use Renewable resources are replaced through natural processes Humans must not use the resources faster than they can be replaced Sustainable yield: the replacement of renewable resources at the same rate they are consumed

Nonrenewable Resources A resource that exists in a fixed amount Can be replaced but the process takes hundreds of millions of years Examples: fossil fuels, gemstones, silver etc.

Fossil Fuels Chemicals formed by heat and pressure from dead plants & organisms Primary source of energy for the U.S. Examples: Coal, oil and natural gas Takes millions of years to form Non-renewable Produce pollution – Example: burning coal and oil creates CO 2

Traditional Sources of Energy Wood –Primary source of energy for ½ the world’s population –Used for heat and cooking, building materials –Causes deforestation and global warming

Alternative Energy Sources Solar Energy –Passive Solar Heating: Capturing sunlight directly and converting it to heat –Active Solar Heating: using solar panels to collect heat –Photovoltaic Cells: solar energy is converted into electrical energy –Problems: expensive to buy

Alternative Energy Sources Geothermal Energy –Energy produced by naturally occurring steam and hot water –Example: Hot springs and geysers Water Energy –Hydroelectric Power: the power of falling water turns turbines that produce electrical energy

Alternative Energy Sources Wind Energy –Wind turbines convert energy of the wind to mechanical energy –All of the US’s energy could be supplied by wind farms in Texas, North and South Dakota –Problems: Must have constant wind, unattractive and kills birds

Alternative Energy Sources Nuclear Energy –Harnesses the power of nuclear fission –Fission: breaking atoms apart to release energy –Uses uranium – easily spilt –Produces energy much cheaper than fossil fuels –Problems: Dangerous, radioactive waste

Alternative Energy Sources Biomass –Renewable resource –Includes wood, dried crops and dried fecal matter from animals –Biogas: mix of methane and CO 2 from animal waste that is used for cooking fuel –Gasohol: mix of gasoline and ethanol that can be used as fuel