Earth’s Natural Resources

Natural Resources Definition- things occurring in nature, like air, water, sunlight, and crops, that can be used to fulfill a need. Examples- metals power plastics arable land fossil fuels old-growth forests coal oil water

Renewable Resources Definition- energy sources that can be recycled or replaced by natural processes in less than 100 years Advantages- Stays for a long time They are constant Examples- sun wind water geothermal energy

Nonrenewable Resources Definition- resources that cannot be replaced by natural processes in less than 100 years Advantages- We need it to make gasoline Examples- fossil fuels Disadvantages- Acid rain Pollution

Disadvantages- pollutes the atmosphere Fossil Fuels Definition- an energy resource formed from the decayed remains of ancient plants and other organisms Advantages- a chemical energy is changed into heat and light Examples- coal oil natural gas Disadvantages- pollutes the atmosphere

Coal Definition- formed from the remains of ancient swamp vegetation Advantages- changes a chemical to heat and light Examples- lignite, bituminous, and anthracite Disadvantages- pollutes the atmosphere

Changes into heat and light Power vehicles Oil and Natural Gases Definition- oil and natural gas formed over millions of years from the decay of algae and other microscopic ocean organisms called plankton Advantages Changes into heat and light Power vehicles Power stoves, ovens, fireplaces Examples- lamp oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, crude oil Disadvantages Develops over long periods of time Air pollution Water pollution

Solar Energy Definition- energy from the sun Advantages Renewable does not cause pollution Examples- solar panels and flat mirrors Disadvantages We do not have the technology to harness all of its energy Cover large areas with solar power Noise pollution

Wind Energy Definition- energy produced by wind Advantages Nonpolluting Not harmful to the environment Does not produce waste Examples- windmills, wind, farms Disadvantages Few regions have winds strong enough to generate electricity on a large scale Noise pollution

Hydroelectric Power Definition- production of electricity using water Advantages- does not cause pollution and it is renewable Examples- Niagra Falls, water falls, and dams Disadvantages Reservoirs behind the dam can fill up with sediment Increased erosion

Geothermal Energy Definition- heat from the magma and hot rock that surrounds it can be used to generate electricity Advantages Iceland and California use hot water and steam from geysers to heat their homes. Examples- geysers hot springs Disadvantages Sometimes not found, close to Earth’s surface Can release hot, salty water at Earth’s surface

Advantages- part of water cycle, so it is renewable Groundwater Definition- water that soaks into the ground and collects in small spaces between bits of soil and rock Advantages- part of water cycle, so it is renewable Disadvantages- it takes a long time for it to move through rock layers

Nuclear Energy Definition- energy produced by splitting the nuclei of certain elements Advantages only makes up 8 % of the total energy used in the U.S. Power entire cities Examples- power plants uranium Disadvantages Storing nuclear waste makes its use limited Radioactive wastes Nuclear accidents

Forests Definition- a thick growth of trees and underbrush covering an extensive tract of land Advantages- take in carbon and stores it Examples- Yellowstone Yosemite Disadvantages- no forests= more carbon in the atmosphere might cause global warming

Mineral Resources Definition- metal objects that come from rocks Advantages Sometimes large deposits of valuable minerals are found in one place Can be mined for profit Examples- hematite=make motorcycle parts and saw blades Disadvantages Costs a lot to get the minerals out of the rocks Air pollution Water pollution

Abiotic Factors Definition- any nonliving part of the environment Examples- air current Temperature Moisture Light Soil

Biotic Factors Examples- Definition- any living or once living organism in the environment Examples- Animals Plants Insects Humans