Resources and Land Use

Natural Resources Materials in the natural environment that people value and use to satisfy their needs. Give some examples of natural resources you use on a daily basis.

Geographers Study: 1. The ways that people use world resources. 2. Where resources are located. 3. How resources are distributed. 4. How the use of resources affect the earth.

Renewable Resources Regenerated or replaced by the environment Soil Water Sun Wind

Renewable energy sources Water Power: energy from falling water to power machines to generate electricity Geothermal Energy: produced from the earth’s internal heat Solar Energy: produced from the sun’s radiation Wind Power: conversion of wind energy to generate electricity

Nonrenewable Resource Cannot be replaced once used Minerals Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) Iron, copper, aluminum, uranium, gold

Energy Sources Fossil Fuels: formed by ancient plant and animal remains (over millions of years) Unevenly spread around the world Limited amount/Likely to run out Causes pollution/hurts the environment

As of 2005 Global Gas Prices Netherlands $6.48 Norway $6.27 Italy $5.96 Denmark $5.93 Sweden $5.80 London $5.79 Germany $5.57 France $5.54 Saudi Arabia $0.91 Kuwait $0.78 Egypt $0.65 Nigeria $0.38 Venezuela $0.12 As of 2005

Cost of a Tank Crude Oil + Refining Process + Retail Sales/Distribution + Taxes = Gas Price 69% 6% 10% 15% 23.46 2.04 3.04 5.1 34.00

The earth’s resources are not evenly distributed around the world Affects: where people live, economic activities, trade, etc.

How do you get what you want and need?

Economic Activities Economic Activities: what people do in order to acquire the things they need and the luxuries they desire 4 categories Primary Secondary Tertiary Quaternary

Economic Activities 1. Primary Economic Activities: rely directly on natural resources Examples: fishing, forestry, mining, farming, hunting/gathering, herding Subsistence Farming VS Commercial Farming

Economic Activities 2. Secondary Economic Activities: people use raw materials to produce new products of greater value Examples: pressing wheat to make flour, manufacturing Cottage Industry VS Commercial Industry

Economic Activities 3. Tertiary Economic Activities: do not directly gather or process raw materials – instead they pursue activities that serve others Examples: doctors, salespeople, truck drivers, firefighters, police

Economic Activities 4. Quaternary Economic Activities: acquisition, processing, and sharing of information Examples: education, government, information processing, research, Lawyers

Global Trade Patterns Exports: goods sent out of the country Imports: goods brought into the country Governments attempt to maintain a balance Deficit = domestic businesses lose profits/fail, unemployment rises, nation’s debt to other countries rises

Economic Systems Traditional Economy – families produce what they need - (personal use/little trade) Market Economy – (Free enterprise) – Capitalism Private individuals/groups decide what to produce, how much to produce, and at what price Law of supply and demand

Economic Systems Command Economy – controlled by a single, central government Economic decisions made by government leaders (what and how much to produce at what price) Decisions made to achieve social or political goals (Communism)

Economic Systems Mixed Economy – mixture of all three Socialism Government should run some industries Government should provide some goods and services To pay for services, usually impose high taxes

Economic Development Developed: Modern industrial societies High standard of living, higher education levels, live longer Digital technologies, communications, transportation

Economic Development Underdeveloped: lower levels of prosperity Lack adequate industries and modern technology Depend on developed countries for manufactured goods

Economic Development Developing: show evidence of political, economic, and social progress One measure – per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Total value of goods and services produced in a country in a year/total population

Quiz (18 points) 1. Why has the world’s population increased rapidly over time? 2. How is population density calculated? 3. List the 4 economic activities and give an example of each. 4. List and describe 3 economic systems used in the world. 5. What is wrong with having a deficit when it comes to importing and exporting?