Chapter 9: Earth’s Resources and Environmental Protection Introduction to Geography Chapter 9: Earth’s Resources and Environmental Protection

What Is a Natural Resource? Something that is useful to people Defined by Cultural values What is used and valued by people Wood, mud or brick building Swamps become wetlands, cultural shifts Available technology Potential resources Ability to extract and use Economics Supply and demand Externalities

Natural Resources Substitutability Nonrenewable resources Stabilizes prices Limits resource scarcity Nonrenewable resources Limited amounts Gas, oil, coal, metals Renewable resources Replaced continually Air, wind, water, solar Some can be depleted

Solid Waste Landfills Incineration Sanitary landfills Reduces volume Receive about 55% of solid waste Reduce air & water pollution Many becoming full & closing Public objection to new landfills (“NIMBY”) Incineration Reduces volume Provides energy

Recycling Reduces need for landfills and incinerators Reuses natural resources Barriers Waste separation Consumer resistance Lack of market Hidden costs Indirect losses New products & technologies Shared costs with consumers

Energy Resources Renewable energy Solar energy from the sun Hydroelectric & wind power from movements of air & water Geothermal from heat within Earth Most energy from chemical energy stored in Wood Coal Oil Natural gas Alcohol Manure

Fossil Fuels Oil, natural gas, coal Nonrenewable Created from plant & animal remains millions of years ago Nonrenewable Wood primary energy source until coal become dominant in 19th century Oil is most important energy resource today U.S. and Canadian industry Natural gas, oil, coal Distribution of fossil fuels Uneven Reserves

Renewable Energy Nuclear Fission vs. fusion Problems Potential accidents Radioactive waste Public opposition High cost

Renewable Energy Biomass Hydroelectric Solar Burning wood, plant material & animal waste Home heating & cooking in most of world Hydroelectric Flowing water ¼ of world’s electricity Opposition to dams Solar Energy from sun Thermal & photovoltaic Wind generation Transition to new energy sources

Air Pollution Human concentration of trace substances at greater-than-natural levels Predominately fossil fuels Acid deposition Acid rain - sulfur, nitrogen oxides Concentrated in Northeastern North America Central Europe Eastern China

Air Pollution Urban air pollution Components Burning in power plants and vehicles CO2 Incomplete burning Photochemical smog Particles (dust, soot) Weather factors Wind or calm Air temperature inversions Sunlight

Water Pollution 400 billion gallons per day pumped in U.S. Pollution sources Point Non–point Concentration & dilution Oxygen in water Oxygen levels indicate healthy water body Biochemical oxygen demand of decomposing waste Wastewater & disease Chemical & toxic pollutants

Controlling Pollution Common strategy Removal before entering environment Sewage treatment Catalytic converters Smoke stack scrubbers

Preventing Pollution Paradigm shift in the 1990’s Incentives Stop producing pollution Use of non-toxic substances Recycling potential pollutants Incentives Remaining pollution even with control measures Legal liability Cheaper Public relations value Preventing Pollution

Forests Cover 1/3 of Earth’s surface Uses Ecosystem Renewable natural resource Timber, paper, wood products Recreational Ecosystem Habitat Carbon storage Biodiversity

End of Chapter 9