The Earth's Resources

Nonrenewable Resources The Earth provides us with many resources . These resources are divided up into two main groups. Minerals Air Plants Nonrenewable Resources Renewable Resources Animals Water Fossil Fuels

Renewable Resources A Renewable Resource is a resource, like a tree, that can be replaced by natural process like growth. It can be renewed in a reasonable amount of time. http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=renewable_home-basics

Air Air is one example of a renewable resource. Our Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air that we call the atmosphere. It reaches almost 350 miles above the surface of Earth. Our atmosphere is a mixture of different gases, especially nitrogen and oxygen. Humans and other animals need oxygen to live. Plants take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and release oxygen. The atmosphere also protects living things from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation given off by the sun. Air is considered a renewable resource because it can be replaced by living things.

Threats to our atmosphere! Pollution from cars, homes, and factories now threatens our atmosphere. The burning of oil, coal, natural gas, and gasoline has increased the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. At the same time, the cutting down of trees and the destruction of plant life have reduced the productions of oxygen. Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere acts as a blanket, trapping in heat. Some scientists believe that increased levels of carbon dioxide have contributed to higher temperatures across the globe – known as global warning.

Applying what you have learned... List two ways in which life on Earth depends on the atmosphere. It contains oxygen, which is what humans and animals need to live. The atmosphere also protects living things form harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation given off by the sun.

Water Water is another renewable resource. Three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Most of this water is in the world’s oceans. An ocean is one of five major bodies of water. Ocean water contains salt and other minerals and because ocean water is 3 ½% salt, it is known as salt water. The water in lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams come from rain and it is known as fresh water. About 70% of fresh water is also found in the ice caps that cover the North and South Pole. Most fish that live in fresh water cannot survive in saltwater and the same goes for saltwater fish. A few fish, like salmon, can live in both.

Fresh water can be found in a variety of bodies: A pond is a small inland body of fresh water. A lake is a large, deep, inland body of water. Most lakes hold fresh water. A river is a large waterway that carries water from higher places, such as mountains, to lower places. A river has banks on each side, and a riverbed under the flowing water. Usually, river carry water to lakes, wetlands, or oceans. A stream is a small fast-moving waterway that feeds into a river. Most streams are found in high areas. A wetland is an area of land that is continually flooded, such as a marsh or swamp. The soil is wet but the water is not as deep as in a pond or lake. Special plants and animals, used swamp-like conditions, live in wetlands. Most wetlands have fresh water, but wetlands along ocean coastlines can be flooded with salt water from the ocean. Wetlands often act to filter water.

Groundwater- When water soaks into the ground, it sinks below until it finally hits a hard surface of rock. The water then collects as groundwater and flows through the porous rock or in underground streams. LAKE POND RIVER STREAM

GROUNDWATER WETLANDS

Conservation Water is a renewable resource because it can be replenished by the water cycle. Water can also be recycled. Waste water can be filtered to remove impurities and can then be used again. When rivers and lakes become polluted with liquid or solid wastes, the use of this precious resource is threatened. Greater efforts are needed to prevent pollution and to reduce unnecessary uses of water. These steps can help to conserve our supplies of fresh water.

Nonrenewable Resources A Nonrenewable resource is a resource formed by the Earth over a million, or even billions, of years ago. It cannot be renewed. http://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=nonrenewable_home-basics For an example, oil, coal, natural gas, copper, and other minerals are nonrenewable resources. Once used, they cannot be replaced. COAL NATURAL GAS OIL COPPER

MINERALS Rocks above and below the Earth’s surface contain many valuable minerals. The supply of minerals, like gold and iron ore, is limited. Because such minerals cannot be replanted or replaced after they are taken from the ground, they are nonrenewable resources.

Fossil Fuels Coal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas – are special resources. They can be burned to release large amounts of energy. Under normal conditions, coal is a solid, oil is a liquid, and natural gas is a gas. We burn them to run our car engines, heat our homes, power our machinery, and create electricity. Coal, oil, and natural gas are known as fossil fuels. They actually come from the remains of ancient livings things.

Coal Coal is a brown or black rock formed from plants in ancient forests and swamps as long ago as 400 million years. After the plants dies, they decayed and were buried under water, dirt, and other living things. One million years, heat and pressure changed their remains into coal. Some coal is soft and brown. More pressure and heat turns this soft coal into a hard , black coal. Today, we burn coal for electricity and heat. When burned, coal releases the energy stored by plants from the sun many millions of years ago.

Oil and Natural Gas Oil and natural gas are also fossil fuels. They were formed by very tiny plants and animals in the ocean. These living things stored energy, originally taken from the sun through photosynthesis. When they died, they fell to the ocean floor, where mud and sediment covered them. Over millions of years, heat and pressure changed their soft bodies into crude oil – a sticky, gooey liquid – and natural gas.

Today, crude oil is heated and separated into different parts to make gasoline and other fuels. Ingredients in oil also make plastics and chemicals. Natural gas is made of gases that usually rise above deposits of crude. When it burns, it creates less pollution than either oil or coal.

It takes millions of years for fossil fuels – coal, oil, natural gas – to form. They can only be burned once. For this reason, they are nonrenewable resources. Although, nonrenewable resources cannot be replaced, the presence of these resources can be extended by careful use without waste. Conservation helps extend these resources. The burning of fossil fuels also causes pollution, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists are therefore looking for new sources of energy. They want our nation to become less dependent on fossil fuels and to create less pollution.

Nonrenewable Resources Gold Iron Ore Oak Trees Fresh water Oil (petroleum) Wild Salmon Rubber plants Coal

Earth's Renewable Resources Notes A Renewable Resource is one that can be replaced by natural processes like growth. AIR- Renewable resource surrounding Earth. Water Used for agriculture, energy, and recreation. Salt water- comes from the oceans. Fresh water- comes from ponds, lakes, and rivers, streams, and ground water. Plants can be replaced by reproduction and growth. Animals can reproduce

Earth's Nonrenewable Resources Notes A nonrenewable resource is one that was formed by Earth over million or even billions of years and cannot be replaced. Minerals- The supply of minerals is limited and cannot be replaced. Fossil Fuels- Once a fossil fuel is burned for its energy, it cannot be replaced. Coal: From plants in ancient forests. Oil: Liquid from ancient sea creatures. Natural Gas: From ancient sea creatures.

Earth's Renewable Resources Notes A Renewable Resource is one that can be replaced by natural processes like growth. AIR- Renewable resource surrounding Earth. Water Used for agriculture, energy, and recreation. Salt water- comes from the oceans. Fresh water- comes from ponds, lakes, and rivers, streams, and ground water. Plants can be replaced by reproduction and growth. Animals can reproduce

Earth's Nonrenewable Resources Notes A nonrenewable resource is one that was formed by Earth over million or even billions of years and cannot be replaced. Minerals- The supply of minerals is limited and cannot be replaced. Fossil Fuels- Once a fossil fuel is burned for its energy, it cannot be replaced. Coal: From plants in ancient forests. Oil: Liquid from ancient sea creatures. Natural Gas: From ancient sea creatures.