2. The Earth provides us with many resources. These resources are divided up into two main groups. Renewable Resources Nonrenewable Resources

3. 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 (about a lifetime or 100 years) http://www.eia.gov/kids/en ergy.cfm?page=renewable_ho me-basics

4. 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. Humans and other animals need oxygen to live. Plants take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to complete photosynthesis. 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.

5. Pollution from cars, homes, and factories now threatens our atmosphere. T he 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. C arbon 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.

6. 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.

7. W ater is another renewable resource. T hree-quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Most of this water is in the world’s oceans. 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 Poles. Water is a renewable resource because it can be replenished by the water cycle.

8. 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. POND RIVER LAKE STREAM

9. WETLANDS GROUNDWATER

10. Water is a renewable resource because it can be replenished by the water cycle. W ater 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.

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

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

13. C oal, oil (petroleum), and natural gas – are special resources. T hey 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.

14. 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. M ore 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.

16. 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.

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

19. 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. C onservation helps extend these resources. The burning of fossil fuels also causes pollution, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. S cientists are therefore looking for new sources of energy. They want our nation to become less dependent on fossil fuels and to create less pollution.

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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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.