1. Chapter 14: Resource Issues
The Cultural Landscape:
An Introduction to Human Geography

2. Why Are Resources Being Depleted?
Energy resources
Animate versus inanimate power
Energy supply and demand
Five-sixths of the world’s energy supply comes from coal, natural gas, and oil
Finiteness of natural resources
Renewable versus nonrenewable resources
Proven reserves
Potential reserves

3. Per Capita Energy Consumption
Figure 14-1

4. U.S. Energy Consumption
Figure 14-2

5. Coal Production
Figure 14-4

6. Proven Reserves of Fossil Fuels
Figure 14-5

7. Why Are Resources Being Depleted?
Energy resources
Uneven distribution of fossil fuels
Location of reserves
Consumption of fossil fuels
Control of world petroleum
OPEC
Changing supply and demand

8. Why Are Resources Being Depleted?
Mineral resources
Metallic or nonmetallic
Nonmetallic = 90 percent of extraction is for building stone
Ferrous metallic minerals = iron ore, chromium, manganese
Nonferrous metallic minerals = aluminum, copper, zinc
Precious metals = gold, silver, platinum

9. Why Are Resources Being Polluted?
Air pollution
Global scale
Global warming
Greenhouse effect
The ozone layer and CFCs
Regional scale
Acid precipitation and acid deposition
Local scale
Carbon monoxide
Hydrocarbons and photochemical smog
Particulates

10. Global Warming
Figure 14-15

11. Acid Deposition in North America & Europe
Figure 14-18

12. Smog in Mexico City
Figure 14-19

13. Why Are Resources Being Polluted?
Water pollution
Sources
Agriculture
Water-using industries
Municipal uses
Impact on aquatic life
Biochemical oxygen demand
Wastewater and disease

14. Why Are Resources Being Polluted?
Land pollution
Solid-waste disposal
Sanitary landfills
Two alternatives to landfills: incineration and recycling
Hazardous waste disposal
In 2007 = about 47 million tons disposed of in the United States

15. Why Are Resources Being Polluted?
Renewing resources
Nuclear energy
Potential accidents
Radioactive wastes
Bomb material
Limited uranium reserves
High cost

16. Percentage of Electricity Generated from Nuclear Power
Figure 14-23

17. Why Are Resources Being Reused?
Renewing resources
Leading renewable energy resources
Biomass
Hydroelectric power
Wind power
Geothermal energy
Solar energy
Active
Passive
Renewable energy in motor vehicles

18. Electricity From Hydroelectric Power
Figure 14-26

19. Why Are Resources Being Reused?
Recycling resources
In the United States recycling has steadily increased since 1970
Recycling collection
Pick-up and processing
Recyclables are collected in four ways: curbside, drop-off, buy-back, and/or deposit
Manufacturing of recycled products

20. Sources of Solid Waste
Figure 14-30

21. Why Are Resources Being Reused?
Recycling resources
Other pollution reduction strategies
Reducing discharges
Increasing environmental capacities
Comparing pollution reduction strategies
It seems clear that consumers must learn to use/waste less for a safer, cleaner environment

22. A Coking Plant
Figure 14-32

23. Why Should Resources Be Conserved?
Sustainable development
Improving quality of life while preserving resources for future generations
Conservation
Sustainable use and management of resources
Preservation
Maintenance of resources in their present condition
Impact on economic growth

24. Sustainable Development
Figure 14-33

25. Pollution Compared to a Country’s Wealth
Figure 14-34

26. Why Should Resources be Conserved?
Biodiversity
Geographic biodiversity versus biological biodiversity
Biologists = most concerned with genetic diversity
Geographers = most concerned with biogeographic diversity
Biodiversity in the tropics
Occupy 6 percent of Earth’s land area but contain more than 50 percent of all species

27. The End.