1. Earth’s Natural Resources

2. Natural Resources
Definition- things occurring in nature, like air, water, sunlight, and crops, that can be used to fulfill a need.
Examples- metals power
plastics arable land
fossil fuels
old-growth forests
coal
oil
water

3. Renewable Resources Definition- energy sources that can be recycled or replaced by natural processes in less than 100 years
Advantages-
Stays for a long time
They are constant
Examples-
sun
wind
water
geothermal energy

4. Nonrenewable Resources Definition- resources that cannot be replaced by natural processes in less than 100 years
Advantages-
We need it to make gasoline
Examples- fossil fuels
Disadvantages-
Acid rain
Pollution

5. Disadvantages- pollutes the atmosphere
Fossil Fuels Definition- an energy resource formed from the decayed remains of ancient plants and other organisms
Advantages- a chemical energy is changed into heat and light Examples- coal oil natural gas
Disadvantages- pollutes the atmosphere

6. Coal Definition- formed from the remains of ancient swamp vegetation
Advantages- changes a chemical to heat and light Examples- lignite, bituminous, and anthracite
Disadvantages- pollutes the atmosphere

7. Changes into heat and light Power vehicles
Oil and Natural Gases Definition- oil and natural gas formed over millions of years from the decay of algae and other microscopic ocean organisms called plankton
Advantages
Changes into heat and light
Power vehicles
Power stoves, ovens, fireplaces
Examples- lamp oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, crude oil
Disadvantages
Develops over long periods of time
Air pollution
Water pollution

8. Solar Energy Definition- energy from the sun
Advantages
Renewable does not cause pollution
Examples- solar panels and flat mirrors
Disadvantages
We do not have the technology to harness all of its energy
Cover large areas with solar power
Noise pollution

9. Wind Energy Definition- energy produced by wind
Advantages
Nonpolluting
Not harmful to the environment
Does not produce waste
Examples- windmills, wind, farms
Disadvantages
Few regions have winds strong enough to generate electricity on a large scale
Noise pollution

10. Hydroelectric Power Definition- production of electricity using water
Advantages- does not cause pollution and it is renewable Examples- Niagra Falls, water falls, and dams
Disadvantages
Reservoirs behind the dam can fill up with sediment
Increased erosion

11. Geothermal Energy Definition- heat from the magma and hot rock that surrounds it can be used to generate electricity
Advantages
Iceland and California use hot water and steam from geysers to heat their homes.
Examples- geysers
hot springs
Disadvantages
Sometimes not found, close to Earth’s surface
Can release hot, salty water at Earth’s surface

12. Advantages- part of water cycle, so it is renewable
Groundwater Definition- water that soaks into the ground and collects in small spaces between bits of soil and rock
Advantages- part of water cycle, so it is renewable
Disadvantages- it takes a long time for it to move through rock layers

13. Nuclear Energy Definition- energy produced by splitting the nuclei of certain elements
Advantages
only makes up 8 % of the total energy used in the U.S.
Power entire cities
Examples- power plants
uranium
Disadvantages
Storing nuclear waste makes its use limited
Radioactive wastes
Nuclear accidents

14. Forests Definition- a thick growth of trees and underbrush covering an extensive tract of land
Advantages- take in carbon and stores it Examples- Yellowstone Yosemite
Disadvantages- no forests= more carbon in the atmosphere might cause global warming

15. Mineral Resources Definition- metal objects that come from rocks
Advantages
Sometimes large deposits of valuable minerals are found in one place
Can be mined for profit
Examples- hematite=make motorcycle parts and saw blades
Disadvantages
Costs a lot to get the minerals out of the rocks
Air pollution
Water pollution

16. Abiotic Factors Definition- any nonliving part of the environment
Examples-
air current
Temperature
Moisture
Light
Soil

17. Biotic Factors Examples-
Definition- any living or once living organism in the environment
Examples-
Animals
Plants
Insects
Humans