Academic Earth/Space Science - Chapter 4 : Earth's Resources

can be replenished over fairly short spans of time, such as months, years, or decades.

take millions of years to form and accumulate

hydrocarbons that may be used as fuel, including coal, oil, or natural gas

When heat and pressure transform plant material over millions of years (Peat, Lignite, Subbituminous, Bituminous, Anthracite)

From the remains of organisms that were buried in ancient seas

Fuels derived from _ could become one possible substitute for dwindling petroleum supplies.

Form through igneous processes and hydrothermal solutions

a useful metallic mineral that can be mined at a profit

Higher density materials get eroded away, since they’re high density, they’re not carries far and will settle out quickly. Sediment of the deposited mineral will then accumulate.

Extracted and processed either for nonmetallic elements they contain or used for their physical and chemical properties

The energy is free for us, solar energy is non-polluting

They take up a lot of space, the sun is not always out

The uranium nuclei such as uranium-235 are bombarded with neutrons. The uranium nuclei split into smaller nuclei and emit neutrons and heat energy. This is called a controlled nuclear reaction.

According to the textbook, in the next 50–60 years, _____________ could meet between 5-10% of the country’s demand for electricity.

How is hydroelectric power generated?

harnessed by tapping natural underground reservoirs of steam and hot water. Those reservoirs can run out, making it the only exhaustible renewable energy. Hot water is used directly for heating and to turn turbines that generate electric power.

harnessed by constructing a dam across the mouth of a bay or an estuary in coastal areas. The strong in-and-out flow of tidal water drives turbines and electric generators.

What percentage of Earth’s water is usable?

comes from a known and specific location, such as factory pipes

pollution that doesn’t have a specific point of origin

the water that flows over the land rather than seeping into the ground, often carrying non-point source pollution

What is the single largest polluter to our atmosphere?

The increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has altered the carbon cycle and contributed to ___ -- the unnatural warming of the lower atmosphere. Through a series of chemical reactions, these pollutants in the air are converted into acids that are a major cause of acid precipitation.

Mines produce many mineral resources, but mines are destroying soil, vegetation, and Earth’s contours. Mines also cause soil erosion and pollution that contaminates soil and water and destroys ecosystems

Sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide mix with H2O (SULFUR OXIDES)

protects us from UV rays

UV rays are let in, but infrared aren’t let out (methane, CO2, vapor)

the careful use of resources

1972 (CWA) 1974 (Safe Drinking Water Act)

the deposits of minerals from hydrothermal solutions cooling rock fractures are called

Carbon monoxide, ozone, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates.

partly decomposed organic material that can be used as a fertilizer

the collecting and processing of used items so that they can be made into new products

an exhaustible energy resource