Chapter 14: Chapter 14: ResourcesResources

Why are resources being Why are resources being depleted?depleted?

Two kinds of natural Two kinds of natural resources are resources are especially valuable to especially valuable to humanshumans– MineralsMinerals– Energy resourcesEnergy resources

We depend on We depend on abundant, low-cost abundant, low-cost energy and minerals energy and minerals to run our industries, to run our industries, transport ourselves, transport ourselves, and keep our homes and keep our homes comfortablecomfortable

ProblemProblem– MDCs want to preserve MDCs want to preserve

current standards of current standards of living while LDCs are living while LDCs are struggling to attain a struggling to attain a better standardbetter standard

Energy ResourcesEnergy Resources

Historically people Historically people have relied primarily have relied primarily on power supplied by on power supplied by themselves or by themselves or by animalsanimals– Called animate powerCalled animate power

Energy from flowing Energy from flowing water and burning water and burning biomass fuel biomass fuel supplemented supplemented animate poweranimate power– Biomass =Biomass =

Wood, plant material, Wood, plant material, and animal wasteand animal waste

During the Industrial During the Industrial Revolution, MDCs Revolution, MDCs converted to converted to inanimate powerinanimate power– Generated from Generated from

machinesmachines

Energy ResourcesEnergy Resources

MDCs consume 3x the MDCs consume 3x the amount of energy amount of energy that LDCs dothat LDCs do

North Americans are North Americans are the heaviest per the heaviest per capita consumers of capita consumers of energyenergy– Use ¼ world’s energyUse ¼ world’s energy– Have 1/12 world’s Have 1/12 world’s

populationpopulation

Three substances provide Three substances provide 5/6ths of the world’s energy5/6ths of the world’s energy– CoalCoal– PetroleumPetroleum– Natural gasNatural gas

All three are fossil fuelsAll three are fossil fuels– Residue of plants and Residue of plants and

animals that were buried animals that were buried millions of years agomillions of years ago

Two causes for concernTwo causes for concern– Supply is finiteSupply is finite– Distributed unevenlyDistributed unevenly

Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels

Renewable energyRenewable energy– Essentially unlimited Essentially unlimited

supply and is not supply and is not depleted depleted

Hydroelectric, Hydroelectric, geothermal, fusion, geothermal, fusion, wind, and solar energywind, and solar energy

Non-renewable Non-renewable energyenergy– Forms so slowly that it Forms so slowly that it

cannot be renewedcannot be renewed Fossil fuelsFossil fuels

Proven ReservesProven Reserves– Amount of energy Amount of energy

remaining in deposits remaining in deposits of fossil fuelsof fossil fuels

Potential ReservesPotential Reserves– Energy in deposits that Energy in deposits that

are undiscovered but are undiscovered but thought to existthought to exist

Undiscovered oil fieldsUndiscovered oil fields Enhanced recovery Enhanced recovery

from current fieldsfrom current fields Unconventional Unconventional

resourcesresources– Shale, oil sandsShale, oil sands

Uneven Distribution of Uneven Distribution of Fossil FuelsFossil Fuels

Two important Two important inequalities in global inequalities in global distribution of fossil distribution of fossil fuelsfuels– Some regions have Some regions have

abundant sources, abundant sources, others do notothers do not

– The heaviest The heaviest consumers are in consumers are in different regions that different regions that most of the reservesmost of the reserves

Leads to global Leads to global instabilityinstability

Uneven distributionUneven distribution– CoalCoal

China- 39%China- 39% U.S.- 16%U.S.- 16%

– PetroleumPetroleum Southwest Asia- 40%Southwest Asia- 40% Central Asia- 15%Central Asia- 15%

– Natural gasNatural gas Russia- 25%Russia- 25%

ConsumptionConsumption– U.S. imports more than U.S. imports more than

½ of their petroleum ½ of their petroleum Japan 90%Japan 90%

– LDC’s quickly “catching LDC’s quickly “catching up”up”

Control of World Control of World PetroleumPetroleum

Most intense conflict Most intense conflict over energy will be over energy will be centered on supply of centered on supply of petroleumpetroleum

OPECOPEC– At 1At 1stst western countries western countries

set oil prices and paid set oil prices and paid southwest Asian countries southwest Asian countries a small % of oil profitsa small % of oil profits

– Government policies Government policies changed in 1970s in SW changed in 1970s in SW Asian countriesAsian countries

– Several LDC countries Several LDC countries containing petroleum containing petroleum resources created OPEC resources created OPEC in 1960in 1960

– OPEC was angry at North OPEC was angry at North America and Europe for America and Europe for supporting Israel (1970s)supporting Israel (1970s)

Led to embargoLed to embargo Lifted in 1974, but raised Lifted in 1974, but raised

pricesprices– Caused severe economic Caused severe economic

problems in MDCsproblems in MDCs– LDCS hurt even more!LDCS hurt even more!

Changing Supply and Changing Supply and DemandDemand– The price of oil settled by The price of oil settled by

1980s, 1990s1980s, 1990s– U.S. reduced its U.S. reduced its

dependency on foreign dependency on foreign importsimports

Mineral ResourcesMineral Resources

Earth has 92 elements BUT Earth has 92 elements BUT 99% of the crust contains 99% of the crust contains just 8 elementsjust 8 elements– Oxygen, silicon, Oxygen, silicon,

aluminum, iron, calcium, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and sodium, potassium, and magnesiummagnesium

8 most common combine 8 most common combine with rare ones to create with rare ones to create 3,000 different minerals3,000 different minerals

Each mineral is a potential Each mineral is a potential resourceresource

Minerals are either Minerals are either – MetallicMetallic

Have properties that are Have properties that are valuable for machinery, valuable for machinery, vehicles, industryvehicles, industry

– Non-metallic Non-metallic 90% are building stones90% are building stones Also used for fertilizerAlso used for fertilizer ExamplesExamples

– Phosphorus, Potassium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, SulfurCalcium, Sulfur

Mineral deposits are not Mineral deposits are not distributed evenlydistributed evenly– Australia and China rank Australia and China rank

has two leading has two leading producersproducers

Key Issue #2- Why Are Key Issue #2- Why Are Resources Being Resources Being

Polluted?Polluted? Pollution occurs Pollution occurs

when more waste when more waste is added than a is added than a resource can resource can accommodateaccommodate

Types of pollution:Types of pollution:– AirAir– WaterWater– LandLand

Air PollutionAir Pollution

Definition:Definition:– Concentration of trace Concentration of trace

substances at a greater substances at a greater level than occurs in level than occurs in average airaverage air

Earth’s atmosphere (at Earth’s atmosphere (at ground level) is 78% ground level) is 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% Argon1% Argon

Most common human Most common human activities that cause activities that cause pollutionpollution– Motor vehicles, industry, and Motor vehicles, industry, and

power plantspower plants

Most common air Most common air pollutantspollutants– Carbon monoxide, Sulfur Carbon monoxide, Sulfur

dioxidedioxide

Air pollution concerns Air pollution concerns geographers at three geographers at three levelslevels– GlobalGlobal– Regional Regional – locallocal

Air PollutionAir Pollution GlobalGlobal

– Global warmingGlobal warming Pollution may be causing Pollution may be causing

Earth’s temperature to riseEarth’s temperature to rise

– Greenhouse effectGreenhouse effect Anticipated temp increase on Anticipated temp increase on

Earth caused by carbon dioxide Earth caused by carbon dioxide trapping some of the radiation trapping some of the radiation emitted by the surfaceemitted by the surface

Can have devastating Can have devastating consequences, even if only a consequences, even if only a few degreesfew degrees

– Global-scale ozone damageGlobal-scale ozone damage Stratosphere contains ozone Stratosphere contains ozone

gasesgases– Absorbs dangerous UV raysAbsorbs dangerous UV rays

Threatened by pollutants called Threatened by pollutants called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

RegionalRegional– At regional scale, air At regional scale, air

pollution may damage pollution may damage vegetation and water vegetation and water supply through acid supply through acid depositiondeposition

Definition: tiny droplets of Definition: tiny droplets of sulfuric acid and nitric sulfuric acid and nitric acid form and return to acid form and return to Earth’s surfaceEarth’s surface

Leads to acid Leads to acid precipitationprecipitation

LocalLocal– Urban air pollutionUrban air pollution

Carbon monoxideCarbon monoxide HydrocarbonsHydrocarbons particulatesparticulates

Water PollutionWater Pollution

American’s consume American’s consume 5,300 liters (1,400 5,300 liters (1,400 gallons) of water per gallons) of water per dayday

Water Pollution Water Pollution SourcesSources– Water-using industriesWater-using industries– Municipal sewageMunicipal sewage– AgricultureAgriculture

Impact on Aquatic LifeImpact on Aquatic Life– Pollution reduces Pollution reduces

Oxygen levelOxygen level

Wastewater and Wastewater and DiseaseDisease– Most MDC’s have Most MDC’s have

passed Clean Water passed Clean Water lawslaws

– Major impactMajor impact Ex. Thames River- Ex. Thames River-

London, EnglandLondon, England

– LDCs have less LDCs have less capacity to treat capacity to treat wastewaterwastewater

Sewage flows into riversSewage flows into rivers Leads to high rates of Leads to high rates of

diseases such as diseases such as Cholera, Typhoid, and Cholera, Typhoid, and DysenteryDysentery

Land PollutionLand Pollution

Solid-Waste DisposalSolid-Waste Disposal– The sanitary landfill is The sanitary landfill is

most common strategy most common strategy for disposal of waste in for disposal of waste in the United Statesthe United States

More than ½ of waste More than ½ of waste disposed this waydisposed this way

Number of landfills has Number of landfills has declined since 1990sdeclined since 1990s

– Better compaction Better compaction methods methods

– Recycling and Recycling and incineration have also incineration have also increasedincreased

Can lead to air Can lead to air pollutionpollution

Hazardous WasteHazardous Waste– Disposing is difficultDisposing is difficult

Includes heavy metals , Includes heavy metals , PCB oils, cyanides, PCB oils, cyanides, solvents, acids, and solvents, acids, and causticscaustics

– Can leach into soil, Can leach into soil, poisonouspoisonous

Must report to EPAMust report to EPA Placed in containers and Placed in containers and

buriedburied

Renewing ResourcesRenewing Resources

Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy– Not renewable but seen as Not renewable but seen as

alternativealternative– AdvantageAdvantage

Small amount of material Small amount of material releases large amount of releases large amount of energyenergy

– Supplies 1/6Supplies 1/6thth world’s world’s energyenergy

Mostly in MDCsMostly in MDCs

– ProblemsProblems AccidentsAccidents Radioactive wasteRadioactive waste Material for nucsMaterial for nucs Limited uranium supplyLimited uranium supply Cost/ distributionCost/ distribution

Nuclear FusionNuclear Fusion– Some nuclear power issues Some nuclear power issues

could be addressed by fusioncould be addressed by fusion– Definition:Definition:

Fusing of hydrogen atoms to Fusing of hydrogen atoms to heliumhelium

– Can only occur at high tempsCan only occur at high temps

Leading Renewable Leading Renewable Energy SourcesEnergy Sources

BiomassBiomass– More than ½ of renewable More than ½ of renewable

energyenergy Wood is a renewable resourceWood is a renewable resource Crops such as corn, sugarcane, Crops such as corn, sugarcane,

and soybeans can be used for and soybeans can be used for energyenergy

– Limited useLimited use Energy to grow crops = to outputEnergy to grow crops = to output Forest reducedForest reduced Serves other purposes already Serves other purposes already

such a food, clothing, sheltersuch a food, clothing, shelter

Hydroelectric PowerHydroelectric Power– Use of moving water to create Use of moving water to create

energyenergy Has been used throughout historyHas been used throughout history

– 22ndnd most popular source of most popular source of electricityelectricity

– Can be environmental disasterCan be environmental disaster China – Three Gorges DamChina – Three Gorges Dam

Wind PowerWind Power– Historical source of powerHistorical source of power– BenefitsBenefits

Less change to Less change to environmentenvironment

Greater potential for Greater potential for increased useincreased use

– ProblemsProblems NoisyNoisy Lethal to birdsLethal to birds Visual blightVisual blight

Geothermal EnergyGeothermal Energy– Energy from hot water or Energy from hot water or

steamsteam– Prominent in volcanic areasProminent in volcanic areas– Lots of research currently Lots of research currently

underwayunderway

Solar EnergySolar Energy The ultimate renewable The ultimate renewable

source is solar energysource is solar energy– Currently supply 1% of Currently supply 1% of

electricity to U.S.electricity to U.S. Potential is limitlessPotential is limitless

– Sun’s estimated life = 5 Sun’s estimated life = 5 billion yearsbillion years

Sun’s energy is free, Sun’s energy is free, can’t be owned, can’t be owned, bought, or soldbought, or sold– Does not damage the Does not damage the

environment or cause environment or cause pollutionpollution

Active solar energyActive solar energy– Collect solar energy Collect solar energy

and convert it either to and convert it either to heat energy or to heat energy or to electricityelectricity

Example:Example:– Solar panelsSolar panels

Passive solar energyPassive solar energy– Capture of solar Capture of solar

energy without any energy without any devicesdevices

Example:Example:– South-facing South-facing

windowswindows– greenhousesgreenhouses

Renewable Energy in Renewable Energy in Motor VehiclesMotor Vehicles

Most serious challenge to Most serious challenge to reducing dependence on reducing dependence on non-renewable energy is non-renewable energy is the motor vehiclethe motor vehicle

BatteriesBatteries– Battery-powered, electric cars Battery-powered, electric cars

popular in 1900spopular in 1900s– ShortcomingsShortcomings

Limited rangeLimited range Costs more to operateCosts more to operate Recharging can take several hoursRecharging can take several hours Led to creation of hybridsLed to creation of hybrids

BiofuelsBiofuels– Ethanol can be produced from Ethanol can be produced from

biomass (corn in U.S., biomass (corn in U.S., sugarcane in Brazil)sugarcane in Brazil)

– Takes a lot of energy, is Takes a lot of energy, is source of foodsource of food

Hydrogen fuel cellsHydrogen fuel cells– Convert hydrogen and oxygen Convert hydrogen and oxygen

into water, producing into water, producing electricity and heat in the electricity and heat in the processprocess

Can be used to power motors or Can be used to power motors or electrical deviceselectrical devices

– Obtaining hydrogen a problemObtaining hydrogen a problem Have to separate itHave to separate it

– Hydrogen fuel used to lift Hydrogen fuel used to lift shuttles into orbit, power shuttles into orbit, power shuttle’s electrical systemsshuttle’s electrical systems

– For motor vehicle use would For motor vehicle use would require a new distribution require a new distribution systemsystem

RecyclingRecycling

Definition:Definition:– The separation, The separation,

collection, processing, collection, processing, marketing, and reuse of marketing, and reuse of the unwanted materialthe unwanted material

Increased in U.S. from Increased in U.S. from 1970 from 7% to 33% 1970 from 7% to 33% in 2007in 2007

Main items recycledMain items recycled– Paper, plastic, glass, Paper, plastic, glass,

aluminumaluminum

Sustainable Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

Definition:Definition:– Development that Development that

meets the needs of the meets the needs of the present without present without compromising the compromising the ability of future ability of future generations to meet generations to meet their own needstheir own needs

ConservationConservation– definition:definition:

Sustainable use and Sustainable use and management of natural management of natural resources such as wildlife, resources such as wildlife, water, air, and Earth’s water, air, and Earth’s resources to meet resources to meet human’s needshuman’s needs

PreservationPreservation– Definition:Definition:

Maintenance of Maintenance of resources in their resources in their present conditionpresent condition

SustainabilitySustainability– Difficult to balance Difficult to balance

environment with environment with concern for economic concern for economic growthgrowth

– Example: ChinaExample: China Has 16 of 20 most polluted Has 16 of 20 most polluted

cities in the worldcities in the world