Chapter 5: Earth’s Resources and Environmental Protection Holly Barcus, Morehead State University

1. Introduction to GeographyPeople, Places, and Environment, 6eCarl DahlmanWilliam H. Renwick Chapter 5: Earth’s Resources and Environmental Protection Holly Barcus, Morehead State University And Joe Naumann, UMSL

2. Resources • Click on the animation below to see the video on resources

3. What Is a Natural Resource? • Anything from nature that exists in finite quantities which people use and value • Elements of • Atmosphere • Biosphere • Hydrosphere • Lithosphere • Distinguished from human creations and inventions

4. RESOURCES ARE ESSENTIAL TO OUR WAY OF LIFE

5. A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL TO OUR LIFE!

6. Resource Characteristics • Defined by • Cultural values • What is used and valued by people • Wood, mud or brick building • Swamps become wetlands, cultural shifts • Available technology • Potential resources • Ability to extract and use • Economics • Supply and demand – influences prices • Externalities

7. Natural Resource Use • Substitutability • Stabilizes prices • Limits resource scarcity • Nonrenewable resources • Limited amounts • Gas, oil, coal, metals • Reusable – metals, silica (glass), etc. • Renewable resources • Replaced continually unless . . . . . • Air, wind, water, solar

8. Conservation is the Answer to Natural Resource Use • Conservation is the wise use of resources • Wise use – keeping the 4 laws of ecology in mind • Wise use – seeking maximum efficiency in an environmentally safe way • Not using resources is preservation, not conservation

9. Mineral Resources • Metallic • Copper, lead, silicon • Nonmetallic • Building stone, graphite, slate, quartz • Distribution of deposits is uneven • Cartels • Depletion and substitution

10. Keep in mind that these are per capita amounts

11. They are not evenly distributed around the world.

13. Resources & Technology • Generally, the higher the level of technology, the larger the number of things viewed as natural resources or resources. • 19th Century Native Americans and 19th Century Americans and • Amerindian world view & technology • European/American world view & technology

14. European View of Coal • Greatly desired after the industrial revolution • Explored for coal deposits & paid high prices • Took territory with coal fields as “spoils” of war – i.e. Saar Valley (France/Germany border area) • 1793 occupied by France in French Revolution] • 1801-15 – France controlled it • 1815-1919 – Prussia controlled it (Germany) • 1919-35 – League of Nations • 1935-45 returned to Germany • 1945-48 – France • 1948-57 – Economic union with France • 1957-Present – part of Germany

15. More Resource Terminology • Resource Reserves – What has not been extracted from the earth or been harvested. • Proven reserves – known deposits that are economically feasible to exploit – the only quantity we can really count on using. • Known deposits – not currently economically feasible to exploit at current prices or technology • Undiscovered deposits that may exist– can’t be counted on for the future – some may be feasible to exploit & some may not be.

16. Reusable

17. Efficiency is the key • Efficiency prolongs the use of all types of resources • Efficiency in extraction – minimize waste • Efficiency in use – get the most out • Most important in the nonrenewable resources • Sustained yield is the best approach to renewable resources – use them at nature’s rate of renewal • Expanded recycling will maximize the quantity of reusable resources and expand the parameters. • Finding substitutes & alternatives where possible

18. Solid Waste • Landfills • Sanitary landfills • NIMBY • Incineration • Reduces volume • Provides energy • Concept of Urban Ore

20. Recycling of reusable resources • Reduces need for landfills and incinerators • Reuses natural resources • Barriers • Waste separation • Consumer resistance • Lack of market • Hidden costs • Indirect losses • New products and technologies • Shared costs with consumers

21. Waste & Recycling

22. Waste – how much more in 2004?

23. Energy Resources • Solar • Hydroelectric • Wind • Fossil fuels • Geothermal

24. Energy Resources & Industry • Energy Resources = “Master” Natural Resources – the mainspring of industry • Fossil fuels currently are the major source – “solar” power -- NONRENEWABLE • Energy can be Extracted in a Number of Ways • Muscle power • Water power • Solar power • Fossil fuel power • Nuclear power (only one that isn’t releasing solar energy)

25. Trends in US Energy Use 1950-2002

26. Energy & GDP correlation • As more developing countries develop economically, the use of energy world-wide will greatly increase. • As more energy is demanded world-wide, the cost of energy will increase (laws of supply & demand)

27. Fossil Fuels & Wood Pollute Tropical rainforest fire • Forest fires • Industrial consumption • Domestic consumption

28. Fossil Fuels • Oil, natural gas, coal • Stored energy created over millions of years • Nonrenewable • Wood primary energy source until 19th century • Oil is most important energy resource today • U.S. and Canadian industry • Natural gas, oil, coal • Distribution of fossil fuels • Uneven • Reserves

29. Oil • Distribution • 2/3 of oil reserves in Middle East • North America and Europe have highest per capita oil consumption rates • Oil production and pricing • OPEC, 1960 • Oil crises • Future of fossil fuels • Proven reserves • Unconventional sources

30. Energy Resources • Non-Renewable • Crude Oil (40% of all energy – excluding wood) • Coal • Natural Gas • Oil Shale • Tar Sands • Renewable • Wind & solar • Hydropower • Biomass

31. Coal: most abundant fossil fuel • Pollution from use of coal & production of coal is a problem (costs money to reduce it, otherwise costs are passed on as medical problems for people not associated with the production of coal) • Coal can be converted to gas to produce power too • Needed • Efficiency through new technology • Pollution control at all levels • Large quantities exist in Siberia, but most are not economically feasible to develop at this time

32. Abundant but problematical 1 2 3

33. Feasibility increases as oil & gas prices increase

34. General mining–coal particularly • Surface mining – cheaper initially, but restoration of the land surface can be costly • Shaft mining – more expensive initially Back-filling shaft mines can be very costly. Mine safety is also a major concern.

36. Petroleum Prices

37. Oil – major energy fuel • Crude petroleum • Major fuel: gasoline, kerosene, diesel, aviation fuel, etc. • Lubricants • Petrochemicals: plastics (tapes, CDs, & other flexible plastics); fertilizers; insecticides; pesticides; & others • More than 60% of oil reserves are around the Persian Gulf • U.S. imports approximately 50% of its petroleum • Extending use • New deposits (unlikely); improved extraction efficiency • Improved efficiency in use of petroleum • Substitutes • Limited recycling (motor oil to fuel oil)

38. Proved oil reserves: see Mid East

39. Non-Renewable

41. Notice the volume from the Middle East

42. Still Not a Feasible Source

43. Natural Gas – fossil fuel • Cleanest burning – least polluting • Limited quantities • Shipping it great distances requires liquefaction or pipelines • As with other fossil fuels, it contributes to the “greenhouse” gases in the atmosphere and promotes global warming

44. World flows of natural gas and U.S.A. pipelines

45. Former USSR & Middle East Lead

46. Nuclear Energy • Nuclear Processes • Fission verses fusion • Fusion Problems • Potential accidents (safety) • Radioactive waste (safety) • Public opposition (NIMBY) • High cost

47. Fusion Power • Nuclear Fusion – has the potential to provide power without nuclear waste • Currently only a theory • Have been unable to produce more energy than is consumed • Holds hope for the future if technological problems can be solved.

48. Nuclear Power Generator • Chernobyl was built without adequate containment to save money. • 3 Mile Island had double containment structures.

49. Nuclear Accidents • Click on the mad scientist below to see the video