Environmental

Science
GE 15
 Are resources infinite?
When can be a resources be limited?
Are there enough resources to use by
everyone in the near future?
How about the next generations?

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 Natural Resources
• A natural resource is what people can use which
comes from the natural environment. Natural
resources can be divided into two (2) broad
categories:
• Renewable resources
• Non-renewable resources

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 Renewable resources
Are any resource that cycles or can be replaced within a
human life span.

• Food and Fiber - are renewable agricultural resources that

can be harvested or raised indefinitely unless their use
exceeds the rate they can be replaced
• Soil – a mixture of living organisms and dirt. Even though it
initially takes thousands of years to form, the rate at which
soil can regenerate depends on the climate of an area.
• Wind – caused by the uneven heating of the Earth. Not
only renewable but inexhaustible.
• Sun – light from the sun supports all the life on Earth as we
know it. Also considered inexhaustible. (at least for the
next 5 billion years)

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 Renewable resources
• Water – constantly renewed/replenished by the water
cycle. However, fresh water resources are somewhat
limited. The use and quality of water must be carefully
monitored to ensure future use.
• Biomass fuels – are organic matter (wood, plants, animal
residues, etc…) that contain stored solar energy.

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 Nonrenewable resources
Any resource that cannot be replaced during the time of a
human life span. Took thousands of years to form and exist
in fixed amounts in the Earth.

Examples:
• Crude oil
• Natural gas
• Coal
• Uranium
• other important elements

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 Global Energy Consumption
Access to energy is a key pillar for human wellbeing,
economic development and poverty alleviation. Ensuring
everyone has sufficient access is an ongoing and pressing
challenge for global development.

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 Alternative Energy Resources
These are energy resources that are more renewable or
more environmentally friendly in comparison to fossil fuels.

Currently include the following:

• Solar energy
• Wind energy
• Geothermal energy
• Hydropower energy
• Nuclear energy
• Biomass

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 Solar Energy
Refers to capturing the energy from the Sun and
subsequently converting it into electricity.

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 Wind Energy
The process by which wind is used to generate electricity.
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into
mechanical power. A generator can convert mechanical
power into electricity.

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 Geothermal Energy
Thermal energy generated and stored in the Earth.

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 Hydropower Energy
Refers to the conversion of energy from flowing water into
electricity.

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 Nuclear Energy
Energy in the nucleus (core) of an atom. Atoms are tiny
particles that make up every object in the universe. In
nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms,
releasing energy. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to
produce electricity.

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 Biomass
The use of organic material to generate energy. Biomass is
just organic matter – think, stuff that's made in nature – like
wood pellets, grass clippings and even dung. Crops, like
sugarcane and corn, can also be used to create biofuels.

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Water Cycle
 How important is water? How dependent
organisms to water? What are major sources
of freshwater? Saltwater?

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 Water Cycle
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle or the
hydrological cycle, describes the continuous movement of
water on, above and below the surface of the Earth.

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 Water Cycle
• Evaporation: This is when warmth from the sun causes water from
oceans, lakes, streams, ice and soils to rise into the air and turn into
water vapor (gas). Plants also transpires and releases water vapor
in the air. Water vapor droplets join together to make clouds.

• Condensation: This is when water vapor in the air cools down and
turns back into liquid water.

• Precipitation: This is when water (in the form of rain, snow, hail or
sleet) falls from clouds in the sky.

• Collection: This is when water that falls from the clouds as rain,
snow, hail or sleet, collects in the oceans, rivers, lakes, streams.
Most will infiltrate (soak into) the ground and will collect as
underground water.

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 Distribution of Water on Earth
The distribution of water on the Earth's surface is extremely
uneven. Only around 3% of water on the surface is fresh; the
remaining 97% resides in the ocean. Of freshwater, around
69% resides in glaciers, 30% underground, and less than 1%
is located in lakes, rivers, and swamps.

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 Importance of Water
Apart from drinking it to survive, people have many other
uses for water. These include:
• cooking
• washing their bodies
• washing clothes
• washing cooking and eating utensils; such as billies,
saucepans, crockery and cutlery
• keeping houses and communities clean
• recreation; such as swimming pools
• keeping plants alive in gardens and parks

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