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Nonrenewable Resources The Earth provides us with many resources . These resources are divided up into two main groups. Minerals Air Plants Nonrenewable Resources Renewable Resources Animals Water Fossil Fuels
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The Earth's Resources Nonrenewable Resources
The Earth provides us with many resources . These resources are
divided up into two main groups. Minerals Air Plants Nonrenewable
Resources Renewable Resources Animals Water Fossil Fuels Renewable
Resources A Renewable Resource is a resource, like a tree, that can
be replaced by natural process like growth. It can be renewed in a
reasonable amount of time. Air Air is one example of a renewable
resource.
Our Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air that we call the
atmosphere. It reaches almost 350 miles above the surface of Earth.
Our atmosphere is a mixture of different gases, especially nitrogen
and oxygen. Humans and other animals need oxygen to live. Plants
take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and release oxygen. The
atmosphere also protects living things from the harmful effects of
ultraviolet radiation given off by the sun. Air is considered a
renewable resource because it can be replaced by living things.
Threats to our atmosphere!
Pollution from cars, homes, and factories now threatens our
atmosphere. The burning of oil, coal, natural gas, and gasoline has
increased the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. At the
same time, the cutting down of trees and the destruction of plant
life have reduced the productions of oxygen. Carbon dioxide in our
atmosphere acts as a blanket, trapping in heat. Some scientists
believe that increased levels of carbon dioxide have contributed to
higher temperatures across the globe known as global warning.
Applying what you have learned...
List two ways in which life on Earth depends on the atmosphere. It
contains oxygen, which is what humans and animals need to live. The
atmosphere also protects living things form harmful effects of
ultraviolet radiation given off by the sun. Water Water is another
renewable resource.
Three-quarters of the Earths surface is covered with water. Most of
this water is in the worlds oceans. An ocean is one of five major
bodies of water. Ocean water contains salt and other minerals and
because ocean water is 3 % salt, it is known as salt water. The
water in lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams come from rain and it is
known as fresh water. About 70% of fresh water is also found in the
ice caps that cover the North and South Pole. Most fish that live
in fresh water cannot survive in saltwater and the same goes for
saltwater fish. A few fish, like salmon, can live in both. Fresh
water can be found in a variety of bodies:
A pond is a small inland body of fresh water. A lake is a large,
deep, inland body of water. Most lakes hold fresh water. A river is
a large waterway that carries water from higher places, such as
mountains, to lower places. A river has banks on each side, and a
riverbed under the flowing water. Usually, river carry water to
lakes, wetlands, or oceans. A stream is a small fast-moving
waterway that feeds into a river. Most streams are found in high
areas. A wetland is an area of land that is continually flooded,
such as a marsh or swamp. The soil is wet but the water is not as
deep as in a pond or lake. Special plants and animals, used
swamp-like conditions, live in wetlands. Most wetlands have fresh
water, but wetlands along ocean coastlines can be flooded with salt
water from the ocean. Wetlands often act to filter water.
Groundwater- When water soaks into the ground, it sinks below until
it finally hits a hard surface of rock. The water then collects as
groundwater and flows through the porous rock or in underground
streams. LAKE POND RIVER STREAM GROUNDWATER WETLANDS Conservation
Water is a renewable resource because it can be replenished by the
water cycle. Water can also be recycled. Waste water can be
filtered to remove impurities and can then be used again. When
rivers and lakes become polluted with liquid or solid wastes, the
use of this precious resource is threatened. Greater efforts are
needed to prevent pollution and to reduce unnecessary uses of
water. These steps can help to conserve our supplies of fresh
water. Nonrenewable Resources
A Nonrenewable resource is a resource formed by the Earth over a
million, or even billions, of years ago. It cannot be renewed. For
an example, oil, coal, natural gas, copper, and other minerals are
nonrenewable resources. Once used, they cannot be replaced. COAL
NATURAL GAS OIL COPPER MINERALS Rocks above and below the Earths
surface contain many valuable minerals. The supply of minerals,
like gold and iron ore, is limited. Because such minerals cannot be
replanted or replaced after they are taken from the ground, they
are nonrenewable resources. Fossil Fuels Coal, oil (petroleum), and
natural gas are special resources. They can be burned to release
large amounts of energy. Under normal conditions, coal is a solid,
oil is a liquid, and natural gas is a gas. We burn them to run our
car engines, heat our homes, power our machinery, and create
electricity. Coal, oil, and natural gas are known as fossil fuels.
They actually come from the remains of ancient livings things. Coal
Coal is a brown or black rock formed from plants in ancient forests
and swamps as long ago as 400 million years. After the plants dies,
they decayed and were buried under water, dirt, and other living
things. One million years, heat and pressure changed their remains
into coal. Some coal is soft and brown. More pressure and heat
turns this soft coal into a hard , black coal. Today, we burn coal
for electricity and heat. When burned, coal releases the energy
stored by plants from the sun many millions of years ago. Oil and
Natural Gas Oil and natural gas are also fossil fuels.
They were formed by very tiny plants and animals in the ocean.
These living things stored energy, originally taken from the sun
through photosynthesis. When they died, they fell to the ocean
floor, where mud and sediment covered them. Over millions of years,
heat and pressure changed their soft bodies into crude oil a
sticky, gooey liquid and natural gas. Today, crude oil is heated
and separated into different parts to make gasoline and other
fuels.
Ingredients in oil also make plastics and chemicals. Natural gas is
made of gases that usually rise above deposits of crude. When it
burns, it creates less pollution than either oil or coal. It takes
millions of years for fossil fuels coal, oil, natural gas to
form.
They can only be burned once. For this reason, they are
nonrenewable resources. Although, nonrenewable resources cannot be
replaced, the presence of these resources can be extended by
careful use without waste. Conservation helps extend these
resources. The burning of fossil fuels also causes pollution,
increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Scientists are therefore looking for new sources of energy. They
want our nation to become less dependent on fossil fuels and to
create less pollution. Nonrenewable Resources
Gold Iron Ore Oak Trees Fresh water Oil (petroleum) Wild Salmon
Rubber plants Coal Earth's Renewable Resources Notes
A Renewable Resource is one that can be replaced by natural
processes like growth. AIR- Renewable resource surrounding Earth.
Water Used for agriculture, energy, and recreation. Salt water-
comes from the oceans. Fresh water- comes from ponds, lakes, and
rivers,streams, and ground water. Plants can be replaced by
reproduction and growth. Animals can reproduce Earth's Nonrenewable
Resources Notes
A nonrenewable resource is one that was formed by Earth over
million or even billions of years and cannot be replaced. Minerals-
The supply of minerals is limited and cannot be replaced. Fossil
Fuels- Once a fossil fuel is burned for its energy, it cannot be
replaced. Coal: From plants in ancient forests. Oil: Liquid from
ancient sea creatures. Natural Gas: From ancient sea creatures.
Earth's Renewable Resources Notes
A Renewable Resource is one that can be replaced by natural
processes like growth. AIR- Renewable resource surrounding Earth.
Water Used for agriculture, energy, and recreation. Salt water-
comes from the oceans. Fresh water- comes from ponds, lakes, and
rivers,streams, and ground water. Plants can be replaced by
reproduction and growth. Animals can reproduce Earth's Nonrenewable
Resources Notes
A nonrenewable resource is one that was formed by Earth over
million or even billions of years and cannot be replaced. Minerals-
The supply of minerals is limited and cannot be replaced. Fossil
Fuels- Once a fossil fuel is burned for its energy, it cannot be
replaced. Coal: From plants in ancient forests. Oil: Liquid from
ancient sea creatures. Natural Gas: From ancient sea creatures.
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