Notes

Natural Resources

1. Renewable resources: Resources, such as soils and forests, that can be replaced by Earth’s natural processes .
2. Nonrenewable resources: Resources, such as coal and oil, that cannot be replaced by Earth’s natural processes.
3. Deforestation: The destruction or loss of forest area.
4. Reforestation: The planting of trees in places where forests have been cut down.
5. Fossil Fuels: Nonrenewable resources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals.
6. Petroleum: An oily liquid that can be refined into gasoline and other fuels and oils.
7. Hydroelectric Power: A renewable energy resource produced from dams that harness the energy of falling water to power generators.
8. Geothermal Energy:  A renewable energy resource produced from the heat of Earth’s interior.
9. Solar power: Heat and light from the sun.

Notes

• Soil is made of decayed plants and trees.
• Forests are a renewable resource.

Questions:

1. What effect will these trees have on erosion?  They hold the soil in place.
2. How can people help preserve forest resources? By trying not to buy as many wood products.
3. How does this photo show human adaptation to the environment? It shows that humans have found other ways to conserve our resources.
4. What body of water is used to produce hydroelectric power? Rivers.
5. What are the main advantages of using renewable energy sources? Because there is always more of that resource.
6. How can people conserve mineral resources? By not using as much of them.
7. Why do you think the pipeline is above ground? Because it is cheaper and if it spills it is easier to clean up.
8. How do you think the loss of land affects people who live in the rain forest? They lose everything.
9. How does the lack of resources affect people? We have less ways to power our vehicles.

Section Review

1. Environment and Society What are fossil fuels, and how are they used? They are the corpses of millions of year old sea life and they power cars and other energy needing appliances.
2. Environment and Society What are the main renewable energy sources? Trees, solar power and wind power.
3. Analyzing Information How are preserving soil and forest resources related to resource and land management?
4. Making Generalizations and Predictions How may a country that has only one or two valuable resources develop its economy?
5. Categorizing Copy the following graphic organizer. Use it to describe the mineral resources that may be used in a typical home.