Chapter 9: Resources and Environmental Change

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Chapter 9 Resources and Environmental Change
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III. Energy Resources

• A. Fossil Fuels
• Fossil fuels are nonrenewable resources that
  include coal, petroleum, and natural gas

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A. Fossil Fuels

• Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of
  prehistoric plants and animals

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A. Fossil Fuels

• Coal is
• 1. burned to make electricity
• 2. combined with iron ore to make steel
• 3. source of many chemical products

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A. Fossil Fuels

• Burning coal causes acid rain and air pollution

Trees killed by acid rain
Petrochemical Smog
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A. Fossil Fuels

• Petroleum
• 1. oil, gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel
• 2. fuel oil for heat and electricity

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A. Fossil Fuels

• The worlds supply of petroleum is limited

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A. Fossil Fuels

• Natural gas is cleanest-burning fossil fuel it
  can be shipped through pipelines

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B. Nuclear energy

• There are about 440 nuclear power plants in more
  than 30 nations (104 in US)

Nuclear power plant cooling towers
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B. Nuclear energy

• There are 2 serious problems with nuclear energy
• Nuclear accidents Nuclear waste disposal

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Meltdown at Chernobyl
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C. Renewable energy sources

• Renewable energy resources include
• 1. Hydropower

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C. Renewable energy sources

• 2. Geothermal energy, or underground heat

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C. Renewable energy sources

• 3. Solar energy

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C. Renewable energy sources

• 4. Wind power

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IV. POPULATION AND RESOURCES

• A. Population growth
• Population growth rates are an important concern
  for the future

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A. Population growth

• Control of population growth could raise the
  standard of living for a nations citizens

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A. Population growth

• Low birthrates are also a concern
• - Less young people to enter the work force
• - Growing number of elderly causes
  increased cost of health care

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B. Balancing population and resources

• The Worlds population increases by more than 1
  million every five days

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B. Balancing population and resources

• Natural resources are not evenly distributed and
  shortages can lead to conflict

Burning oil wells Operation Desert Storm
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B. Balancing population and resources

• There are questions about whether we have reached
  the point of limitation for resources and food
  production

Biofuel Production
Desert Water Well
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B. Balancing population and resources

• An understanding of world geography will help
  find solutions to population and resource issues

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World Clock