What major non-

renewable resource

(fossil fuel) is located in

Texas?

Ch. 1

Wed/Thurs. Sept. 17-18, 2014

Why are world resources important to our study of

geography?

The ways that people use the earth’s resources, where the resources are located, how

resources are distributed among people, and how the use of the resources affects the earth - all have an effect on humans and

physical geography.

Types of Resources

1.Capital: money and machines used to produce goods.

2.Human: people who do the work.

3.Natural…next slide!

Natural Resources: materials people take from the natural environment to survive and satisfy their needs.

•Renewable: resources the environment continues to supply or replace. Ex. Timber, water, soil, sun

•Non-Renewable: cannot be replaced once they are used, only a limited supply on earth. Ex. Coal, oil, natural gas

Fossil Fuels: Natural non-renewable resources that are formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals.

Examples: coal, oil, natural gas, iron, copper, aluminum, uranium, goldWhy is it significant that these fossil fuels are non-renewable?

Distribution!

Oil and natural gas reserves are unevenly spread throughout the

world…over half is located in a few countries in Southwest Asia

(Middle East).

At our present rate of usage when do you think we will run out?

By the end of the 21st century!

How are fossil fuels affecting our environment?

Burning coal creates air pollution and acid rain. Gasoline usage in cars creates air pollution.

So what other energy resources that are renewable are out there?

Nuclear Energy: Energy produced by fission – splitting of uranium atoms in a nuclear reactor – released stored energy.

Geothermal Energy: Energy from earth’s intense interior heat – transforms underground water to steam that can be used to heat homes or make electricity.

Solar Energy: Energy produced by the sun.

Two Revolutions that have Changed the Earth

• Hunting and Gathering Society – foraged as they covered large areas to locate food; nomadic

• These revolutions transformed humanity’s relationship with the natural environment & are WHY we use up our resources:– Agricultural Revolution (Neolithic Revolution): people

began to produce rather than hunt/gather – climate change forced people into smaller areas & growing populations forced finding new food sources. Domestication of plants and animals, too.

– Industrial Revolution: 1700s in Europe where breakthroughs in technology required new supplies of resources to be found throughout the world

FOOD!• Food Security: ability of a country to consistently supply sufficient

amount of basic food for entire population• Green Revolution: increases in food production brought about

through use of new seeds, fertilizers, mechanized equipment, irrigation, pesticides, and herbicides

• Sustainable Agriculture: farming that meets human needs without poisoning the environment or using up water and soil resources

• Genetic Modification: practice of splicing together the genes from widely divergent specie to achieve particular desirable characteristics

Arable Land: land that is capable of being farmed or cultivated.

Cash Crop: Crops produced generally for export.

Other Agricultural Key Terms

What can you do to help out?

There are lots of things, even as a teenager, you can do to help save the resources we

have.