Natural Resources and Environmental Systems

1 -EunitNatural Resources andEnvironmental SystemsTAKE A CLOSE LOOKat yoursurroundings, and analyzeeverything that provides you comfortand sustenance. Consider thetemperature and your shelter, food,clothing, and belongings. Can youdetermine the sources of thesethings? Is there anything you cannottrace back to a Natural origin?Objectives: 1. Compare Natural Resources and Environmental Classify Natural Terms: Natural Resources andEnvironmental Systems ComparedDifferentiating between Natural Resources and Environmental Systems is often not are closely related fields with much : Natural Resources and Environmental SystemsPage by CAERT, Inc. Reproduction by subscription Natural resourcesairatmospherebiospherebiotic Natural resourcesclimatedomesticationenvironment al systemsexhaustible naturalresourcefossil fuelshydrosphereinexhaustible naturalresourcelithospheremineralsnatura l resourcesnonrenewable naturalresourcesrenewable naturalresourcessoilwaterwater cyclewildlifewind-EunitNATURAL RESOURCESN atural resourcesare those thingsfound in nature, such as forests, mineraldeposits, soil, and fresh water, that haveeconomic value.

2 Air and wind, fossilfuels, minerals, people, soil, sunlight,water, and wildlife are types of the gaseouslayer that encompasses the mixture of gases that make up the movement ofair. Water vapor, gases, and particulatescan be found in the FuelsFossil fuelsare fuels formed from the remains of dead animal and plant material depos-ited in a previous geologic time, typically millions of years ago. The energy in the fuels comesfrom the high carbon and hydrogen content of the deceased animals and plants. The burningof fossil fuels produces pollution and carbon dioxide linked to global fuels come in different forms, including peat, petroleum, Natural gas, and coal. Peat ispartially decayed vegetable matter that accumulates in bogs, where low oxygen levels and acid-ity inhibit decomposition. Petroleum is the liquid form of fossil fuels used to make gasolineand oils. Natural gas is the gaseous form of fossil fuels used in heating and cooking.

3 Coal is thesolid form of fossil fuels used in factories and in the generation of Natural inorganic substances on or in the earth. They are not living are mined from the earth and are used to produce everything from iron to help determine how other Natural Resources are used. As the human population hasincreased, there has been a greater demand for Natural Resources . The wise use of Resources isnecessary to ensure their future : Natural Resources and Environmental SystemsPage by CAERT, Inc. Reproduction by subscription 1. The atmosphere is the gaseous layer that encompassesthe the outer layer of the earth s surface thatsupports life. Plants obtain nutrients, water, and sup-port from soil and convert radiant energy from thesun to chemical energy. Humans and other animalsobtain sustenance from plants. Soil takes many yearsto form, but it can be easily lost by erosion. There-fore, soil must be protected in order for it to con-tinue to be a is the source of almost all the energyused on the earth.

4 The light from the sun producessolar energy. Plants use this energy in the process ofphotosynthesis. People can also use this energy if it isharnessed using solar a tasteless, colorless, liquid naturalresource. All living things need water to is a naturally occurring compound made up of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom ofoxygen. Water can be found in three forms: solid, liquid, and gas. Water is continuouslyrenewed through the water cycle. Thewater cycleis the movement of water from theearth s surface to the atmosphere and back to the the plants and animals that live in the wild are calledwildlife. These plants and animalshave not been the control of plants and animals by SYSTEMSE nvironmental systemsare all the interactions between climate, the solid earth (litho-sphere), water (hydrosphere), and the living things on Earth (biosphere).ClimateClimateis the average weather conditions in a region over a period of years.

5 Temperature,precipitation, wind, humidity, fog, and cloud cover are elements of climate. The atmosphere isa mixture of nitrogen (78 percent), oxygen (21 percent), and traces (remaining 1 percent) ofcarbon dioxide, argon, water vapor, and other components. Pollutants produced from naturalfires accumulate in the : Natural Resources and Environmental SystemsPage by CAERT, Inc. Reproduction by subscription 2. Sunlight is the source of almost all theenergy used on the combination of soil and rock thatmakes up the earth s crust is called thelithosphere. The lithosphere is the thincrust covering the molten part of the upper 1 km of the lithosphere interactswith the biosphere or the living things onEarth. Main constituents of the lithosphereare oxygen (47 percent), silicon (28 per-cent), aluminum (8 percent), iron (5 per-cent), calcium (4 percent), sodium (3 per-cent), potassium (3 percent) andmagnesium (2 percent) in a crystallinestate.

6 The lithosphere is the main source ofpollutants as raw materials are extracted bylife and economic activities. Volcanic erup-tions are a Natural release of some pollut-ants. Pollutants from fossil fuels are theresult of artificial extraction and all the water on Earth, whether liquid, solid, salty, or fresh. Waterserves as a solvent for elements such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, chloride, and sulphatedissolved in it. The oceans account for 97 percent of water forms, ice for 2 percent, and rivers,lakes, groundwater, and atmospheric vapor for 1 percent. Water is an important accumulator the communities of living things on Earth compose thebiosphere. All living organ-isms, including animals and vegetation, are temporary accumulators (mercury, lead) andE-unit: Natural Resources and Environmental SystemsPage by CAERT, Inc. Reproduction by subscription 3. The combination of soil and rock that makes up theearth s crust is called the CONNECTION: Natural Resources andEnvironmental Systems StudiesWould you consider a career related to Natural Resources and Environmental Systems ?

7 Manyuniversities across America offer degree programs in these areas. Go online and search for uni-versity programs. Are there any offered in your state? What types of courses are required toobtain a degree?If you are seriously considering this educational path, take the next step and contact theinstitutions that interest you the for pollutants ( Natural fires). The biosphere also includes dead organisms and decayedorganic Resources ClassificationsNatural Resources are classified in several AND ABIOTIC Natural RESOURCESOne way to classify Natural Resources is by their source of origin. Natural Resources may beof biotic or abiotic origin. Natural Resources of biotic origin come from the resourcesare Resources that may be living or were living at one time. Trees, ani-mals, and microorganisms are living Natural Resources . Nonliving biotic Natural resourcesinclude fossil fuels, such as coal and Natural resourcesare Resources that comefrom nonliving, nonorganic materials.

8 Land, water, air, and minerals are abiotic AND INEXHAUSTIBLE Natural RESOURCESSome Natural Resources are considered inexhaustible. Other Resources can be exhausted orused up. Aninexhaustible Natural resourceis a resource that will not run out in theforeseeable future. Few Resources are inexhaustible. Sunlight, wind, and geothermal energy areinexhaustible Natural Resources . Anexhaustible Natural resourceis a resource that isavailable in limited quantity and can be completely used. Some exhaustible Natural resourcesare renewable, whereas others are Natural ResourcesRenewable naturalresourcesare resourcesreplaced naturally. Examplesinclude fresh water, forests andother vegetation, and can be replenished and usedagain. Soil is also considered arenewable resource , but it maytake many years for it to bereplenished. If the consumptionof renewable Natural resourcesexceeds the regeneration of theresources, they may : Natural Resources and Environmental SystemsPage by CAERT, Inc.

9 Reproduction by subscription 4. Fresh water is a renewable Natural NaturalResourcesNonrenewable naturalresourcesare Resources thatcannot be replaced after use. Min-erals and fossil fuels are two typesof nonrenewable naturalresources. Although fossil fuelsare replaceable from a human-useperspective, they are :2 Natural Resources are those things found in nature, such as forests, mineral depos-its, soil, and fresh water, that have economic value. Air and wind, fossil fuels, min-erals, people, soil, sunlight, water, and wildlife are types of Natural Systems are all the interactions between climate, the solid earth(lithosphere), water (hydrosphere), and the living things on Earth (biosphere). Natural Resources may be of biotic or abiotic origin. Natural Resources of biotic ori-gin come from the biosphere. Some Natural Resources are considered Resources can be exhausted or used up. Renewable Natural Resources areresources replaced naturally.

10 Nonrenewable Natural Resources are Resources thatcannot be replaced after Your Knowledge: 1. What are Natural Resources ?2. What are Environmental Systems ?3. What are examples of biotic and abiotic Natural Resources ?4. What are examples of inexhaustible and exhaustible Natural Resources ?5. What are examples of renewable and nonrenewable Natural Resources ?E-unit: Natural Resources and Environmental SystemsPage by CAERT, Inc. Reproduction by subscription 5. Copper is a nonrenewable Natural resource that cannot bereplaced after use and after available deposits have been Your Knowledge:LCreate a list of your day-to-day activities. Some examples might include Slept inmy house, Drank a glass of water, Got dressed with a cotton T-shirt and jeans. Then determine whether the Resources required for you to do these things arerenewable Natural Resources or nonrenewable Natural Links:: Natural Career : Natural Resources and Environmental SystemsPage by CAERT, Inc.