Energy Resources and Waste Management Module 9 & 10

Module 9: Energy Resources

• All Earth processes require energy from various sources.
• Natural disasters involve sudden energy release.
• Thermal energy is heat energy from vibrating molecules.
• Earth's energy sources are solar and internal (geothermal).
• Solar energy is abundant and can be harnessed even in cloudy conditions.
• Renewable energy (e.g., wind, geothermal, hydropower) is often called clean energy.
• Wind energy uses wind turbine kinetic energy, either onshore or offshore.
• Geothermal energy utilizes Earth's internal heat.
• Hydropower energy comes from flowing water.
• Non-renewable resources deplete over time and may last for many lifetimes (e.g., coal, petroleum, natural gas).

Module 10: Waste Management

• Wastes are substances discarded after primary use, defective, or worthless.
• Waste types include solid (domestic, commercial, industrial), and liquid.
• Examples of solid waste: plastics, styrofoam, bottles, cans, papers, scrap iron, etc.
• Examples of liquid waste: domestic washings, chemicals, oils, manufacturing waste water, etc.

Module 11: Energy Resources - Hydrosphere

• The hydrosphere encompasses all Earth's water (97.5% saltwater, 2.5% freshwater).
• Inland waters include lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
• Watersheds/catchment areas are areas where inland waters drain.
• Factors influencing water flow include topography, geology, climate, vegetation, and development.
• Oceans are categorized as Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, and Southern Oceans.
• Ocean temperature varies with latitude and depth, with equatorial areas being warmer.
• Ocean salinity (salt content) is measured by the amount of dissolved salts, affected by river flow.
• Ocean circulation is the movement of seawater, including major surface and subsurface currents.

Module 12: Ground Water

• Groundwater is water beneath the Earth's surface in saturated zones.
• Subsurface water is water in the soil mantle above the water table.
• Soil water zone is the area where plants absorb water.
• Capillary zone is above the water table where capillary action draws up water.
• Springs are where groundwater naturally flows to the surface.
• Hot springs originate from heated groundwater.

Module 13: Oceanography

• Oceanography studies the interaction between ocean life and environment.
• Chemical oceanography studies seawater's chemical properties.
• Physical oceanography examines energy transfer through water (waves, currents, tides, etc.).
• Earth's hemispheres are categorized as land (Northern) and water (Southern).
• Hydrology is the science of water.
• Oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern).

Module 14: Human Activities and the Environment

• Human activities influence ecosystems positively and negatively.
• Consequences of actions can be positive or negative.
• Finite resources are resources that eventually deplete.
• Interrelationships are the connections between Earth's resources and human actions.
• Trade-offs are solutions with both positive and negative consequences.
• Examples of human-induced environmental problems include population growth, over-consumption, direct resource extraction, pollution, and harmful atmospheric changes.