Resources, Energy, and Climate

• Resources are materials, substances, or attributes that are useful in satisfying human needs and wants
• Energy is the capacity to do work
• Relief refers to variations in elevation of a surface
• Rainfall is the amount of rain that falls in a particular place during a particular period
• Weather is the state of the atmosphere at a place and time regarding heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, and rain
• Climate is the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period
• Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat
• Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns

Resources and Energy

• Resources can be classified based on their origin, development, renewability, and distribution
• Based on origin resources can be biotic (obtained from the biosphere, such as forests and animals) or abiotic (composed of non-living things, such as minerals and land)
• Based on development resources can be potential (exist in a region and may be used in the future) or actual (surveyed, quantified, and currently used)
• Based on renewability resources can be renewable (can be replenished naturally or reproduced) or non-renewable (cannot be easily replaced)
• Based on distribution resources can be ubiquitous (found everywhere) or localized (found only in certain places)
• Energy resources are crucial for powering industries, transportation, and households
• Energy resources can be classified as renewable (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass) or non-renewable (fossil fuels, nuclear)
• Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are formed from the remains of dead plants and animals over millions of years
• Non-renewable energy sources are finite and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions
• Renewable energy sources are sustainable and have a lower environmental impact

Relief Rainfall

• Relief rainfall, also known as orographic rainfall, occurs when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range
• As the air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and precipitation on the windward side of the mountain
• The leeward side of the mountain, which experiences dry air, is called the rain shadow
• Relief rainfall is common in mountainous regions, where it can significantly influence local climate and vegetation patterns
• The amount of rainfall depends on the height and orientation of the mountain range, as well as the prevailing wind direction and moisture content of the air

Weather and Climate

• Weather refers to the short-term conditions of the atmosphere at a specific location and time
• Elements of weather include temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, sunshine, and cloud cover
• Climate refers to the long-term average of weather conditions in a region, typically over 30 years or more
• Climate is influenced by factors such as latitude, altitude, proximity to water bodies, ocean currents, and mountain ranges
• Climate and weather are important factors influencing agriculture, water resources, ecosystems, and human health
• Different climate classifications include tropical, temperate, polar, arid, and semi-arid

Renewable Energy and Climate Change Effects

• Renewable energy sources play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Solar energy is harnessed through photovoltaic cells (PV) or concentrated solar power (CSP) systems
• Wind energy is generated by wind turbines that convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity
• Hydropower utilizes the potential energy of water stored in reservoirs or the kinetic energy of flowing water to generate electricity
• Geothermal energy harnesses heat from the Earth's interior for heating or electricity generation
• Biomass energy involves burning organic matter (wood, crops, or waste) or converting it into biofuels
• Climate change effects include rising global temperatures, melting ice caps and glaciers, sea level rise, changes in precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events
• These changes can have significant impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, human health, and infrastructure

Types of Rainfall

• Rainfall is a form of precipitation that occurs when water droplets in clouds become too heavy to stay suspended in the air
• Convectional rainfall occurs when the ground is heated by the sun, causing warm, moist air to rise, cool, and condense into clouds, these are common in tropical climates
• Orographic or relief rainfall occurs when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range, causing it to cool, condense, and precipitate
• Frontal or cyclonic rainfall occurs when warm air meets cold air, forcing the warm air to rise, cool, and condense, these are associated with mid-latitude cyclones