Earth Science: Earth Resources PDF

EARTH SCIENCE: EARTH RESOURCES RESOURCE Any item used that is used for a specific purpose RENEWABLE RESOURCES: can be replenished or geothermal, hydro, wind, solar, regenerated on human scale and biomass...

EARTH SCIENCE: EARTH RESOURCES RESOURCE Any item used that is used for a specific purpose RENEWABLE RESOURCES: can be replenished or geothermal, hydro, wind, solar, regenerated on human scale and biomass. NON RENEWABLE cannot be replenished or nuclear and fossil fuels RESOURCES: regenerated on human scale FOSSIL FUELS: - Non renewable resource of energy - From the remains of plants and animals that died million years ago - Were buried under the right conditions - World’s primary energy source - Examples: COAL OIL or PETROLEUM NATURAL GAS WHAT ARE THE RIGHT CONDITIONS TO FORM FOSSILS? ❖ TEMPERATURE: state of matter ❖ PRESSURE: compression ❖ LOW OXYGEN ENVIRONMENT: slow down decomposition process TYPES OF FOSSIL FUELS: COAL: - Black combustible (flammable) rock made up of elemental carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and varying amounts of sulfur - Formed from the remains of plants that once grew in swamps and adjacent forests millions of years ago - These organisms were then buried under anoxic conditions (oxygen-poor) PROCESS: Huge forest grew around 300 million years ago covering most of the Earth ❖ PEAT: the vegetation dies and forms a peat ❖ LIGNITE: the peat is compressed between sediment layers to form a lignite ❖ BITUMINOUS: further compression forms bituminous and subbituminous coal ❖ ANTHRACITE: eventually anthracite coal forms (considered by some to be a type of metamorphic rock) PETROLEUM or OIL - Naturally occurring liquid composed of complex hydrocarbons - Fossil fuel derived from large quantities of microscopic aquatic organisms such as algae and plankton - Kerogen Formation: waxy substance NATURAL GAS - Is a hydrocarbon mostly made up of methane - A simple chemical compound that is made up of carbon and hydrogen atoms - This gas is lighter than air and is highly flammable - From zooplankton, phytoplankton, and microbes PROCESS of the 3 TYPES: 1. An organism died 2. Stratification 3. It started to change into rock as the temperature and pressure increased in a low-oxygen environment. 4. Alteration of the material continues and slowly changes into fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas). 5. Through the spaces of permeable rock, the oils move upward and will be trapped if they reach impermeable rock. 6. Oil companies can drill down through impermeable rocks to get it out. Whereas, coal can be extracted through underground mining. ___________________________________________________________________ GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: the heat generated beneath the ground to primordial energy (ancient) or radiogenic heat (radio activity) INDICATORS: Volcanoes or fumaroles Hot springs Geysers CAPABILITY To test the capability of the area, geologists apply several methods to determine whether an area has the potential for a geothermal reservoir, through drilling a well and measuring the temperature. 300 – 700 degrees Fahrenheit: The most reliable method before putting up a power plant (used for electricity generation) 50 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit: Use for household purposes only like warming a house and building during winter  PROCESS: Types of TRANSFORMERS: 1. Step - up: Long distance distribution: HIGH VOLTAGE 2. Step - down: residential and household use: LOW VOLTAGE 3 TYPES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY POWER PLANT: DRY STEAM POWER PLANT hot steam from underground is piped directly into turbines, which powers the generator FLASH STEAM POWER PLANT hot water from the underground is pumped into a cooler temperature flash tank. The sudden change in the temperature creates steam which powers the generator BINARY CYCLE POWER PLANT Hot water from the underground is pumped through a heat exchanger which heats a second liquid that transforms into a steam. ___________________________________________________________________ HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY: the conversion of flowing water (mechanical energy) to electrical energy - The amount of water in the area determines the efficiency of generating electrical energy. - In terms of actual production, the volume of the water and the height of the source determines the rate of power generation. A plant in a mountainous area with a A plant on a large river with a gentle small river may have a high head but gradient may have a low head but a a limited water flow. (high head; low high flow rate. (low head; highflow) flow) PROCESS: ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT 1. The dam forms a large reservoir behind it. This serves as storage of water – potential energy in water. 2. Water from the reservoir enters the control gate (intake) and is allowed to flow through the penstock. 3. The potential energy of the water is converted into kinetic energy as it flows down through the penstock due to gravity. 4. Water from the penstock is taken into the turbine. The kinetic energy of the water drives the turbine – mechanical energy. 5. When the turbine blades are rotated, it drives the generator and electricity is generated. 6. After the electrical energy is generated, it is then stepped up with the help of a transformer for transmission purposes. IMPOUNDMENT Uses a dam to create a large reservoir of water PUMPED STORAGE FACILITIES Have a second reservoir below the dam; water can be pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir, storing energy for use later RUN - OF - RIVER FACILITIES Only the water flowing from the river is available for generation and due to the absence of a reservoir, any oversupply of water is passed unused EARTHSCI - WATER RESOURCES Water Resources Sources of water that are useful or potentially useful to humans Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental use. All of HUMAN USE requires FRESH WATER Of Earth's water, 97% is in the oceans. Of the remaining 3% (freshwater), 2% is trapped in ice and glaciers. Less than 1% is disturbed in lakes, rivers, atmosphere, soil, and underground SOURCE OF WATER: Surface Water Water collected on the surface of the Earth ○ Saline water – seas and oceans ○ Freshwater – rivers, lakes, and ponds Ground Water Water collected in between the porous rock below the Earth’s surface Rain Water From water cycle (hydrologic cycle) and is our main source of water EARTH SCI - SOIL AND SOIL QUALITY Pedosphere - living skin of Earth Result of dynamic interaction among the the atmosphere, biosphere and the hydrosphere Greek word “pedon” which means soil And “sfaira” which means sphere COMPOSITION OF SOIL 45 % - minerals Regolith weathered rocks 25 % - air 25 % - water 5 %- organic materials Humus, roots, and decayed organisms SOIL HORIZONS (LAYERS) Note: every soil does not necessarily need to have all the horizons. O - organic layer (humus) A - topsoil (minerals with humus) E - Eluviation Layer ( leached materials and organic material) B - subsoil (deposited minerals and metal salts) C - parent rock ( partly weathered rock) R - bedrock (unweathered parent rock) FACTORS and SOIL FORMATION Climate temperature , rainfall, and moisture affect the pattern and intensity of soil-forming process Weathering of rocks Topography Refers to the slope characteristics of the soil Plants and Animals Plants, animals, microorganisms and humans affect soil formation Decomposers — saprophytes (bacteria and fungi) Parent Material Its chemistry and type will determine the kind of soil that will be formed. FUNCTIONS OF SOIL Engineering medium Medium for plant growth Modifier of atmosphere Habitat for soil organism Systems for water supply and precaution Recycling system for nutrients and organic matters FERTILIZERS natural or synthetic materials added to soil to increase the nutrient content or boost certain biological activities. If fertilizers are overused, it could result in EUTROPHICATION EUTROPHICATION enrichment of nutrients in bodies of water connected to large farmlands Algal bloom HUMAN AND THE ENVIRONMENT FARMING Tillage and use of pesticides and other inorganic fertilizers CONSTRUCTION of STRUCTURES Construction activities and land use conversion WASTE DISPOSAL Improper waste disposal and soil pollution SOIL CONSERVATION METHODS AND PRACTICES TREE PLANTING soil under vegetative cover is saved from erosion due to wind as this cover acts as a wind barrier TERRACES BUILDING A terrace is a leveled section of a hilly cultivated area. Having its unique topography, it prevents rapid surface runoff of water. NO-TILL FARMING no-till farming is a way of growing crops without disturbing the soil. Tilling activity can lead to compaction of soil, loss of organic matter in the soil, and the death of soil organisms. CONTOUR FARMING it is the method of plowing across the contour lines of a slope. This method helps in slowing the water runoff and prevents soil from being washed away along the slope. CROP ROTATION It is a method of growing a series of dissimilar crops in an area. It also helps in the improvement of soil structure and fertility. MAINTAINING SOIL pH The contamination of soil by the addition of acidic or basic pollutants and due to acid rains has an adverse effect on the soil pH. Soil pH is an indicator of the level of nutrients in the soil. WATER THE SOIL Watering the soil along with plants growing in it is a way to prevent soil erosion caused by wind. SALINITY MANAGEMENT The salinity of soil increases due to excessive accumulation of salts in the soil. This has a negative impact on the metabolism of crops. PROMOTE HELPFUL SOIL ORGANISMS Nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying bacteria are important constituents of the nitrogen cycle. Bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and rodents boost soil fertility and help in soil conservation. GROW INDIGENOUS CROPS Indigenous crops are well-adapted to the regions where they originate. They often are free of pests and diseases and are able to grow in extremely difficult conditions.