Resources

Last time we discussed the major climate zones.  You should've recalled that a place's climate may create resources for a place.  For example, the type of temperate climate we have in Illinois together with our great soil makes our land an excellent agriculture resource.  A beach in Florida makes a great resource for attracting tourists. 

What is a Resource?

A resource is anything we use to help us in life.  For example, imagine you're preparing to build a really cool LEGO castle. What do you need? Well, you need LEGO bricks, right? Those bricks are like resources. They're the things you use to make your castle.

Now, in everyday life, resources are things we use to get stuff done. They can be anything from materials like paper and pencils for homework, to tools like a soccer ball for sports, or even something like your brainpower when you're solving a tricky math problem.

Think about resources as the tools or materials you need to accomplish something. Just like you need LEGO bricks to build a castle, you need different kinds of resources to do different tasks in life. Whether it's studying for a test, playing a game, or helping out with chores, you're using resources to get it done! 

Today we are going to discuss the types of resources available to us on Earth.

Earth's Valuable Resources

Anything in nature that people use and value is a natural resource.  These include such ordinary things as air, water, and soil.  Resources such as trees are called renewable resources because Earth replaces them naturally. Those that cannot be replaced, such as oil, coal, and natural gas are called nonrenewable resources. 

Air and water are renewable resources, but pollution can damage them both. Some people get their water from underground  wells, which can run out if too many people use them.

Soil is needed for all plant growth, including trees and forests.  We get lumber (wood), medicine, nuts, and rubber from forests.  Soil and trees are somewhat renewable, but must be protected. The lost of forest is called deforestation. When we plant trees to replace lost forests, we call it reforestation. 

Energy Resources

NonRenewable

Most of our energy comes from fossil fuels, which are formed from the remains of ancient living things. These include coal, oil, and natural gas. 

We use coal mostly for making steel and electricity, but it causes air pollution.  An advantage of coal is that the Earth still has a large supply.  Another fossil fuel is petroleum, or oil.  It is used to make gasoline and heating oil.  Oil can be turned into plastics and other products.  Oil also causes pollution, but we depend on it for much of our energy.  The cleanest fossil fuel is natural gas, which is used mainly for cooking and heating.  

Nuclear energy is a clean energy in that it produces very little air pollution.  However, nuclear energy produces dangerous waste material that must be stored for thousands of years.   Nuclear energy is considered renewable by some and nonrenewable by most others.  This is because the energy (steam) that is produced by nuclear power plants is renewable, but the fuel that is required (Uranium U-235) is not renewable.

Above Left: Coal and Oil as energy.                                                                                                                             Above Right: Nuclear Energy

Renewable energy resources .  As a source of energy, green energy often comes from renewable energy technologies such as solar energy, wind power, geothermal energy, biomass and hydroelectric power. Each of these technologies works in different ways, whether that is by taking power from the sun, as with solar panels, or using wind turbines or the flow of water to generate energy.

For example, hydroelectric power uses dams and moving water to create electricity while wind turbines make electricity by the wind turning their blades. 

Green energy sources are usually naturally replenished, as opposed to fossil fuel sources like natural gas or coal, which can take millions of years to develop. Green sources also often avoid mining or drilling operations that can be damaging to eco-systems.

Above are wind turbines, a hydroelectric dam, and a solar panel farm. 

Mineral Resources

Minerals are solid substances in the Earth's crust formed from nonliving matter.  Like fossil fuels, minerals are nonrenewable.  Types of minerals include metals, rocks and gemstones, and salt.  Mineral uses include making steel from iron, making glass from quartz, and using stone as a building material.  We also use minerals to make jewelry, coins, and many other common objects. 

Resources and People

Some places are rich in natural resources. Resources such as fertile farmland, forests, and oil have helped the United States become a powerful country with a strong economy. 

1.  What is a resource?

2.  What is the difference between renewable resources and nonrenewable resources?

3.  Are air and water renewable or nonrenewable? 

4. How are deforestation and reforestation related? 

5.  What are fossil fuels?

6.  Name some examples of fossil fuels.

7.  What is the cleanest-burning fossil fuel?

8.  How is nuclear power renewable and nonrenewable? 

9. What is the definition of green energy and what are some examples? 

10. Name at least two uses of minerals.