RESOURCES

• Resources


  Features of the environment which are needed and used by people
• Types of natural resources

  • Non-renewable
  • Renewable
• Non-renewable resources


  • Finite or non-sustainable, their exploitation and use will eventually lead to their exhaustion
• Non-renewable resources


  • Fossil fuels
  • Minerals
• Renewable resources


  • A flow of nature, can be used over and over again
• Sustainable resources


  • Renewable and self-generating if left to nature
• Coal


  A combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock with a high amount of carbon and hydrocarbons
• Coal


  • Non-renewable energy source, takes millions of years to form
• Since the beginning of industrialization in the 19th century, coal has had a significant impact on the world's energy supply
• Coal also has by far the largest reserves of all non-renewable energy resources
• Global production of coal has been steadily rising in recent years, and reached the equivalent of over 3.7 billion metric tons of oil in 2017
• Leading hard coal producing countries

  • China
  • India
  • United States
  • Australia
  • Indonesia
• Oil


  A thick black liquid composed primarily of hydrogen and carbon, also contains trace elements of sulphur, nitrogen and oxygen
• Natural gas


  A fossil energy source that formed deep beneath the earth's surface, contains many different compounds
• Oil and gas are considered to be the biggest sector in the world in terms of dollar value, the oil and gas industry is a global powerhouse employing hundreds of thousands of workers worldwide as well as generating hundreds of billions of dollars globally each year
• Oil producers extract 34 billion barrels of oil from the planet every year to provide the 94 million bpd the planet consumes to travel, build and illuminate
• Nuclear energy


  Comes from splitting atoms in a reactor to heat water into steam, turn a turbine and generate electricity
• Advantages of nuclear energy

  Produces no polluting gases.

  Does not contribute to global warming.

  Very low fuel costs.

  Low fuel quantity reduces mining and transportation effects on environment.

  High technology research required benefits other industries.

  Power station has very long lifetime.
• Disadvantages of nuclear energy:

  Waste is radioactive and safe disposal is very difficult and expensive.

  Local thermal pollution from wastewater affects marine life.

  Large-scale accidents can be catastrophic.

  Public perception of nuclear power is negative.

  Costs of building and safely decommissioning are very high.

  Cannot react quickly to changes in electricity demand.
• Advantages of coal:

  Ready-made fuel.

  It is relatively cheap to mine and to convert into energy.

  Coal supplies will last longer than oil or gas. (over 300 years)

  Disadvantages

  The burning of coal causes air pollution and, by releasing carbon dioxide,

  contributes to global warming

  Deep mining can be dangerous (collapse)