Review GEOSPHERE and its RESOURCES (E.6AB, E.5CDE, E.7C)

Layers of the Geosphere

The GEOSPHERE is the earth itself: the rocks, minerals, and landforms of the surface and interior.

​E.6(A) I can define and identify the components of the geosphere.

​The CRUST describes the outermost shell of Earth - divided into continental crust (land) and oceanic crust (seas & oceans).

​The MANTLE is the mostly-solid bulk of Earth's interior. The mantle lies between Earth's dense, super-heated core and its thin outer crust.

The OUTER CORE is mostly composed of liquid iron and nickel.

The INNER CORE is a hot, dense ball of (mostly) iron.

​LITHOSPHERE ('litho' meaning 'stone') refers to the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle. ASTHENOSPHERE ('astheno' meaning 'weak') refers to the upper layer of the earth's mantle, below the lithosphere

Multiple Choice

Label #4:

A dense ball of (mostly) iron, extremely hot, with temperatures ranging from 7200–9000℉ (4000–5000℃).

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

Multiple Choice

Label #2:

The mostly-solid bulk of Earth's interior, lying between Earth's dense, super-heated core and its thin outer layer. About 2,900 kilometers (1,802 miles) thick.

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

Multiple Choice

Label #1:

The outermost shell of Earth, generally divided into older, thicker continental crust and younger, denser oceanic crust.

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

Multiple Choice

Label #3:

The liquid, iron-nickel layer of the Earth.

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

Multiple Choice

Label #6:

The weak upper layer of the earth's mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.

• Asthenosphere

• Lithosphere

• Endosphere

• Mesosphere

Multiple Choice

Label #5:

The rigid outer layer of the Earth and is composed of rocks and minerals. It is made up of the entire crust as well as the upper part of the mantle.

• Asthenosphere

• Lithosphere

• Endosphere

• Mesosphere

Earth's Natural RESOURCES

• RENEWABLE ENERGY is the energy we derive from many of Earth’s naturally occurring resources, including timber, wind, water, and sun. We call these resources renewable or sustainable since they are inexhaustible.

• Fossil fuels are NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES created over the course of millions of years, far beneath the Earth’s surface, including coal, oil, and natural gas. When these finite resources are gone, they’re gone.

• The rate at which we’re using fossil fuels is too fast, and could be potentially depleted within our lifetime. Using renewable natural resources allows us to conserve and extend the lifespan of our non-renewables.   

E.5(C) document the use and conservation of both renewable and non‐renewable resources as they pertain to sustainability

E.5(D) identify renewable and non‐renewable resources that must come from outside an ecosystem such as food, water, lumber, and energy

E.5(E) analyze and evaluate the economic significance and interdependence of resources within the environmental system

E.6(B) describe and compare renewable and non‐renewable energy derived from natural and alternative sources such as oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind

E.7(C) analyze and predict the effects of non‐renewable resource depletion

Earth's Natural RESOURCES - NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

• Fossil fuels are NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES 

• Remains of ancient organisms that changed into COAL, OIL & NATURAL GAS.

• Fossil fuels are converted to electrical energy, used for 5 main purposes: cooking, transportation, manufacturing, heating and cooling buildings.

• COAL is mined.

• OIL is pumped from the ground as crude oil or petroleum.

• NATURAL GAS or methane is a byproduct of Oil and transported in pipelines and stored in compressed tanks.

E.5(C) document the use and conservation of both renewable and non‐renewable resources as they pertain to sustainability

E.5(D) identify renewable and non‐renewable resources that must come from outside an ecosystem such as food, water, lumber, and energy

E.5(E) analyze and evaluate the economic significance and interdependence of resources within the environmental system

E.6(B) describe and compare renewable and non‐renewable energy derived from natural and alternative sources such as oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind

E.7(C) analyze and predict the effects of non‐renewable resource depletion

Earth's Natural RESOURCES - NONRENEWABLE ENERGY

Disadvantages

• Supply is limited.

• Obtaining fossil fuels causes environmental problems - Surface coal mining requires removal of mountain tops.

• Toxic chemicals can leach out of waste rock/coal into nearby streams.

• Oil spills cause aquatic problems.

• Burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases which can affect climate change and cause acid precipitation.

E.5(C) document the use and conservation of both renewable and non‐renewable resources as they pertain to sustainability

E.5(D) identify renewable and non‐renewable resources that must come from outside an ecosystem such as food, water, lumber, and energy

E.5(E) analyze and evaluate the economic significance and interdependence of resources within the environmental system

E.6(B) describe and compare renewable and non‐renewable energy derived from natural and alternative sources such as oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind

E.7(C) analyze and predict the effects of non‐renewable resource depletion

Advantages

• Gasoline is relatively low cost.

• Coal is inexpensive, and needs little refining.

• Much of the world's energy needs is met by petroleum (oil) products

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT a non-renewable resource?

• oil

• coal

• solar

• natural gas

Multiple Choice

About 20% of the world’s nonrenewable energy comes from natural gas. However, what is one disadvantage of burning natural gas?

• Creates about 20% of the World’s non-renewable energy.

• Burning produces fewer pollutants than burning other fossil fuels.

• A potent greenhouse gas.

Multiple Select

[multiple selection] Check ALL the answers that apply.

Fossil fuels are the remains of ancient organisms that changed into –

• coal

• biomass

• oil

• natural gas

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an advantage of using coal, a nonrenewable energy resource?

• Doesn’t need much refining after it is mined.

• Tops of mountains removed to reach deposits.

• Waste from mines can leach (drain away) toxic chemicals into nearby streams.

• Can pollute air and water.

Multiple Select

[multiple selection] Check ALL the answers that apply.

Which of the following are disadvantages of using oil, a nonrenewable energy resource?

• There are very large oil reserves.

• Burning petroleum oil releases pollutants into the air.

• Oil spills when digging can occur.

• Everyday leaks (from cars, motor oil, etc.) can add to water pollution.

Earth's Natural RESOURCES - RENEWABLE ENERGY

• RENEWABLE ENERGY is energy from a source that is replenished quickly.

  • Sun - solar energy

  • Wind - wind turbines

  • Moving water - hydro electric

  • Heat produced by natural processes within the earth - geothermal

  • Waste organic material (wood and dung) - Biomass fuel

• Renewable energy resources are converted to electrical energy.

E.5(C) document the use and conservation of both renewable and non‐renewable resources as they pertain to sustainability

E.5(D) identify renewable and non‐renewable resources that must come from outside an ecosystem such as food, water, lumber, and energy

E.5(E) analyze and evaluate the economic significance and interdependence of resources within the environmental system

E.6(B) describe and compare renewable and non‐renewable energy derived from natural and alternative sources such as oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind

E.7(C) analyze and predict the effects of non‐renewable resource depletion

Earth's Natural RESOURCES - RENEWABLE ENERGY

Disadvantages

• Solar panels produce a relatively small electrical current.

• Wind "farms" are considered unsightly and noisy, a threat to flying wildlife (birds, bats), and wind fluctuates providing intermittent energy.

• Biomass can cause habitat loss, forestation, soil erosion, air pollution from burning.

• Hydro-dams are expensive to build and can affect the the land down-river.

• Geothermal energy is not available for all and can deplete geothermal reservoirs.

E.5(C) document the use and conservation of both renewable and non‐renewable resources as they pertain to sustainability

E.5(D) identify renewable and non‐renewable resources that must come from outside an ecosystem such as food, water, lumber, and energy

E.5(E) analyze and evaluate the economic significance and interdependence of resources within the environmental system

E.6(B) describe and compare renewable and non‐renewable energy derived from natural and alternative sources such as oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and wind

E.7(C) analyze and predict the effects of non‐renewable resource depletion

Advantages

• Solar energy could reduce energy bills.

• Non-polluting.

• Wind turbines can be built fast and are steadily becoming cost effective.

• Hydro-dams are relatively inexpensive to operate.

Multiple Choice

Biomass, also known as biofuel, has many benefits. Unfortunately, biomass -

• is inexpensive

• can cause habitat loss, forestation, soil erosion, and air pollution from burning.

• is available all over the world.

Multiple Select

[multiple selection] Check ALL that apply.

Dams (hydroelectricity) generate electricity from flowing water turning turbines. What are the advantages of this renewable energy resource?

• Low maintenance

• Impacts on aquatic populations

• Depends on water availability

• Building dams is expensive

• Low pollution

Multiple Choice

Below are different facts related to renewable energy. Which describes geothermal energy?

• A method of using the steam from hot water, deep in the Earth’s center, to make electricity.

• Wind is used to turn the blades of turbines which have generators to make electricity.

• Radiant energy from the Sun is stored in panels that convert Sun’s energy into electricity.

• Electricity generated from flowing water turning turbines in structures called dams.

Multiple Choice

An advantage of wind energy is -

• They do not cause pollution.

• They are a threat to flying wildlife (birds, bats)

• Wind fluctuates providing intermittent energy.

• Wind turbines are noisy and unsightly

Multiple Choice

Below are different facts related to renewable energy. Which describes wind energy?

• A method of using the steam from hot water, deep in the Earth’s center, to make electricity.

• Wind is used to turn the blades of turbines which have generators to make electricity.

• Radiant energy from the Sun is stored in panels that convert Sun’s energy into electricity.

• Electricity generated from flowing water turning turbines in structures called dams.