Human Impact on Resources

Global warming is an international concern. It is the result of such things as overpopulation, deforestation, and ozone depletion. Solutions are often suggested on a large scale: raising fossil fuel prices and taxing the emissions of large companies. On the individual level, we as world citizens can do our part to help reduce global warming BEST by

• growing our own food.

• reducing our fossil fuel use.

• becoming environmental activists.

• Using only organic products in the home

Earth has many different types of natural resources. The resources that can take centuries to millions of years to replenish are referred to as

• consumable

• nonrenewable

• potential

• renewable

Many scientists are convinced that the growing human population is contributing to the gradual warming trend that is occurring on planet Earth. According to the researchers, which human activity is MOST likely to be a contributing factor in global warming?

• Humans have added carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels.

• Humans have released vast quantities of chemicals that have created excess ozone in the upper atmosphere.

• Humans have changed the chemistry of the world's oceans by the use of phosphates and nitrogen-containing compounds.

• Humans have created acid rain by releasing sulfuric acids into the air in the exhaust from factories and power plants.

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Natural gas prices have steadily increased over the past decades. This has spurred interest in the development of unconventional gas resources, such as gas shales. The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that by 2030, half of the natural gas produced in the U.S. will be from gas shale. Currently, the majority of U.S. gas shale production came from four basins:

San Juan Basin, New Mexico/Colorado

Barnett Shale, Fort Worth Basin, Texas

Antrim Shale, Michigan

Appalachian/Ohio shales

This research focuses on the Marcellus shale, located in the Appalachian region. Shale is the common name for rock that was once layers of clay or mud. Due to geological conditions within the earth, these layers were compressed into a fine-grained sedimentary rock. The Marcellus shale is a Devonian-era shale, which means it originated 350 – 415 million years ago. A lot of algae and other organisms died and fell to the bottom of a sea that covered what is now the eastern half of the U.S. Layers of sediment were built up over the organisms, which eventually provided the carbon that has been converted into hydrocarbons such as methane gas and crude oil. It is estimated by Terry Engelder and Gary Lash, professors of geosciences, that the entire Marcellus shale contains 168 trillion cubic feet of gas in place. Gas in place refers to the total amount of gas present in the rock. When experts calculate the size of a gas reserve, they usually consider only 10% of gas in place as being technically recoverable. How much recoverable shale is present is based on several factors, described by the U.S. Department of Natural Resources. They include:

how much organic matter is present

what type of organic matter is present: gas-rich or oil-rich

amount of clay present

how deeply buried the deposits are

brittleness versus ductility of deposits

how much natural fracture is present

That means, on the low size, the Marcellus shale is a potential resource of 16.8 TCF, and on the high side, 50 TCF. In 2006, the U.S. consumed more than 21 TCF of natural gas. If Engelder and Lash’s estimates are correct, gas from the Marcellus shale could support this level of consumption for 1 to 2.4 years.

Cite evidence in the passage that indicates the Marcellus shale is a non-renewable fuel resource.

• The Marcellus shale could support the current level of gas consumption for 1 to 2.4 years

• The remains of organisms were converted into hydrocarbons such as methane gas and crude oil.

• The Marcellus shale is a Devonian-era shale, which means it originated 350 – 415 million years ago.

• Due to geological conditions within the earth, deposited layers were compressed into a fine-grained sedimentary rock.

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Based on this map, most coal in the United States is found in the

• South and West

• Southeast and Northwest

• West and center of the country

• Northeast and center of the country

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Why is recycling aluminum cans beneficial?

• The quality of the aluminum can improves each time it is recycled.

• Aluminum is rarely used and it makes no sense to produce new cans.

• Aluminum is a very available mineral and commonly used for making cans.

• Recycling reduces the need to mine more aluminum and helps conserve this mineral.

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Petroleum fuels are considered nonrenewable resources because they are formed from __________ compressed between layers of rock.

• Wind

• Water

• Living organisms

• Radioactive compounds

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During the past 40 years, close to 20 percent of the Amazon rain forest has been cut down, more than in all the previous 450 years since European colonization began. Scientists predict that an additional 20 percent of the trees will be lost over the next 20 years. The Amazon rainforest, like other rainforests, produces half its own rainfall through the moisture it releases into the atmosphere through transpiration. Eliminate enough of that rain through deforestation, and the remaining trees dry out and die. Other problems result from the deforestation of rainforests. One can be seen here.

Deforestation leads to many negative situations on Earth as illustrated by this satellite image. All BUT ONE is a consequence of the deforestation of the rainforest. That is:

• Deforestation leads to the extinction of species.

• Deforestation leads to a decrease in fossil fuels.

• Deforestation leads to bare soil that is easily eroded.

• Deforestation leads to the destruction of many wildlife habitats.

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Which is a nonrenewable source of energy?

• wind

• hydropower

• natural gas

• solar energy

The largest copper mine in the United States is located in Arizona. Why is copper considered to be a non-renewable resource?

• Copper cannot be recycled.

• Copper ore is not replaced once it is mined.

• Copper is present in all rocks and ores on Earth.

• Many substitutes can be used for copper in industry.