GEO quiz unit 3 Flashcards
Define total stock
All parts of the natural environment including energy, living
organisms, and non-living materials (e.g. sunlight, trees, and water)
Any part of the total stock that becomes useful to humans beings is called a resource
Why is oil an important commodity?
The popularity of cars created a dependency on gasoline and it’s parent material,
crude oil
Crude oil is used in many petroleum products and commonly used for generating
electricity
This why we are still VERY DEPENDENT ON CRUDE OIL
Know the different between all 4 types of resources
&
Provide examples of each type of resource
Renewable Resources
. Resources that can be regenerated if
used carefully
. Constantly being replenished by nature
at a rate fast enough that they should
be available for humans as long as we
need them
. The rate at which we use these
resources MUST NOT exceed the rate
at which they are replenished
. E.g. Trees, fish, soil
Non-Renewable Resources
.Resources that are limited and cannot be
replaced once they are used up
.Are created so slowly (over millions of
years), that the stock that exists today is all
there will ever be
. Broken up into 2 categories; fossil fuels
and minerals
. Examples of fossil fuels include oil and
natural gas
. Examples of minerals include copper, iron
ore, gold, and potash
Flow Resources
. Resources are placed by natural
actions and must be used when and
where they occur or be lost
. Produced by nature
. Supply cannot be damaged by human
activity
. E.g. Sunlight, wind, and water currents
Other Resources
. Resources that do not fit into the
other 3 resource categories
. Examples include Niagra Falls, the
northern lights (aurora borealis), and
the Rocky Mountains
. Indirectly benefit us as Canadians
through the tourism industry
What are each one of the 3 R’s
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
What environmental pollutants result from landfills
The item is taken to a landfill or burned in an incinerator
The resource losses all of its value when it sits in a landfill
Landfills can pollute the groundwater and the surrounding environment
Landfills and/or incinerators are costly to build and operate
Examples of each of the 3R’s
. Many different types of products such as steel, paper, glass, and plastic,
can be recycled
However, recycling requires the use of resources throughout the process
. Hand-me-downs
. Used clothing stores (e.g. thrift stores, value village)
. The Beer Store
. Reselling for reuse (e.g. Facebook marketplace, Kijiji, flea markets)
People in wealthy countries, consume a lot
of resources by buying things they do not
necessarily need
Fast fashion
New tech such as iPhones
Single consumable products
How can consumption be curbed?
. Switch to reusable products. …
. Invest in a water filter. …
. Donate, Swap or Sell. …
. Streamline your laundry routine. …
. Support sustainable brands. …
. Have Less But Better.
Who are our three key stakeholders?
Individuals
Companies
Governments
What is QOL mean?
“How can I use resources wisely while
maintaining, or even improving, my quality of life
(QOL)?”
What impact does consumers have on the market?
Corporations are bound to 2 main
responsibilities:
Legal responsibility to maximize
financial returns for their owners
and shareholders
Obey the laws of the country and
province in which they operate
Obligations of companies towards sustainability
Being environmentally conscience
also helps a company’s corporate
social responsibility
Companies have found ways to
increase financial returns by using
resources more carefully
What is the role of government in sustainability?
Governments can also pass laws
forcing companies to rethink how they
operate (e.g. carbon tax)
Governments use either rewards or
punishments to help influence resource
usage
What is the importance of fresh water
Farmers, First Nations, and other rural dwellers who use wells understand the
impact of drought or chemical spills on their water.
Water supply issues affect millions in SW United States, NE China, Australia
and N Africa.
Define the term water availability
water is added
through precipitation and taken by
the natural environment and humans
Water stores and flows
Water Stores: places in the world
where water is stored (ocean, ice,
ground water, lakes and rivers,
atmosphere)
Water Flows: ways water moves
from one store to another
(precipitation, evaporation)