Unit 1 - Resources: An Introduction Flashcards
Why is it unrealistic to consider the use(s) of each resource individually?
It is unrealistic to consider the use(s) of each resource individually, because resource use is interrelated. The use of products from one resource contributes directly to the use of those from other resources.
What was the only period of major population decline, and what was its cause?
See Figure 1.2 of the textbook (p. 7). The Black Death was caused by rats infested with plague-carrying fleas, which were inadvertently brought to Europe in 1348 by crusaders from Asia Minor. It is estimated that in two years, one quarter to one third of the population of Europe died; the populations of the Middle East and Far East probably suffered similar mortality rates.
Why do less developed countries tend to have higher birth rates than technologically advanced countries?
Less developed countries tend to have agriculturally-based economies; large families ensure sufficient manual labour to provide for the present and future.
What do the characteristic shapes of age-sex population pyramids indicate about future population growth in less developed countries? In technologically advanced countries?
The relatively straight up and down configuration of the pyramids from technologically advanced countries means that there are just enough children born to replace adults that die. This situation is often referred to as zero population growth. In less developed countries, the pyramid is very broad at the base and tapers rapidly to a peak at the top, indicating that there are many more children than adults in the population. As these children reach child-bearing age, the trend will perpetuate itself, causing the population to continue increasing at an expanding rate.
What are the projections for world population growth, and when is a stable population anticipated?
It is anticipated that zero population growth will be achieved in all countries sometime during the next 120 years. By this estimate, the world population will become stable by 2100, although some countries will achieve stability before others.
What are the different concerns about using renewable resources and non-renewable resources?
For renewable resources, the main concern has to do with the rate of use: it is important to ensure that they are not used faster than they can be replenished at any given time. With non-renewable resources, we are concerned with depletion of the total supply.
Classify the following resources as renewable/non-renewable and mineral/ non-mineral: petroleum geothermal energy hydroelectricity copper wood building stone diamond solar energy
Resource classifications petroleum*—non-renewable; mineral geothermal energy—renewable; non-mineral hydroelectricity—renewable; non-mineral copper—non-renewable; mineral wood—renewable; non-mineral building stone—non-renewable; mineral diamond—non-renewable; mineral solar energy—renewable; non-mineral * Though petroleum is classified here as a mineral resource, it is not strictly a mineral in a geological sense. The strict definition of a mineral refers to a crystalline solid that occurs naturally and has a specific composition.
Differentiate between abundant and scarce metals and give three examples of each.
Abundant metals are those that individually constitute at least 0.1 per cent of the Earth’s crust by weight. Examples include iron, aluminum, silicon, manganese, magnesium, and titanium. Scarce metals make up less than 0.1 per cent of the Earth’s crust individually; they include copper, lead, zinc, molybdenum, mercury, silver, and gold.
How do resources differ from reserves?
Mineral resources are economically exploitable, natural concentrations of solid, inorganic, or fossilized organic substances within or on the Earth’s crust. Mineral reserves are the part of the mineral resource that have been deemed feasible to exploit (quality and quantity have been estimated), based on technical, economic, legal, and social factors.
What general factors can cause the transfer of resources to reserves? Of reserves to resources?
An increase in the market price for a commodity may cause a resource that was unprofitable to be economically produced; such resources are transferred to reserve status. A technological breakthrough that reduces the cost of extraction can also cause a transfer from resource to reserve. In reverse, any factor that reduces the profitability of a commodity or increases its cost of production can cause some reserves to move back into the resource category. Such factors include declining world demand and declining market prices caused by increases in supply.
