Natural Resources
What is a natural resource?
Something from Earth that living things use to meet their needs.
What is deforestation?
The removal of trees from an area
What are the three Rs?
Reduce, reuse, and recycle.
What is the hydrosphere?
All the water on Earth.
What is runoff?
Water that flows over the land's surface.
What are two examples of natural resources people use?
Water, trees, soil, minerals, or fossil fuels.
What is mining?
The process of extracting valuable minerals or other materials from Earth.
What is reforestation?
Replanting trees in areas where forests have been removed or damaged.
What is the main difference between freshwater and seawater?
Seawater contains much more dissolved salt than freshwater.
What is a watershed?
An area of land where water drains into a common outlet.
What process do plants use to make their own food?
Photosynthesis
What is urbanization?
The growth of cities and the development of land.
How do green spaces benefit the environment?
They provide habitats, improve air quality, and create spaces for plants and animals.
What is the difference between surface water and groundwater?
Surface water is found above ground, while groundwater is stored beneath Earth's surface.
What is a drainage divide?
Higher land that separates neighboring watersheds.
What are the three major ways people use land?
Timber production, agriculture, and mining.
What is desertification?
The process by which productive land becomes desert-like and less able to support plant life.
What is land reclamation?
Restoring damaged or altered land so it can be used again.
What is an aquifer?
An underground layer of rock or sediment that stores and allows groundwater to move through it.
How can runoff carry pollutants into bodies of water?
Runoff can carry chemicals, fertilizers, trash, and other pollutants into waterways.
Why are natural resources important to living things?
They provide the materials and resources needed for survival and daily life.
How can deforestation and poor land management contribute to desertification?
They can increase soil erosion and reduce the land's ability to support plant life.
How can people reduce the negative environmental impacts of mining and other land-use activities?
Restore damaged land, reduce waste, recycle materials, and use resources responsibly.
What is the water table?
The upper surface of the saturated zone underground.
How can pollution from human activities on land affect rivers, lakes, and oceans?
It can contaminate water, harm aquatic organisms, and damage ecosystems.