Human Impacts
What is the name of the process that removes commercially valuable resources (like ores and granite) from Earth?
Mining
Are most minerals and fossil fuels renewable or nonrenewable? Answer with a single word.
Nonrenewable
What is groundwater primarily stored in (give the term used in the text)?
Aquifers
Define the verb “extract” as used in the reading.
To remove or take out of something else
Which fossil fuel is more abundant: coal, oil, or natural gas?
Coal
Name two ways mining can harm the environment or local habitats.
(Any two) habitat disturbance, landscape changes, polluted water from mine runoff, removal of vegetation
How are oil and natural gas usually extracted from underground?
By drilling down into the ground (wells) into trapped deposits between impermeable rock layers
About how many people worldwide rely on groundwater as a primary water source? Give the rounded number from the text.
More than two billion people
Define the verb “deplete” as used in the reading.
To greatly reduce the amount of something; use up
List three reasons given in the text for why demand for minerals has increased.
Population growth, high use in industrialized countries, industrialization of developing countries (also improved technology enabling more extraction)
Explain why industrialization and population growth increase the demand for mineral resources.
More people and more industrial activity use more materials; developing countries industrialize and industrialized countries use many resources per person
Coal reserves are more abundant than oil and natural gas. According to the text, about how many years are coal reserves projected to last? Provide the number.
More than 275 years
What happens during groundwater overdraft? Describe the relationship between pumping and recharge.
Groundwater overdraft occurs when withdrawal from aquifers is faster than natural recharge, causing lowering water levels and dried wells
What is “runoff”? Give the lesson’s definition.
Rainwater that does not soak into the ground and flows over Earth’s surface
The reading asks students to decide whether they agree or disagree with the statement: “Demand for energy resources is decreasing.” After reading the lesson, which answer (Agree or Disagree) is supported by the text? Explain in one sentence.
Disagree. The text says demand is increasing due to population growth and industrialization.
Describe one way humans can change the distribution of resources on Earth (give a concrete example from mining or drilling).
Example: Building mines or drilling wells concentrates extraction in certain areas, moving resources from underground to surface and changing local distribution; or constructing roads and towns near resources changes how those resources are accessed
Explain why improved technology can both increase known reserves and still not make current consumption rates sustainable for the future.
Better technology helps locate new deposits and extract low-grade ores cheaply, which increases known reserves; but consumption rates can still outpace formation and recharge so long-term sustainability isn’t guaranteed
Name two real consequences listed in the text that result from excessive groundwater pumping.
Wells drying up leading to abandoned farms/towns; lowered water quality such as saltwater intrusion; reduced reliability of water supply
What does “consumption” mean in the academic vocabulary used here?
The amount of something that is used
Give two ways the text suggests that fossil fuels might last longer in the future (what could change to extend supplies?).
More deposits found; improvements in technology that allow extraction of low-grade deposits more cheaply; or reduced rates of usage (conservation)
Explain how improper mining regulations can affect water quality. Be specific about the mechanism (what runs off and where it goes).
Chemicals and sediments from mines can run off into streams and groundwater if regulations aren’t followed, polluting drinking water and habitats
Define “reserve” as used in this lesson and explain why reserves can increase even while people worry about depletion.
A reserve is “a supply of something that is stored so it can be used later.” Reserves can increase when new deposits are found or technology makes previously uneconomical deposits usable.
Explain how overpumping wells can lead to saltwater contamination of freshwater aquifers. Include the movement of salt water relative to freshwater.
Overpumping reduces the pressure in aquifers; when freshwater is removed, underlying salt water can move upward into wells and aquifers, contaminating freshwater supplies
Using the lesson’s vocabulary, write a 2–3 sentence example that correctly uses the words “reserve,” “contaminate,” and “overdraft.”
Sample answer: “When farmers pump groundwater to meet high consumption, they can overdraft the aquifer and reduce reserves. If runoff from a nearby mine contaminates recharge areas, it can contaminate the aquifer and make the remaining reserves unsafe to use.” (Teacher should check for correct usage.)
Describe the relationship among: finding new deposits, technology improvements in mining/extraction, and future availability of minerals. Explain why discovering more deposits alone may not guarantee availability for future generations.
Finding new deposits and technology improvements can raise known reserves and make previously uneconomical resources available, but if consumption remains high those resources can still be used up; so all three factors matter for future availability