Earth's Resources
These materials found in nature are available for people to use.
Natural resources
Water stored beneath Earth's surface is called ______.
What type of energy comes from heat inside the Earth?
Geothermal energy
Oil, coal, and natural gas are all examples of these energy resources formed from ancient living things.
Fossil fuels
This process occurs when wind or water carries away the top layer of soil.
These fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals.
Fossil fuels
This underground layer of rock or sediment stores and carries groundwater.
A community builds a dam to generate electricity from flowing water. Is this energy source renewable or nonrenewable?
Renewable energy
When a tanker leaks petroleum into the ocean, this type of pollution can harm marine animals and their habitats.
Water pollution
Farmers plant grass or other plants between growing seasons to help prevent this process from carrying away their topsoil.
Soil erosion
This naturally occurring solid substance makes up part of Earth's crust.
Mineral
This process releases water vapor from plant leaves into the atmosphere.
Transpiration
Unlike sunlight, this mineral used in nuclear power plants is a nonrenewable resource.
Uranium
Burning coal can release soot and sulfur gases, creating this environmental problem.
Air pollution
When a farmer leaves a field unplanted for a season to help restore soil nutrients, the field is said to lie in this condition.
Fallow
This concentrated area of a particular mineral is called a ______.
vein
This floating mass of ice is attached to a coastline and extends over the ocean.
Ice shelf
Solar panels use this renewable resource, which is especially plentiful in places with many sunny days.
Solar energy
Although nuclear power plants generate large amounts of electricity, this dangerous form of pollution can result if radioactive materials are released.
Radioactive pollution
This farming method follows the natural curves of a hillside to slow water runoff and reduce soil loss.
Contour plowing
A metal can be hammered into thin sheets without breaking. Which property does this metal have?
Malleability
Reduce, reuse, and recycle are three practices that help people accomplish this goal by using fewer raw materials and producing less waste.
Conserving natural resources
Solar, wind, and hydroelectric power belong to this category of energy resources because nature replenishes them relatively quickly.
Renrewaable energy resources
This renewable energy source produces electricity without burning fuel, but its turbines require sufficiently steady winds and suitable locations.
Wind energy
A farmer's crops are growing poorly after years of planting the same crop. This farming practice alternates different crops in a field to help maintain soil fertility.
Crop rotation