Resources & Energy
What is a resource?
A resource is a source or supply from which a benefit is produced and that has some utility. Resources can broadly be classified upon their availability — they are classified into renewable and non-renewable resources.
How is oil formed?
dead plants and animals sink to bottom of seabed, dead remnants get covered with mud, more sediment creates pressure over time, compressing the dead material and changing it into oil
What portion of the earth's land is available to live and grow food?
1/8 (an eighth)
Why are hardwoods called "hard" and softwoods called "soft"?
*Bonus (double points) - give an example of each
hardwoods tend to grow more slowly so they are more dense (harder)
Softwood examples: cedar, Douglas fir, juniper, pine, redwood, spruce, yew
Hardwood examples: alder, balsa, beech, hickory, mahogany, maple, oak, teak, and walnut
What percentage of the world's fresh water does Canada have?
20%
Give two examples of renewable resources.
fertile soil, fish, forests
How much oil is in a barrel of oil?
42 US gallons, about 159 litres
What's the difference between "intensive" and "extensive" farming?
intensive - small areas of land, requires large amounts of labour, located near large urban areas
extensive - large areas of land, requires small amounts of labour, produces product for export
How many people are involved in the fishing industry?
80,000 people
How much of the world's fresh water is locked up in ice/glaciers?
70%
What is Canada's largest largest renewable energy source?
hydroelectricity - accounts for 60% of Canada's electricity generation
What price is the "global benchmark" for a barrel of oil?
$48 / bbl (*per barrel)
How many classes of land quality are there? Which classes are considered good enough for growing commercial crops?
7 classes - classes 1-4 good enough for commercial crops
What are the three types of fish that we fish for?
*Bonus (double points): Give an example of each
ground fish - live / feed on or near the bottom of seas or lakes
ex) cod, haddock, pollack, flounder
pelagic fish - neither close to the bottom nor near the shore
ex) salmon, tuna, Atlantic herring
shellfish - exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates
ex) shrimp, crab, lobster
List one example of DIRECT water use and one example of INDIRECT water use.
Direct - shower, bath, toilet, laundry, drinking
Indirect - eating meat, buying new clothes, driving to school, fast/processed food
Hydroelectric, thermoelectric, and nuclear-electric account for how much of Canada's total energy use?
98%
What are the Alberta Tar sands?
The Athabasca oil sands, also known as the Alberta Tar Sands, are large deposits of bitumen or extremely heavy crude oil located in northeastern Alberta. These oil sands consist of a mixture of crude bitumen (a semi-solid rock-like form of crude oil), silica sand, clay minerals, and water. The Athabasca deposit is the largest known reservoir of crude bitumen in the world.
Explain the difference between coniferous forests and deciduous forests.
Coniferous Forest - trees with needles, i.e. pine
Deciduous / Broadleaf Forest - change colour in the
autumn, shed their leaves, fresh foliage come spring
What percentage of fishers are inshore? What percentage are off-shore?
inshore - 85% of fishers
offshore - 15% of fishers
What are the 3 sectors of the economy? Provide a brief explanation of each.
PRIMARY - Examples include mining, quarrying, farming, fishing and forestry, all of which produce raw materials that can be processed in to a finished product.
SECONDARY - Secondary jobs involve making things (manufacturing) e.g. making cars and steel.
TERTIARY - Tertiary jobs involve providing a service e.g. teaching and nursing
Explain the difference between hydroelectricity, thermoelectricity, and nuclear electricity.
hydroelectricity - force of water drives a generator
thermoelectricity - steam produced from burning fossil fuels turns a generator
nuclear electricity - steam comes from breakdown of radioactive uranium atoms to turn the generator
How much of our energy use does oil account for?
39%
What percentage of Canada's territory do forests occupy?
in Canada, forests occupy 45% of the territory
What are the three ways to catch fish?
Purse Seining - Circling fish with large weighted net and pulling them in
Gill Netting - net is dragged behind ship or left in place with anchors, fish get tangled in net
Otter Trawling - bag-shaped net dragged on ocean floor
What's the difference between a "basic" job and a "non-basic" job?
Basic Job - a job that brings money into an economy from somewhere else
Non-basic Job - a job which circulates money that is already in an economy