Essential Resources
Anything useful or necessary for living beings that occurs naturally on Earth.
What is a natural resource?
Energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas formed from the remains of ancient organisms.
What are fossil fuels?
The contamination of the atmosphere by harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents.
What is air pollution?
Using resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
What is sustainability?
The contamination of land, water, or air by harmful substances.
What is pollution?
A resource that can be replaced by nature at the same rate it is consumed (e.g., solar or wind).
What is a renewable resource?
Gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
What are greenhouse gases?
The contamination of lakes, rivers, or oceans, often making them unsafe for drinking or wildlife
What is water pollution?
A condition that occurs when a person does not get enough nutrients or the right balance of nutrients.
What is malnutrition?
Type of rain that is more acidic than normal, caused by burning fossil fuels.
What is acid rain?
Resources like coal, oil, and gas that take millions of years to form and cannot be easily replaced
What are nonrenewable resources?
A lack of access to modern energy services, such as electricity and clean cooking fuels.
What is energy poverty?
A measure of how clean or polluted the air is, which affects the health of living things.
What is air quality?
The practice of organizing and protecting natural resources to prevent them from running out.
What is resource management?
The increase in Earth’s average temperature due to greenhouse gases.
What is global warming/climate change?
Substances found in soil and food that plants and animals need to grow and stay healthy.
What are nutrients?
This is the most widely used fossil fuel globally for transportation.
What is petroleum/oil?
Water that has been used in homes, businesses, or industries and must be treated before being returned to the environment.
What is wastewater?
This practice involves using resources carefully to avoid waste, such as the "3 R's."
What is conservation?
This is a, "natural event that can cause damage (e.g., earthquakes, floods)."
What is a natural hazard or natural disaster?
A condition where people lack the financial resources and essentials for a minimum standard of living.
What is poverty?
The "cleanest" burning fossil fuel because it releases about 40% less \(CO_{2}\) than coal.
What is natural gas?
A measure of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water.
What is water quality?
The process of breaking down organic waste, like food scraps, to return nutrients to the soil.
What is composting?
This fossil fuel is formed from dead plant and animal material buried and compacted over millions of years.
What is oil/coal/natural gas?