Understanding Energy, Resources, and Climate Change

Energy Types and Use

Energy Types:

1. Endosomatic: Energy that sustains life, derived from food and plants through photosynthesis.
2. Exosomatic: Energy not derived from food, used to meet social and collective needs (e.g., transportation, manufacturing).

Energy Use:

1. Petroleum: Extracted from oilfields. Formed from marine plankton over 20-50 million years.
2. Gas: Produced when organic matter decomposes. Reserves last 22-49 years.
3. Coal: Reserves last 111-150 years.
4. Radioactive Minerals: Used for nuclear energy.

Water Resources and Applications

Water is essential for life, primarily in the form of freshwater. However, a small percentage of freshwater is readily available, with a portion locked in polar ice caps.

Applications:

1. Agriculture: Irrigation significantly increases crop yields compared to rainfed fields. Flood irrigation, however, leads to substantial water loss through evaporation.
2. Industrial: Many industries have high water consumption, using it as a solvent, sometimes for toxic elements.
3. Domestic: Essential in large cities and areas with limited rainfall.
4. Energy: Reservoirs are used for hydroelectric power generation. Water released from the last reservoir often flows into the sea and cannot be recovered.
5. Recreational: Used in various leisure activities.
6. Freshwater: A scarce resource, existing in a closed cycle with a constant global volume. The issue is the increasing and inconsistent consumption.

Forest Resources and Soil

Forest Resources: All goods obtainable from forests, predominantly trees.

Benefits: Forests produce oxygen, regulate rainfall, protect soil, and help control climate.

Materials:

• Wood: Can be harvested in a controlled manner.
• Charcoal: Remains of burnt wood after controlled combustion.
• Fuel: Fossil fuels are often cheaper.
• Cellulose: Used to make paper.
• Other: Cork, resins, dyes, foods, medicines.

Soil: The uppermost layer of the Earth's crust. Without soil, there are no crops.

Applications:

1. Agriculture and Livestock: Supports crops, provides charcoal, and grassland plant food.

Desertification

The loss of fertile land, making plant growth impossible and facilitating the advance of deserts.

Environmental Impacts and Risks

Environmental Impacts: Disturbances causing changes in the environment, directly or indirectly involving living organisms.

Environmental Risk: Irreparable harm. Two types exist:

• Natural: Not involving living beings. These are further divided into:
  • Geological (earthquakes, volcanoes, etc.)
  • Climatic (drought, etc.)
• Anthropogenic: Caused by human activities, waste, and pollution.

Climate Change

An abnormal change in the Earth's climate, altering global weather patterns. Affected parameters include precipitation, wind distribution and intensity, and increased frequency/intensity of hurricanes and droughts.

Greenhouse Effect

Essential for life on Earth, as CO2 maintains a habitable temperature. The problem is the intensification of the greenhouse effect due to increased CO2 and other greenhouse gases, leading to rising global temperatures.