Environmental Resources Worksheet Essay

Using the assigned readings from Week Four, write a 50- to 75-word answer to each of the following questions.Your responses will be assessed according to the accuracy of the content.Minerals1. How do minerals affect society?Minerals have aided in the continuous reaping of developing nations and in any case, had abundant mineral deposits that enabled them to industrialize (Berg, 2013). However, as a implication of industrialization, these countries largely depleted their domestic reserves of minerals so that they must progressively turn to developing countries (Berg, 2013). Also, minerals affect the global economy. For example, China controls more than 90 percent of the global supply of r atomic number 18 earth metals, has also reduce its exports to other countries, in a move that could affect market prices (Berg, 2013).2. What is the deflexion between metallic and metalloidlic minerals?Provide two examples from each home and discuss their expenditures. Minerals argon divid ed into two categories metals and nonmetallic minerals. Metals are malleable, lustrous, and unplayful conductors of heat and electricity, while nonmetallic metals lack these characteristics (Berg, 2013) . Gold is a metal use for currency and iron is a metal used for steel buildings. Gypsum is a nonmetal that is used for drywall. Silicon is another nonmetal that is used for electronic devices.Mining1. How are minerals extracted from the Earth and processed? at that place are two shipway to extract minerals from the Earth, either surface exploit or subsurface mining. Surface mining is done when minerals are walking(prenominal) to the surface. Subsurface mining is used when the minerals are too deep to be removed by surface mining. Smelting is the process in which ore is melted at high temperatures to separate impurities from the molten metal (Berg, 2013). 2. What are the different ways minerals so-and-so be mined? Provide a brief  comment of at least three types of mining. What feeling does extracting minerals have on the surroundings? Other than territory damage, extracting minerals causes air contamination of the air, state, and water. Also, it destroys vegetation and causes smear eroding. possibly most in-chief(postnominal)ly it affects the water supply. Mineral extraction exposes large areas of change state toxic substances to precipitation, greatly accelerating polluted runoff (Berg, 2013). acres3. What is your commentary of poop? What is smirch calm of? Why is soil important to the milieu?Soil is the uppermost layer of the Earth and supports life on earth. Soil is composed of four parts mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air. Soil is very important to the environment because respective(a) organisms depend on soil for life and supports nigh all terrestrial food webs (Berg, 2013). 4. What types of organisms are found in soil? De termine the relationship between soil and organisms. Ants, moles, snakes, and earthworms are just a downhearted number of the many organisms that are found in soil.Essentially, organisms and soil depend on each other to remain balanced. Organisms that live in soil provide ecosystem services, such as maintaining soil fertility, preventing soil erosion, falling out down toxic materials, and cleansing water (Berg, 2013). 5. What is soil erosion? How can soil set out polluted? What effect does soil erosion and pollution have on the environment? Soil erosion is the wearing by or removal of soil from the direct (Berg, 2013). Being that soil erosion reduces the amount of soil in an area, vegetation change by reversalth can become very limited. As a result, it disrupts the balance of the ecosystem by eliminating food sources. 6. What is the pop the question of soil reclamation?Soil reclamation can be punish by (1) stabilizing the country to prevent further erosion and (2) restoring the soil to its former fertility. To stabilize the lower, the bare ground is seeded with p lants that eventually grow to cover the soil, holding it in place (Berg, 2013). Once the soil is returned covering to its original state, the land can be used again.Forestry and Rangeland Resources and Management Strategies7. place between government-owned and public lands. Which government agencies are involved with government-owned lands? What is the objective of government-owned lands? establishment owned lands provide vital ecosystem services that benefit macrocosm keep far from public woods, grasslands, deserts, and wetlands (Berg, 2013). These places include national parks and provide testimonial for endangered species and flood and erosion control. Public land is available for volunteer(a) purposes such as hiking, swimming and boating. 8. Why is the forest an important ecosystem? What is your definition of forest management? What is its purpose? Describe the concept of sustainable forestry. The forest is an important ecosystem because it provides many goods and servi ces to support humanity society (Berg, 2013). They also provide employment for millions of people worldwide. Forest management is the managing of timber production.The purpose of forest management is to produce as much timber as possible. 9. What effect does the harvesting of trees and disforestation have on forests and the environment? Is there a preferred method for harvesting trees? Explain. Both the harvesting of trees and deforestation result in decreased soil fertility (Berg, 2013). The vital minerals that are essential by soil are washed away because there are no trees to absorb them. Also, this takes away food sources and shelter for various organisms. This disrupts the delicate balance of ecosystems. Selective cutting, is when a small group of raise tress are individually cut or in small clusters. This means that the rest of the forest is left undisturbed.However, this method is expensive and does not generate timber needed quickly enough. 10. What is a rangeland? Descr ibe rangeland adulteration and desertification. What effect does degradation and desertification have on the environment? Is there a preferred method for harvesting trees? Explain. Rangelands are grasslands, in both clement and tropical climates, that serve as important areas of food production for humans by providing fodder for livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (Berg, 2013). Degradation is both a natural and a human-induced process that decreases the future ability of the land to support crops or livestock (Berg, 2013).Desertification is progressive degradation that produces desert-like conditions on land that was used previously and was plentiful. 11. What is overgrazing? What effect does this have on rangelands? What strategies can be employed for managing and conserving forests and rangelands? Overgrazing is a situation that occurs when too many grazing animals consume the plants in a particular area, leaving the vegetation destroyed and unable(p) to recover (Ber g, 2013). When rangelands are overgrazed, plants die, the ground is left barren, and the exposed soil is amenable to erosion (Berg, 2013). The rangelands have to be taken care of by practicing techniques that are environmentally friendly.Agriculture12. What is the difference between industrialized and subsistence agriculture? What effect do these methods have on the environment? alter agriculture are modern agricultural methods that require large capital inputs and less(prenominal) land and labor than traditional methods (Berg, 2013). Subsistence agriculture supports on the farmer and their family with little reserves. Industrialized agriculture causes pollution and lowers an ecosystems biodiversity. Subsistence agriculture relies on more human and animal labor and has a much smaller impact on the environment. 13. What is one agricultural challenge, other than soil erosion, that society faces? Explain your answer. angiotensin converting enzyme agricultural challenge that society faces is the lost of agricultural land. Countries are first to expand and grow rapidly.With so much space being needed for expansion, this takes land that could have been used for agricultural purposes. The loss of rural land means that food will have to travel giganticer and use more resources to do so. 14. How would you picture sustainable agriculture? How does it affect the environment? In regards to agriculture, what are the advantages and disadvantages involved with genetic applied scientisting? I would describe sustainable agriculture as agriculture that is better for the environment and leaves less of a footprint on the Earth.It also promotes high diversity. It has minimal long term impacts on the environment by development less pesticides and using biological diversity instead (predator-prey relationship). The advantage of genetic engineering is that any organism can be used and it takes less time to engineer another breed. The disadvantage is that there is yet to be se en what long term effects genetic engineering has on the environment or on humans.Works CitedBerg, L. (2013). Visualizing Environmental Science (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ John Wiley & Sons.