Natural Resources

Other cycles

Phosphorus is one of the building units of nucleic acids and ATP. Plants absorb this element in the form of ions. It is utilized for the synthesis of plant tissues. This element comes back to the soil and water by the decomposition of dead and decayed organic matter and excretory products. From there it is again absorbed by the plants.

You have already studied how the O2 content is stabilised in the atmosphere. What about the quantity of water? How does the process of photosynthesis in plants, respiration and transpiration help in maintaining the cycle of O2 and water on the earth. Discuss and illustrate O2 and H2O cycles.

Sulphur is another element essential for the formation of tissues in plants and animals. In nature, the flow of this element is also cyclic.

You must have understood the role of biotic and abiotic factors in the flow of energy and matter. It is from these that natural resources are formed. They include energy, air, water, soil, minerals, plants and animals.

You have already learnt that the natural resources could be divided in to renewable resources and non-renewable resources. Classify the different kinds of natural resources seen in your surroundings.

The balance sheet of energy consumption We are living in the dark shadow of severe energy crisis. It is really surprising to know how the intelligent man has reached such a situation. The daily consumption of energy by primitive man was only 2000-4000 kcal per day. Do you know the present level of energy consumption? It is 7000 kcal. Following the discovery of fire, man began to use more and more energy. Developments in the fields of agriculture, industry, transportation, telecommunication systems etc. further enhanced the energy consumption. The situation became more critical following the rapid increase in population. In energy consumption the USA stands foremost, though the density of population is much less. How can this be justified? It is the primary duty of man, who loves this living world, to protect and conserve the natural resources. Don't you know that organisms cannot exist on the earth without the use of natural resources? But apart from other organisms, the indiscriminate invasion by man is the chief cause of the depletion of natural resources. So it is the obligation of man to find out suitable solutions to this burning issue by restricting the exploitation of non-renewable natural resources and proper management in renewing the renewable resources in time and also by developing new energy resources.

· Name the natural resources which are steadily increasing on the earth? How does it cause depletion of other resources?

· 2/3 parts of the earth is water. How does this corroborate with media reports?

· The depletion of plant resources can be compensated, but the depletion in the fossil fuels deposits cannot be compensated. Why?

· It is realized that all types of natural resources are not renewable. It is also known that there is necessity of restricting the use of non-renewable natural resources also. What is the usual trend in using natural resources in your locality? Submit your data wise report after actively involving in a related project work.

Дата добавления: 2014-12-29