Natural resources and renewable energy.

• Climate control

This is a naturally occurring service in the biosphere. Changes in weather patterns affect distribution of water and essential mineral cycling powered by solar energy through cycles as the hydrological. Both water and minerals play important roles in human life, water ensuring plant growth to the dissolving of minerals that are cycled to enable plants to make organic compounds necessary for life and in turn this compounds are the basic constituents in supporting human life. Winds are also generated by solar energy contributing to precipitation and hurricanes among other weather patterns. Changes in climatic conditions guarantee transportation of essential minerals to far lands. An example of a change in weather pattern that occurred in 1999 along the Texas gulf, in which a hurricane flushed nutrients and curved channels, eventually increasing production of marine species such as shellfish which feed on grasses that increased in growth from the nutrients that were made available. Modern societies depend on some of this food for survival.

• Natural Pest and Disease control

Plant species depend on insects to pollinate their flowers through which they may multiply. In the modern society most foods come from plants and plant eating animals. Most insects feed on half the insects man terms as pests, therefore controlling a great number of these insect populations that would be stressful to cope with in croplands. Due to their ability to develop new genetic traits, insects are resistant to extinction hence commit to the continuation of controlling pests and their diseases.

• Recycling Vital Mineral

• Soil Formation and Renewal

Soil development can take 200 - 1000 years. The soil structure consisting of spaces and pores have the ability to hold air and water necessary for the development of plant and animal life. Reliable soil is an important aspect determining which plants are grown and where. The overall effect is available food to enable the society to subsist. Humus is an important element in the nourishing of soil. It is in the soil that humus is formed from partially decomposed organic material by bacteria. The same bacteria along with fungi may play other roles in the cycling of soil chemicals ensuring productivity of soils.

The physical structure of soil as a mixture of eroded rock, mineral nutrients, decaying organic matter, water, air and billions of living organisms, is significant to note in order to conserve it adequately. In favor of the modern society in attaining favorable crop yields among other soil benefits, they need to exercise certain procedures that maintain soil fertility in the long run. These activities may include reduction of overgrazing, deforestation and mining among others. This will cut back soil erosion, desertification and soil leaching. If this is achieved modern societies have a better chance of stabilizing their tamed and untamed lands.

• Solar Energy

The sun supplies 99% of the energy in our planet. This energy supports life by driving climate and weather systems distributing heat and fresh water, supports photosynthesis, powers the cycling of matter and lights and warms the planet. Green plants use solar energy in combination with carbon dioxide and water to make organic compounds that contribute to their survival. The energy captured is passed on in different quantities as biomass in different feeding levels. Energy captured by plants is also used for respiration, which emits carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a compound of ozone. The overall outcome is that man obtains most of their energy form these producers.

• Waste Removal and Detoxification

Decomposers who may be as classified detritus feeders and detrivores reduce waste material in the ecosystem. They cycle organic matter by breaking down organic matter and releasing simpler organic compounds into the soil and water, which may bet taken up as nutrients by plants.

• Air resources and Purification

• Renewable Energy Resources

• Biodiversity and Gene Pool

• Non-Renewable Energy Resources

• Potential Renewable Matter Resources

2. " There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the fireplace" Do you agree?

Yes we agree.

DISCUSSION

Introduction

Literally, the above statement is trying to emphasize that sources of natural resources, such as food and energy, are not of much concern as should be. It should be noted that their nurturing is what will sustain their supply. Not much consideration is taken in conserving the environment, which provides us with these resources.

It is through environmental conservation that natural resources will not decline in their supply, the consequence being fewer crisis as a result of exhausting resources. It must be understood how food is produced and what needs to be done to support societies with limited food supplies. It is correct to say that a fireplace is indeed a source of heat but care should be taken on which resources are used for heat purposes. If firewood is used exceeding the supply in which it is replenished, their supply will be scarce, worse still the purpose of trees in the environment will not be catered for. This means that other approaches in obtaining energy, as a source of heat should be devised.

The following questions derived form the above statement should be covered in the discussion to follow.

1. How is food produced?
2. What are the available sources of obtaining heat?

Knowing the quality of an energy source and the quantity needed for performing a task can save energy and therefore money as well.

FORMS OF ENERGY AS A SOURCE OF HEAT

Renewable Sources of Energy

• Geothermal Energy

This is energy abstracted from the earth's internal heat. Magma, which is responsible for this heat, rises towards the earth's crust reaching the surface as lava or remains below the earth's crust heating nearby rocks and ground water. Geothermal reservoirs, which are natural collections of hot water, can be drilled if close to the earth's surface to extract steam or hot water that can be used as geothermal energy. Geothermal energy can be used to heat homes and buildings in form of electricity. Geothermal sites produce about 1% of the world's electricity with Santa Monica in California being the first city in the world to get all its electricity from geothermal energy. Molten rock magma, hot - dry rock zones and warm rock reservoir deposits, can be used to preheat water, run heat pumps for space heating. Nonetheless, research is being carried out to find out if these energy sources can provide affordable geothermal energy.

• Energy from Biomass

In this case, biomass is plant and animal material waste used as sources of energy. They can be burned directly in solid form or converted to liquid and gas fuels. Wastes from animals, timbering, agriculture and urban areas as well as wood logs, pellets and aquatic plants are all sources of biomass energy.  In order to maintain their supply biomass fuel sources can be planted in forms of trees, grass and perennial grasses. Water hyacinths may also be burned to produce heat for cooking especially in rural areas. All these form of biomass energy may provide heat for cooking or warmth. It advisable however not to be over dependent on these forms of energy, especially if their use exceeds their supply.

Non-Renewable Sources of Energy as a Source of Heat

• Oil as a source of heat

Components of crude oil or petroleum enable industrial machinery's to function, fuels vehicles and ships. However, our discussion is based on those oil components that provide energy as a source of heat.

• Gases provide a source of heat when used in gas cookers.  

• Natural Gas as a Source of Heat

• Coal as a Source of Heat

• Nuclear Energy as a Source of Heat

• Water as a source of Heat

3. "Technology owes ecology an apology"

DISCUSSION

Introduction

Methods, systems and devices that are the result of scientific knowledge, are being used for practical purposes leading to the degradation of the resulting environment. These practical purposes may be carried out in industries, driving automobiles or even in development of towns. Effects on how technology depletes the environment of its beneficiaries are discussed in separate topics below.

Effects of Technology on the Environment

• Pollution

Any additional substance in the environment that is harmful and therefore threatens health is termed as a pollutant. New scientific innovations may result in pollution of the environment. It should be noted that there are natural pollutants such as those from volcanic eruptions, but greater percentages are from human activities. In concentrated urban and industrial areas, newly conceived systems may be unfriendly to the surrounding regions. Both misguided drain pipes from factories and gases from automobile exhaust pipes introduce substances to the environment. New-sprung fertilizer and pesticide runoffs may flow into streams and lakes threatening lives of organisms in these ecosystems. Pesticides may also be blown by wind and carried to the atmosphere adding compounds that may distort the earth's natural processes, resulting in effects such as global warming.

• Deforestation

In order to have access to certain areas, building of infrastructure may be one option to make these places reachable. Clearing of forestland to construct roads, reduces the number of these trees and if their quantities are not replenished the result would be deforestation. Forests support various species of plants and animals and control the rates of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Burning of trees to erect industrial sites, say for timber production, introduces certain amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere exceeding the volumes at which they are maintained. With increase in urban growth and population, urban centers may penetrate to regions occupied by forests. This happens as more factories are put up and more residential homes are needed for the ever-expanding populations. As researchers of natural science come up with seeds that promise to increase harvest yields, more trees are cleared to accommodate croplands.

• Desertification

Deforestation may eventually lead to Desertification since this is not just the cutting of trees but the falling in productivity potential semi-arid and arid lands. When productive lands are disturbed and not reclaimed their unprolific states may result in desertification. Take for instance when sophisticated machines are designed to extract vital minerals from the earth's crust, therefore encouraging growth of these activities. If the mining for instance does not support land reclamation in the event that something needs to be done, then such activities fall short of conserving the environment. Yet again, as promising irrigation methodologies are discovered, more and more of these approaches are practiced in hope of attaining high levels of crop productivity. Excessive irrigation schemes eventually lead to soil erosion, which intensify desertification. Irrigation water usually contains a solution of various salts that are dissolved as water flows over soil and rocks. Water that is not absorbed in the soil may evaporate leaving behind these salts which accumulate resulting in salinization. Severe salinization may lower the productivity of soil attributing to desertification.

• Increase of Greenhouse Gases

Human activities have inverted the natural balance at which greenhouse gases exist. Deforestation in search of fulfilling practical scientific purposes, have increased the levels of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere when trees are burned. Use of advanced inorganic fertilizers in croplands have increased the levels of nitrogen oxide and use of fossil fuels in the ever increasing development of appliances that have injected various greenhouse gases in the biosphere. As more gases concentrate in the biosphere, the earth's overall temperature increases. This warming effect warms aquatic waters causing stress to coral reefs and depleting them off algae. Coral reefs are habitats for many aquatic organisms that depend on interrelationships between themselves for survival. Absence of coral reefs means no support in absorption of carbon dioxide, prevention of erosion in coastal regions, job opportunities, tourism activities and exploration of the underwater. The increasing rates at which chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) are used in plastic forms in fast food restaurants, in refrigerators and air conditioners is resulting in the depletion of the ozone layer. Holes formed in the ozone layer allow more rays from the sun to penetrate the earth's troposphere affecting plants and animals. Developing countries use HC refrigerator technology to leapfrog ahead of industrialized countries without having to invest in costly hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC's) technologies that will have to be phased out within a few decades because they are potent green house gases.

• Loss of Marine Habitat

Highly evolved methods of fishing are not only leading to temporary depletion of fish when over fishing is practiced but may also lead to permanent extinction of these species. With the increasing rise in developments in aquaculture important habitats have been cleared to raise fish and shellfish. Habitats such as mangrove forests serve as protection for coastal systems and harbor significant aquatic species. They have also been cleared for urban developments, agricultural land and industrial logging for timber and firewood.  Contamination from airborne pollutants falling on coastal waters, industrial sewage discharges and runoff from lands result from methods, which are the result of scientific knowledge. Coastal wetlands are some of the earth's most productive areas yet they are disappearing for coastal development, agriculture and dam construction and diversion of river water for irrigation. Bottom habitats are being degraded and destroyed by dredging operations and trawler boats which drag huge nets weighted down with chains over oceans bottoms to harvest bottom fish and shellfish. These operations may not have been possible if it were not for the ever- escalating devices; methods and systems are a payoff of technology.

• Tourism and Sports

As man realizes effective ways of dominating the environment, he may not realize that he is doing more harm than good. In the construction of a tourist site, certain machinery that would have not otherwise existed if not for technology are used for erection purposes. Mountainous areas may be invaded for erection of recreation and tourist sites that may accommodate visitors on skiing slopes. These visitors may also gather to witness sporting activities such as mountain skiing and bungee jumping.

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REFERENCES

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