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Natural resources: types, use and distribution
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Everything we use comes from natural resources: food, water, energy and materials. Some will last forever; others will run out.
Types of resource
Biotic: from living things, such as fish, timber and crops.
Abiotic: from non-living things, such as water, minerals and fossil fuels.
Renewable: can be replaced naturally or will not run out, such as wind and solar energy.
Non-renewable: finite, such as coal, oil, gas and metal ores.
Abiotic: from non-living things, such as water, minerals and fossil fuels.
Renewable: can be replaced naturally or will not run out, such as wind and solar energy.
Non-renewable: finite, such as coal, oil, gas and metal ores.
Exploiting resources
Resources are exploited by fossil fuel extraction, fishing, farming and deforestation.
This can cause environmental change: reduced biodiversity, soil erosion, and poorer water and air quality.
This can cause environmental change: reduced biodiversity, soil erosion, and poorer water and air quality.
Distribution and consumption
In the UK: fertile farmland in the south and east (such as East Anglia), oil and gas under the North Sea, historic coalfields in the north, Midlands and Wales, and plenty of rainfall in the north and west.
Globally: resources are unevenly spread, and so is their use. High-income countries use far more energy, water and food per person than low-income countries.
Globally: resources are unevenly spread, and so is their use. High-income countries use far more energy, water and food per person than low-income countries.
Classify oil as biotic or abiotic, and renewable or non-renewable.
- Oil is extracted from rocks, so it is used as an abiotic resource.
- It takes millions of years to form, so it is non-renewable.
Answer: Abiotic and non-renewable.
Resources can be biotic or abiotic, renewable or non-renewable. Extraction, fishing, farming and deforestation can reduce biodiversity, cause soil erosion and pollute air and water. Resources and their consumption are unevenly spread; rich countries use far more per person.
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