Biodiversity Conservation: Threats and Solutions
Economic Reasons for Conserving Biodiversity
Raw materials, food, health, and ecosystem stability are all vital economic reasons for conserving biodiversity.
Living Planet Index: Indicates the abundance of species populations. A species is considered endangered when it reaches a critical number, which is the minimum population size needed for recovery.
Causes of Biodiversity Loss
- Habitat Loss and Degradation (Anthropogenic): Human activities are the primary cause.
- Habitat Fragmentation: For example,
Plate Tectonics: Transform & Convergent Boundaries
Neutral Edges: Interactions
When two plates move horizontally in opposite directions, they are also known as transform faults, passive margins, or conservative margins. Oceanic lithosphere is neither created nor destroyed.
The Origin of Transform Faults
The origin of transform faults is not very clear. Some scientists believe that these fractures are inherited from when the old continent opened to form the ocean. Others say that their genesis is related to the plate movement described, which diverges
Read MoreEnergy Sources: Renewable and Non-Renewable Explained
Energy Sources
Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources
Energy sources, or energy resources, encompass all materials and processes used by humans to generate primary energy. This energy can be used directly or transformed into other forms.
Non-Renewable Energy Sources
Non-renewable energy sources are finite resources that are not replenished at the rate they are consumed.
Coal
Coal is a solid, black mineral formed from plant matter buried under layers of earth for millions of years. Earth’s coal reserves
Fossil Fuels: Coal and Oil Formation, Uses, and Impacts
Fossil Fuels: Coal and Oil
Regarding energy, consider fossil fuels: carbon, petrochemicals, and natural gas. Currently, 78% of the commercial energy used worldwide comes from the combustion of fossil fuels. This process produces serious problems of contamination and increases the greenhouse effect due to CO2 emissions and other gases. However, we cannot ignore them until we have alternative energy sources. The sun is a possible alternative. We are gradually replacing fossil fuels with other cleaner
Read MoreUnderstanding Energy Sources: Types, Properties, and Applications
Understanding Energy Sources
Chemical Energy: The energy stored within the atoms that form molecules.
Electrical Energy: The energy resulting from the movement of electric charges.
Nuclear Energy: The energy that holds together the particles within the nuclei of atoms.
Radiant Energy: The energy transported by electromagnetic waves.
Sound Energy: The energy of vibration that travels through air molecules.
Classification of Energy Sources
By Nature:
- Primary Sources: Found in nature (e.g., coal, firewood,
Earth’s Interior: Heat, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Plate Tectonics
1. Earth’s Internal Heat
Geothermal Gradient: The Earth’s internal temperature increases with depth. The temperature rises approximately 30°C per kilometer.
Earth’s Internal Heat Source: The Earth’s internal heat originates from collisions during its formation approximately 4.5 billion years ago and from the decay of radioactive elements.
Internal Pressure and Temperature: Both temperature and pressure increase with depth within the Earth.
2. Signals of Earth’s Internal Heat
- Volcanism: Molten rock (