Earth’s Dynamic Equilibrium: Natural Hazards and Resource Management
Earth’s Dynamic Equilibrium
Heating and Density
The sun heats the Earth’s surface, warming the surrounding air. The core heats the planet’s interior. This uneven heating creates density differences, causing less dense materials to rise.
Water Cycle
The water cycle, powered by solar energy, distributes heat throughout the world’s oceans. This oceanic current cycle is sometimes called the “oceanic conveyor belt.”
Mantle Movements and Volcanoes
Mantle movements cause the ascent of deep materials, fueling
Read MoreAcid Rain and Table Salt: Chemistry and Environmental Impact
Acid Rain
Formation and Causes
Acid rain results from emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides from factories, power plants, metallurgical industries, and vehicles burning fossil fuels like coal and petroleum.
Mechanism
Water from clouds reacts with these oxides to form sulfuric and nitric acid, resulting in acid rain with a pH of 3-5.
Border Phenomenon
Primary atmospheric contaminants can travel long distances, carried by winds for hundreds or thousands of miles before being deposited through mist,
Read MoreSpain’s Natural Resources and Energy: A Comprehensive View
Natural Resources and Industry in Spain
Industrialization in Spain is influenced by natural and human factors, including economic, technical, and political considerations. Raw materials, essential for industrial use, are categorized as mineral (metallic and non-metallic) and organic (plant and animal).
Raw Materials
Mineral Raw Materials
Mineral raw materials are non-renewable but reusable.
Metallic Minerals
- Iron: Abundant throughout Spain, though often of poor quality. The traditional mining area in
Key Environmental Terms and Definitions
Environment
Environment: A complex system of abiotic elements (solar energy, soil, water, and air) and biotic elements (living organisms) that form the Earth’s biosphere, supporting life.
Pollution and Contamination
Pollution: The presence of substances, elements, or energy in the environment at concentrations exceeding legal limits, posing a risk to health and ecosystems.
Contaminant: Any element, compound, substance, or energy whose presence in the environment, at certain levels or durations, may
Read MoreLandscape Evolution: Relief, Weathering, and Erosion
7A Landscape and Relief Evolution
Relief is the aspect of the land surface shaped by biotic factors. Relief maps, or topográficos, represent this aspect. Classification uses descriptive and interpretive criteria.
Descriptive Classification
Relief forms are classified by their appearance.
Interpretive Classification
Based on the processes leading to relief forms.
Weathering and Erosion
Weathering: The breakdown of rocks due to environmental agents, fracturing and changing their minerals.
Erosion: The evacuation
Read MoreBuilding Construction: From Foundations to Demolition
Pillars and Chains
Chains, also known as Q beams, are structural elements that resist loads. They can be made of wood, steel, concrete, HA, or a combination of these materials. Chains behave similarly to beams in bending.
Pillars
Pillars are structural elements that transmit loads to the supporting structures. They can be made of wood, steel, concrete, or HA.
Roof Structure
A roof structure is a combination of structural elements forming a lattice. These elements primarily experience axial loads.
The
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