Earth Resources and the Environment addresses these problems by looking at the environment in the context of Earth-system Science. By treating energy resources as carbon-based (fossil fuels) versus noncarbon-based, the role of the carbon cycle in the health of the planet is emphasized and underscores the relationship between Earth's spheres (the lithosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere and the biosphere) and man's role in disturbing these systems. Natural Resources are things which are found in nature and are of use to man; they include energy, non-fuel mineral, and biological resources. Many are very uneve distributed across Earth and that distribution rarely matches the spatial patterns of consumoan Therefore the geographic study of natural resources includes not only location of deposits, but also transportation, patterns of use, and disposal. Environmental issues are harmful effects of human activity on the biophysical environment. Environmental protection is a practice of protecting the natural environment on individual, organizational or governmental levels, for the benefit of both the environment and humans. Environmentalism, a social and environmental movement, addresses environmental issues through advocacy, education and activism. This book is provide the current issues to help readers understand how mineral, water and energy resources - and the impacts of their use and extraction - affect their daily lives. A historical perspective makes the material in this text fascinating by showing readers that the earth's resources have always been fundamental to society, even as far back as the Stone Age.