AP Human Geography Key Issue 11.3 Part 1 Terms

Resource

Definition: A substance in the environment that is useful to people, is economically and technologically feasible to access, and is socially acceptable to use.

Transportation

Definition: Almost all transportation systems run on petroleum products.

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

Definition: Created in 1960 by several developing countries possessing substantial petroleum reserves, primarily in Southwest Asia & North Africa. Originally formed to enable oil-rich countries to gain more control over their resource, which meant nationalizing or more tightly controlling their oil fields and setting prices, rather than the transnational companies already there. OPEC has caused world oil prices to sharply increase on several occasions, especially during the 1970s and 1980s and in the early 21st century, which happened in 2008, when prices hit a record high, which contributed to the severe global recession that began that year.

Energy Demand

Definition: Developing countries accounted for more energy usage than developed countries for the first time in 2006. The U.S. has long led in demand for energy, but China is now the leader. The highest per capita consumption of energy remains in developed countries. Consumption of fossil fuels has been increasing at a much faster rate in developing countries-- around 3% per year, compared to 1% per year in developed countries. So the gap in demand between developing and developed countries will widen considerably in the years ahead.

Industries

Definition: Factories use roughly 40% natural gas and 30% each coal and petroleum. Most of the natural gas and petroleum is burned directly, whereas coal is consumed primarily through purchasing electricity.

Coal

Definition: Formed in tropical locations, in lush, swampy areas rich in plants. Tropical swamps of 250 mil. years ago relocated to the mid-latitudes, which means that today's main reserves of coal are in mid-latitude countries rather than in the tropics. China produces nearly one-half of the world's coal, other developing countries one-fourth, and developed countries (primarily the U.S.) the remaining one-fourth. World leader producer is China, followed by the U.S.

Petroleum

Definition: Formed millions of years ago from residue deposited on the seafloor. Some still lies beneath such seas as the Persian Gulf and the North Sea, but other reserves are located beneath land that was under water millions of years ago. Russia and Saudi Arabia together supply one-fourth of the world's petroleum, other developing countries (primarily in Southwest and Central Asia) one-half, and developed countries (primarily the U.S.) the remaining one-fourth. Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. are the leading producers of petroleum.

Potential Reserve Conversion: Fields Yet To Be Discovered

Definition: Largest, most accessible deposits of petroleum, natural gas, and coal have already been exploited. Newly Discovered reserves are generally smaller and more remote, such as beneath the seafloor, and extraction is costly. Exploration costs have increased because methods are more elaborate, and the probability of finding new reserves is lower. But as energy prices climb, exploration costs may be justified.

Natural Gas

Definition: Like petroleum, formed millions of years ago from sediment deposited on the sea floor. One-third of natural gas production is supplied by Russia and Southwest Asia, one-third by other developing regions, and one-third by developed countries (primarily the U.S.). The U.S. and Russia are the leading producers of natural gas.

Petroleum Challenges

Definition: Meeting world demand has been challenging in recent years. Most petroleum is produced in Southwest Asia & North Africa and Central Asia, the two regions at the center of religious, ethnic, and political conflicts. Other developed countries always have depended on foreign petroleum because of limited domestic supplies, but the U.S. started importing more in the second half of the 20th century, which increased petroleum imports from 14% of total consumption in 1955 to 60% in 2005, before declining to 44% in 2014.

Homes

Definition: Natural gas and coal provide roughly equal shares of home needs. Natural gas is the principal source of home heating and air conditioning, whereas electricity generated primarily from coal is the principal source of electricity.

BTU (British Thermal Unit)

Definition: One quad BTU equals approximately 8 billion U.S. gallons of gasoline, which would fill the tanks of one-half million cars.

U.S. Dependency on Fossil Fuels

Definition: The U.S. is highly dependent on the three fossil fuels. Wood was the principal energy source in the 19th century. Coal became most important during the late 19th century, and petroleum and natural gas gained prominence during the second half of the 20th century. Petroleum, natural gas, and coal account for nearly 90% of all energy supplied in the U.S.

Potential Reserve

Definition: The amount of a resource in deposits not yet identified but thought to exist. When a potential reserve is actually discovered, it is reclassified as a proven reserve.

Proven Reserve

Definition: The amount of a resource remaining in discovered deposits. Developed countries have historically possessed a disproportionately high supply of the world's proven fossil fuel reserves.

Potential Reserve Conversion: Fields Yet To Be Developed

Definition: When first exploited, petroleum "gushed" from wells drilled into rock layers saturated with it. Coal was quarried in open pits. But now extraction is more difficult. Removing the last supplies from a proven field is comparable to wringing out a soaked towel. It is easy to quickly remove the main volume of water, but the last few drops require more effort--in the case of petroleum, more time, more expense, and special technology.

Coal Proven Reserves

Definition: World reserves are approximately 1 trillion metric tones (23,000 quad BTUs). At current demand, proven coal reserves would last 130 years. Developed and developing regions each have about one-half of the supply of proven reserves. The U.S. has approximately one-fourth of the proven reserves, and other developed countries have one-fourth. Most of the developing regions' coal reserves are in Russia and China.

Petroleum Proven Reserves

Definition: World reserves are approximately 1.6 trillion barrels (10,000 quad BTUs). At current demand, proven petroleum reserves would last 55 years. Developing countries possess 87% of the proven petroleum reserves, most of which is in Southwest Asia & North Africa and Central Asia. Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, and Iraq together have nearly two-thirds of the world's proven petroleum reserves.

Natural Gas Proven Reserves

Definition: World reserves are approximately 200 trillion cubic meters (7,000 quad BTUs). At current demand, proven natural gas reserves would last 56 years. Less than 10% of natural gas reserves are in developed countries, primarily the United States. Russia has 25% and Iran and Qatar together 30% of the world's proven natural gas reserves.

Commercial

Stores and offices have uses and sources similar to those for homes.