Human
Resource Use
Explore how extracting natural resources changes their availability over time, and why understanding this connection matters for our planet's future.
What Are Natural Resources?
A natural resource is any material from the Earth that humans use to meet their needs: energy, food, shelter, and technology. These materials exist in limited quantities and are not evenly distributed around the globe.
Renewable vs. Nonrenewable
Resources fall into two major categories based on how quickly they can be replaced after we use them.
What Is Resource Extraction?
Resource extraction is the process of removing raw materials from the Earth for human use. Every product you own started as a resource that was mined, drilled, harvested, or pumped from the ground, oceans, or atmosphere.
The Core Principle
The green line shows a resource used at or below its regeneration rate: availability stays stable. The red curve shows what happens when extraction outpaces replenishment: the supply drops toward zero.
Extraction vs. Replenishment
We can think of resource availability as a balance between two competing processes:
Stock vs. Flow Resources
Scientists classify resources by whether we use up a stored amount (stock) or tap into a continuous stream (flow).
| Stock Resources | Flow Resources | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Fixed supply formed over geologic time | Continuously renewed by nature |
| Examples | Coal, oil, iron ore | Sunlight, wind, tides |
| Can run out? | Yes, if extraction continues | No, as long as the source exists |
| Human impact | Each unit taken is permanently gone | Availability unaffected by use |
How to Analyze Resource Use
Follow these steps to connect extraction to changes in availability:
Example: Fossil Fuels
Example: Forest Resources
Example: Groundwater Depletion
Population Growth and Resources
As the human population grows, demand for resources increases. More people means more food, energy, water, and materials are needed, which accelerates extraction rates.
Feedback Loops in Resource Use
Resource extraction doesn't just reduce supply: it triggers feedback loops that can make the problem worse or drive solutions.
Real-World Consequences
Common Mistakes
Summary Comparison
| Nonrenewable | Renewable | Flow | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replenishment | None (human timescale) | Years to decades | Continuous |
| Examples | Coal, oil, copper | Forests, fish, soil | Sunlight, wind |
| Depletion risk | Very high | Moderate | None |
| Key concern | Total exhaustion | Overuse beyond recovery | Access and infrastructure |
| Solution strategy | Reduce use, find alternatives | Manage harvest rates | Build capture technology |
Question 1 of 5
A town pumps groundwater for drinking at twice the rate that rainfall recharges the aquifer. What will happen to the water table over time?
Question 2 of 5
Which of the following is the best example of a nonrenewable resource?
Question 3 of 5
A forest is logged so heavily that young trees cannot grow back fast enough to replace what is cut. This resource is being treated as:
Question 4 of 5
Why does population growth increase the rate of resource depletion?
Question 5 of 5
A country discovers a large new oil deposit. Which statement is most accurate about the impact on long-term oil availability?