Question

the report’s summary sentence finishes, “...but mineral supply constraints are looming.” this means that as electric vehicles become more popular, some of the materials that are used to make them will be harder to find. the united states, which has a lot of lithium that has not been mined yet, might start to open more lithium mines.

1. what parts of the earth system might be impacted if lithium mining and electric vehicles become more common?

1. how might increased lithium mining affect where people and other living things live?

1. how might we be able to test these ideas using a computational model like the one based on our unit gotta-have-it checklist?

references
iea. “global ev outlook 2022: executive summary.” iea, https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2022/executive-summary.

Explanation:

Question 2

The problem is about the impact of lithium mining and electric vehicles on Earth's systems. This falls under Natural Science, specifically Environmental Sciences (as it deals with Earth's systems and environmental impacts) or Geology (related to mining) and Biology (ecosystems). The Earth system has components like geosphere (lithium mining affects rocks/soil), hydrosphere (water pollution from mining), biosphere (ecosystem disruption), and atmosphere (emissions from mining/vehicle production). Lithium mining disturbs land (geosphere), pollutes water (hydrosphere), and harms habitats (biosphere). Electric vehicles’ production uses resources, and their use affects energy systems, but mining impacts geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere directly.

This question is about how increased lithium mining affects the distribution of living things, including humans. It relates to Natural Science, specifically Biology (ecology) and Environmental Sciences. Lithium mining causes habitat loss (destroying areas where species live), pollution (water/air/soil) that makes areas uninhabitable for species and humans (e.g., contaminated water sources force people to move). Also, mining operations can create job opportunities, attracting human settlements near mines, but the environmental degradation from mining may limit where people can live long - term (e.g., unsafe due to pollution, unstable land from mining).

This is about using a computational model (like a “Gotta - Have - It Checklist” - based model) to test ideas about lithium mining and electric vehicles. In Natural Science, Computational Science (a subfield related to using models) or Environmental Sciences (applying models to environmental issues) applies. A computational model can simulate variables: define components (e.g., mining rate, EV adoption, environmental impacts like habitat loss, pollution levels). Input data on lithium reserves, mining impacts (e.g., area of land disturbed per mine, pollution per ton of lithium), and EV - related resource needs. Then, simulate different scenarios (e.g., low vs. high mining, different EV adoption rates) to predict impacts on Earth systems, living things’ distribution, etc. The “Gotta - Have - It Checklist” likely outlines essential model components (e.g., variables, relationships), so we can structure the model with these components, assign values, and run simulations to test hypotheses (e.g., how much mining leads to a certain level of habitat loss).

Answer:

• Geosphere: Lithium mining involves extracting from rock, disturbing landforms, soil, and rock layers (e.g., open - pit mines alter landscapes, cause erosion).
• Hydrosphere: Mining can contaminate water sources (e.g., with chemicals from extraction, runoff with sediment), affecting rivers, groundwater, and aquatic ecosystems.
• Biosphere: Habitat destruction from mining displaces or harms plants/animals. Also, electric vehicle production’s resource demand (like lithium) can drive more mining, further disrupting ecosystems.
• Atmosphere: Mining activities (e.g., machinery, transportation of materials) release greenhouse gases and particulate matter. Electric vehicle use reduces tailpipe emissions but production (including mining - related energy use) still has atmospheric impacts.

Question 3