3 UK Environmental Challenges (all content until EOY - so not complete) Flashcards

Question

biomass

Answer 1

majority (3/4) from petroleum and natural gas only 6% coal (last deep coal mine in UK closed in 2015) 1/6 nuclear - staying the same renewables growing this is reasonably balanced!

Answer 2

The UK’s energy mix involves a number of sources. Almost 50 per cent comes from natural gas, which is a fossil fuel, and increasingly needs to be imported. As the price of this fuel rises in the future, it will need to be replaced with other sources. Coal is declining in quantity, too, and it has to be imported since the closure of the UK’s coal mines. Less than 10 per cent of the UK’s energy comes from renewable sources, although there has been some investment in this in recent decades and the amounts vary through the year. This means that the current mix is not sustainable in the longer term.

Answer 3

(oil has since fallen)

Answer 4

it is a town in northwest england it is north of the A66 and the river cocker cockermouth is in a mountaneous area it is in cumbria it is near derwent lake

Answer 5

- 395.6mm of rain fell at seathwaite over the 18th and 19th nov 2009 breaking the previous 2 day records - prolonged rain fall - water table (boundary between saturated and unsaturated soil) rises until it is above surface - Cumbria contains england's highest mountains which start close to the coastline enabling relief rainfalls - Skiddaw mountain range -in nov 2009 405 mm of rain over 2 days at Thirlmere broke the UK record for amount of precipitation falling in 2 consecutive days -in 2009 and 2015 a moist and mild SW air stream brought heavy rainfall to NW England known as the "warm conveyor" -314.6 mm of rain fell at seathwaite in 24 hours on 20th nov 2009 breaking previous UK records - intense rainfall - rate of infiltration slower than rate of precipitation - cockermouth located on skiddaw slates - impermeable metamorphic material (interlocking ctystals) - soil type: slowly permeable seasonally wet acid loamy and clayey soils

Answer 6

cockermouth is urban area - large amount of impermeable surfaces (concrete, tarmac) - reduce infiltration - increase surface runoff bridges also restrict flow and passage of large debris (eg trees) during floods - water backs up behind them and floods areas Concerns were raised that the rivers had not been dredged for several years prior to the flood, potentially allowing sediment to build up and reduce river capacity

Answer 7

Damage to businesses and loss of income Over 200 local businesses in Cockermouth were affected, many of which were small, independent shops. Flooding caused stock loss, structural damage, and weeks of closure, which in turn led to lost income, layoffs, and even permanent closures for some. - eg Julies cafe. every building on the high street was damaged - will take much longer to repair as many businesses were damaged High cost of repairs and insurance claims The total estimated cost of the flood was over £275 million, with a large portion going toward repairs, clean-up operations, and insurance payouts. This placed financial pressure on both individuals and local authorities, and led to higher insurance premiums in the area afterwards. Transport disruption and infrastructure damage Key bridges, including Workington Bridge, collapsed or were damaged, cutting off communities and forcing long detours for work, school, and emergency services. Rebuilding these structures took months and cost millions, showing how flooding affects more than just buildings—it hits infrastructure hard too. .

Answer 8

Riverbank erosion and habitat loss The force of floodwaters caused severe erosion along riverbanks, particularly on the River Cocker. This led to the destruction of natural habitats for fish, birds, and small mammals, disrupting local ecosystems and biodiversity. - worsened by the uprooting of trees which would normally hold loose material together Water contamination Floodwaters mixed with sewage, oil, and agricultural chemicals, leading to pollution of rivers and soils. This reduced water quality, harmed aquatic life, and posed a health risk to humans and animals who came into contact with the water. Soil degradation Prolonged flooding of farmland led to loss of topsoil and the deposition of silt and debris, reducing soil fertility. Some land remained waterlogged for weeks, damaging crops and making the soil less productive for future use. - deposition of large volumes of gravel on fields eg village of Lorton - damages flora/plants - first part of the food chain - 2000 tons in a single field this will impact on farming (economic)

Answer 9

Displacement of residents Over 1,300 people were forced to evacuate their homes due to floodwater damage. Many properties were uninhabitable for months, leading to long-term disruption to daily life, emotional distress, and reliance on temporary accommodation or family support networks. Mental health issues The trauma of the flood, the loss of possessions, and the uncertainty of rebuilding led to an increase in stress, anxiety, and depression among residents. For some, the psychological impact was longer-lasting than the physical damage, showing how floods can have hidden, long-term effects on wellbeing. links to next point + damage to gravestones like in Camerton Church - sentimental value - emotional stress Loss of community facilities Key public buildings such as schools, health centres, and the Cockermouth library were closed or severely damaged. This reduced access to services and affected community cohesion, as people had fewer places to gather, learn, or receive help in the aftermath BUT POS: floods brought the community together - eg the 8 churches in cockermouth provided food and drink - over 1000 sandwiches daily Emergency services pos: community drawing together - volunteers neg: emotional stress for theses people as well - unpaid volunteers

Answer 10

prevention: flood gate - 4x1.6m impermeable barrier enables data collection & dredging (removing gravel from the bottom of the river in order to increase potential volume of river channel - BUT harms aquatic life) flood wall with on way flap valves - made 1/2m higher - floods now worse (more intense, more frequent) due to climate change. the flap valves allow water to go from town to river (surface runoff) but not riverwater to town. raised road on rubby banks road - 2009 had 5 feet of water, but in 2015 most of this stopped by this and selfclosing barrier (below) - successful response: self closing barrier - self closing so people have a view when it isnt flooding. a wall + a fully automated extra 1m covering 120m along the river (making the longest one in the world and the first one in UK) made of polystyrene - strong much better protocol for when a flood happened: In 2015, rescue operations included the airlifting of residents from properties on Cocker Lane and Gote Road, which lie close to the River Cocker confluence. These areas had been identified as flood risk zones since 2009 and were a priority for rapid evacuation. In 2015, evacuees from Waterloo Street and Rubby Banks Road were moved into emergency accommodation at nearby B&Bs and the local rugby club, which had a pre-planned role in flood recovery support.