Australia's Natural Resources Flashcards
What is a renewable resource?
A renewable resource is a resource that can be used repeatedly and replaced naturally.
Examples of renewable resources?
oxygen, fresh water, solar energy, wool, cotton and wood
What is a non-renewable resource?
A non-renewable resource takes millions of years to be made, and cannot be renewed in a human’s, or even a nation’s lifetime.
Examples of non-renewable resources?
Gasoline, coal, natural gas, diesel, and plastics are other fossil fuel
What is Terrestrial agriculture?
Terrestrial agriculture is usually located in areas with reasonable rainfall & adequate soils
What is Aquatic agriculture?
Aquatic agriculture involves the rearing of aquatic animals (e.g. barramundi, salmon) or the cultivation of aquatic plants for food.
What are environmental flows?
Intentional releases of water intended to supply the needs of the environment
Benefits of environmental flows?
-Its difficult to manage water supply for so many people and droughts and floods occur often
-needs to be carefully balanced between human and environmental use and can cause conflict between stakeholders (farmers, general consumers, environment).Murray Darling basin
-Biggest and most intensely used water supply
-Covers 1 million km squared of East Aus-Is used for irrigation, recreation, domestic use and must maintain environmental flowsEnvironmental flowsIntentional releases of water intended to supply the needs of the environment
-Variation in water flows benefits environment floods leave mud, alluvial soils
-Must manage river environment eg. Marshes etc.-Example of env. Flows snowy river used to flood every spring, so every spring the council releases a flood of water from dam to create this normal environmental flowBenefits-Replenish the floodplains by depositing soil and nutrients on the floodplain.
-Moves carbon between the river floodplain and wetlands.
-Improve river bank vegetation health
-stabilises banks and slows erosion (tree roots etc.)
-Encourage native fish to breed-Provide flows for waterbirds to breed
-Provide fresh water / food for estuarine and marine fish lower end of the catchment-Provide soil moisture for plant growth
-Replenish aquifers and dilutes salty water. (in river)-Stimulate invertebrate eggs to hatch and plant s
Consequences of limited (environmental) flow?
-Loss of biodiversity
-Siltation of waterways (slow flow deposits sediments)
-Acidification of mud (exposure of sulphates in mud to air)
Types of Renewable Resources? (4)
Solar
Wind
Tidal
Hydroelectricity
Advantages of Wind Turbines?
-Low cost when running
-Emission-free (no CO2)
-Can be offshore or on a hilltop
Disadvantages of Wind Turbines?
-Install cost is expensive
-Sites are hard to find windy (7mph), not near people
-Only generate power when conditions are right
-Public opposition to wind farms and power lines-
Must be connected to the town
-Electricity can’t be stored
Advantages of Solar Panels?
-Emission-free
-Can be used with grazing
-Cost is decreasing
-Photovoltaic cells
-Small-scale and large scale
-Panels more efficient over time
-Battery technology is getting better
Disadvantages of Solar Panels?
-Only generate power in daytime/sunlight
-Mining of resources to manufacture panels
-Locations with consistent sunshine
-Public opposition
Advantages of Hydro-Electricity Power?
-Emission-free
-Water is renewable through the water cycle
-Fall of water (gravity) turns turbine
-Can be repumped to flow again
-Stopped and started for peak demand
-Not weather dependant-
16% of world’s electricity
