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geography paper 1 > Carbon cycle EQ2 > Flashcards

Carbon cycle EQ2 Flashcards

1
Q

consumption

A

what you use

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2
Q

energy security

A

having affordable and reliable access to energy

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3
Q

enery mix

A

the combination of energy
- primary
- secondary
- domestic
- foreign
- renewable
- non-renerable

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4
Q

long term energy security

A

mainly deals with timely investments to supply energy in lin ewith economic developments and environmental needs

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5
Q

short term energy security

A

focuses on the ability of the energy system to react promptly to sudden changes in the balance between energy demand and supply

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6
Q

USA vs France

A
  • rank 2nd and 10th in league table for energy use
  • difference largely depends on population
  • USA (fossil fuels)
  • France (fossil fuels, nuclear energy)
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7
Q

primary supply in USA

A

35% natural gas
34.6% oil

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8
Q

primary supply in France

A

41.6% nuclear
42.27.8% oil

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9
Q

factors affecting access to and consumption of energy resources

A
  • physical availability
  • cost
  • technology
  • political considerations
  • public perceptions
  • level of economic development
  • envrionmental priorities
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10
Q

physical availability

factors affecting access to and consumption of energy resources

A
  • urban areas have energy infrastructure that allows for a constant supply but rural areas have intermittant energy supply
  • physical landscapes can make a place more suited to the production of certain energy
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11
Q

cost

factors affecting access to and consumption of energy resources

A
  • limited supply of non-renewable energy sources globally becomes increasingly difficult to reach and more costly to extract
  • cost of building new energy infrastructure
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12
Q

technology

factors affecting access to and consumption of energy resources

A
  • new tech is expensive
  • carbon capture and storage leads to new ways of forming energy
  • new drilling tech being developed
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13
Q

political considerations

factors affecting access to and consumption of energy resources

A
  • privatisation of UK’s energy supply industry in 1980 means overseas companies decide which energy sources are used to meet UK demand
  • taxes paid into the government from the scale of fossil fuels boost the standard of living through government spending
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14
Q

public perceptions

factors affecting access to and consumption of energy resources

A
  • some energy sources (nuclear) are seen as more dangerous than others
  • lifestyle can impact individual energy needs
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15
Q

level of economic development

factors affecting access to and consumption of energy resources

A
  • some poor countries have energy but cant afford to extract it
  • more disposable income means more consumption
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16
Q

environmental priorities

factors affecting access to and consumption of energy resources

A

Many governments have a duty to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels as oart of a broader international agreement to reduce emmissions

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17
Q

percentage of total trading oil 2014 Russia - Europe

A

10.63

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18
Q

energy pathways

A

describe ways energy is transported for example oil pipelines, transmission lines and shipping routes

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19
Q

disruption to energy pathways

A
  • energy pathways vulnerable to conflict eg pirates of Somalia
  • pipelines can become ruptured by extreme temps and earthquakes
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20
Q

What role does Russia play in Europe’s natural gas supply?

A

Russia is a major supplier of natural gas to Europe, producing 27 million terajoules (TJ) annually, with 5.5 million TJ reaching Western Europe through several large pipelines.

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21
Q

What geopolitical challenges arise from Russian gas pipelines?

A

The pipelines pass through the borders of several countries, causing conflicts. Consumer countries must maintain good geopolitical relationships with Russia to ensure supply.

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22
Q

What happened in 2009 regarding Russian gas supply and Ukraine?

A

Ukraine was accused of not paying its debt for gas, leading to a gas shutdown. This threatened the gas supply to southeast Europe, as pipelines pass through Ukraine.

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23
Q

How did the 2022 conflict between Russia and Ukraine impact geopolitics?

A

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 escalated tensions, significantly affecting geopolitical relationships and energy security.

24
Q

What is hydraulic fracturing (fracking)?

A

Fracking is a process where high-pressure fluid is pumped into rock to crack it and release natural gas. It is controversial due to risks like water contamination.

25
Q

What are tar sands, and how are they used?

A

Tar sands are sediment containing bitumen (low-grade oil). Extracting one barrel of oil requires two tonnes of tar sand, causing large-scale environmental impacts, e.g., in Canada.

26
Q

What is oil shale, and how is it processed?

A

Oil shale is rock that releases shale oil when heated and placed under pressure.

27
Q

Where is deep-water oil found, and what is an example of its use?

A

Deep-water oil is found under the ocean floor, with rigs in places like Brazil enabling extraction.

28
Q

What are the environmental costs of unconventional fossil fuels?

A
  • Increased CO2 emissions affecting the carbon cycle.
  • Land degradation and scarring from tar sand and oil shale mining.
  • Risk of water source contamination and oil spills harming ecosystems.

…….

29
Q

What are the social and economic costs of unconventional fossil fuels?

A
  • Health risks, e.g., air and water pollution.
  • Displacement of people and local tensions due to stakeholder disagreements.
30
Q

What are the benefits of unconventional fossil fuels?

A
  • Increased energy security.
  • Large-scale employment opportunities.
  • Revenue from oil increasing national income for social services.
31
Q

what happens in nuclear fusion

A

Energy is released when two atomic nuclei join.

32
Q

advantages of nuclear fusion

A

Clean energy source.

33
Q

challenges of nuclear fusion

A
  • Currently far from practical reality.
  • Requires significant funding and collaboration between countries for research and development.
  • Risks related to safety, security, and long decay life for radioactive waste.
  • Complex technology.
34
Q

limitations of electrical vehicles

A
  • Short range; requires further development.
  • Few public charging points available.
  • Best suited for urban areas.
  • Expensive.
35
Q

concerns with electrical vehicles

A

Environmental impact depends on the electricity source.

36
Q

advantages of electric vehicles

A
  • Significantly reduces air pollution, especially in cities.
  • Reduces reliance on imported oils.
  • Advancements in technology could make them more accessible.
37
Q

uses of hydrogen fuel cells

A

Could replace petrol for transport or natural gas for heating.

38
Q

advantages of hydrogen fuel cells

A
  • Only waste product is water.
  • Can combine hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity.
  • Potential source of heat and power for buildings and electric vehicles.
39
Q

challenges of hydrogwn fuel cells

A
  • Requires large amounts of energy to separate hydrogen from other compounds, which is currently difficult.
  • Expensive and complex technology.
40
Q

What does carbon capture/storage do

A

Collects CO₂ from fixed points (e.g., power plants) and compresses it for storage 800m underground.

41
Q

uses of carbon capture/storage

A

Can be combined with bioenergy.

42
Q

advantages of carbon capture/storage

A

Clean process.

43
Q

challenges of carbon capture/storage

A
  • Expensive due to the complex technology involved.
  • Uncertainty about whether stored carbon will remain underground or leak.
  • High priority in global climate strategies.
44
Q

global importance of biofuels

A

Recognized as a key energy source for small-scale operations, especially in developing countries.

45
Q

concerns of biofuels

A

Potential effects on:
* Carbon fluxes.
* Food security (less land for food crops).
* Water resources.
* Conservation/deforestation.
* Livelihoods (farmers may lose profitable land).

46
Q

common biofuel examples

A

Wheat, maize, grasses, soybeans, and sugarcane are widely grown and used for vehicle fuel.

47
Q

Brazil examle, biofuels

A
  • 90% of new passenger vehicles are flex-fuel.
  • Large sugarcane plantations used to produce ethanol.
  • Displacement of cattle and deforestation for sugarcane cultivation reduces environmental benefits.
48
Q

wind turbine

A

use wind energy to generate electricity, either on land or at sea, often in large wind farms
- no greenhouse emmissions once they have been built

49
Q

reasons for wind energy

A
  • stronger and more consistent wind
  • reduced land use
  • less visual and noise impact
  • larger turbines
50
Q

Reasons against wind energy

A
  • wave action and high winds can damage wind turbines
  • high initial costs
  • difficult maintenance
  • environmental concerns
51
Q

The Dogger Bank Wind Farm

A
  • wind power ocntributed to 25% of the UKs electricity in 2023
  • subsidies have driven government investment
52
Q

Where was Brazilian deep-water oil discovered, and why is it challenging to extract?

A

Discovered off the South Brazilian coast in the Santos Basin.

Extraction is challenging because:
* Located 270 km offshore.
* Found 2 km below the seabed.
* Requires complex and costly drilling and platform setups.

53
Q

What are the economic impacts of Brazilian deep-water oil extraction?

A
  • More expensive than shallow-water drilling.
  • Increases oil costs for consumers due to the need for long pipelines.
54
Q

Where in the USA is fracking prominent, and what are its environmental impacts?

A

Locations: Texas and Colorado.

Impacts:
* In 2014, 3 billion gallons of wastewater were created, leading to contamination.
* Methane release contributes to air pollution.
* Large areas of vegetation are removed, disrupting wildlife habitats.

55
Q

What are the economic and social impacts of Canadian tar sands?

A
  • Location: Alberta, mined since 1967.
  • Economic:
    Only viable when oil prices are high (expensive to produce).
    Created 400,000 jobs for locals.
  • Social:
    Indigenous communities forced out of their homes.
56
Q

What are the key strategies to reduce reliance on fossil fuels?

A
  • government action
  • international cooperation
  • environmental focus
  • infrastructure improvements
  • energy reduction

geography paper 1 (12 decks)

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