Economic activities

Question 1

WARNING SOME OF THIS IS ON KEYNOTE

Answer 1

SOO YEAH

Question 2

What is a ditcher

Answer 2

A ditcher is used to dig drains to dry out the bog, as the water content is usually around 95%

Question 3

What is a grader

Answer 3

A grader is then used to level the bog, which in turn makes it easier to harvest peat

Question 4

What is a miller

Answer 4

A miller harvests peat by scraping loose a thin layer on the top of the bog

Question 5

What is a harrow

Answer 5

A harrow is used to dry out the loose peat on the surface

Question 6

What is a ridger

Answer 6

A ridger gathers the loose dried peat into ridges

Question 7

Why are bogs good for wind farms

Answer 7

Cut-away bogs are ideal locations for wind farms

• The land is flat therefore easily accessible
• The exposed landscape means there is no shelter from the wind
• There are few residential areas nearby, so there would be little objection to construction of a wind farm
• The existing power station previously run off peat could be adapted to use wind energy

Question 8

Why are bogs a good wildlife sanctuary

Answer 8

Bogs are unique habitat and preserving them is important in order to maintain biodiversity.Creating a wildlife sanctuary would attract tourists to the area.This would also ensure the boglands keep their natural characteristics

Question 9

Why are bogs good for forestry

Answer 9

Coniferous trees could be planted and used in the construction industry and to make furniture

Question 10

why are bogs good for grassland

Answer 10

Grass could be planted, allowing for grazing of cattle and sheep

Question 11

Give me five examples of renewable energy sources

Answer 11

• Hydroelectric power (HEP)
• Solar energy
• Geothermal energy
• Tidal energy
• Wind energy

Question 12

What is HEP

Answer 12

hydroelectric power is created using the force of falling water.A dam is built across a river to trap the water.When part of the dam is opened the water rushes in.The water is used to turn a turbine which generates electricity.An example of hydroelectric power station in Ardnacrushu, in Co.Clare

Question 13

What is solar energy

Answer 13

Solar energy is created using the heat and light from the sun.Solar cells on solar panels capture the heat and light and convert them to energy.Solar panels can be seen on many private houses

Question 14

What is geothermal energy

Answer 14

Geothermal energy is created using the heat form the earths crust.Water is pumped deep into the Earths crust and heated by rocks.The heated water is pumped back to the surface where it can be used to heat homes.The hot water can also be converted to steam which is used to turn turbines to crate electricity.Iceland produces huge amounts of geothermal energy `

Question 15

What is tidal energy

Answer 15

the power of the rising and falling tides can be used to turn turbines.This tidal energy creates electricity

Question 16

what is wind energy

Answer 16

The force of wind can be used to turn turbines.This wind energy creates electricity and this is becoming a very popular source of renewable energy.Modern wind turbines are very big.They are usually gummed together in what is know as a wind farm.Wind farms are increasingly being built out at sea.This is because is windy location and it prevents visual pollution to the landscape.There are many wind farms to be seen on the irish landscape

Question 17

What is the over-exploitation of a resource

Answer 17

Fish are a renewable resource.However over fishing of this resource can lead to its depletion.Most fish are caught along the continental shelf.This means they are caught around the coast of continents

Question 18

Give a short summery of Ireland’s fishing history

Answer 18

Ireland has many ports.This is mainly due to our location beside the Atlantic ocean.Aided by the continental shelf and shallow waters, the conditions are ideal for fish to live and grow.There is an abundance of plankton, a micro organism that fish and whales feed on.Like plants plankton convert the suns energy to food energy through photosynthesis.
In recent years, Ireland has become more heavily involved in the fishing industry and fishing plays a vital part in any peoples lives.It is extremely important to a number of villages and towns as a form of income and employment

Question 19

What is over fishing

Answer 19

The over exploitation of fish has led to over fishing,especially in Ireland.This is a major problem causing many people to loss their jobs in the industry

Question 20

What are the reasons for over fishing

Answer 20

Membership in the EEC (EU):When Ireland joined the EEC in 1973, we gave up control of our waters and fisheries.We then had to share our fish with other membership countries.This meant that foreign trawlers could now fish in Irish waters

• Modern technology:The improvement in sonar technology and radar equipment means fish are easier to locate and catch.The increase in the size of means they can stay out at sea for longer and therefore catch more.|Trawlers are also now accompanied by factory ships which are able to process the fish at sea and keep them refrigerated, allowing trawlers to stay at sea for even longer.
• Mesh sizes:The mesh sizes in the nets used to be too small and it led to young undeveloped fish being caught.This reduced the opportunity for fish to breed and replace their stock
• Seasons and quotas:As there was no closed fishing season, all fish could be caught all year round.This again meant fish could not breed and spawn.The lack of quotas meant there was no limit to how much fish a fisher could catch.

Question 21

What is sustainable exploitation of fish

Answer 21

Many types of fish are now endangered because of over fishing.In Ireland species such as cod herring and haddock are now under threat.This led the EU and Ireland to try to limit the amount of fish being caught
The following steps have been taken
*The creation of conservation zones around Ireland
*The introduction of yearly quotas to the amount of fish being caught
*A ban on the fishing of some endangered species
*The shortening of the fishing season for some type of fish
*An increase of mesh sizes

Question 22

What is the conservation zone:The Irish Box

Answer 22

The Irish box is rich fishing due to its shallow waters and plentiful plankton.In 2003 a Conservation Zone was created.Strict quotas have been implemented in this zone to help fish stocks recover.It is also illegal for any foreign vessels to fish in this restricted area.It covers and area of 100,000 kilometres squared around the coast of Ireland.

Question 23

What is farming as a system

Answer 23

Farming is an example of a primary economic activity.Farming is very important not only for employment but also for a vital food supply.Farms are run on a system of inputs, processes and outputs

Question 24

What are the inputs of a farm

Answer 24

These things needed to be put in a farm, e.g. cattle and machinery such as tractors

Question 25

What are the processes of a farm

Answer 25

These are tasks or jobs done by a farmer through out the year on the farm, e.g. milking, ploughing,cutting silage

Question 26

What are the outputs of a farm

Answer 26

These are the produce of the farm and what the farmer sells, e.g. milk, vegetables and lifestock

Question 27

What does a dairy farm produce

Answer 27

milk,butter,cheese ect

Question 28

What does a cereal farm produce

Answer 28

tillage,maize,wheat,barely etc

Question 29

What does market gardening produce

Answer 29

vegetables,flowers,fruits,salads etc

Question 30

What does pastoral farming produce

Answer 30

cows and calves

Question 31

What does mixed farming produce

Answer 31

calves milk vegetables

Question 32

What effects on the environment does a farm have

Answer 32

While farming is essential, it can result in damaging the environment

• Insect spray used on crops can be harmful and end up in our food
• Fertilisers used on the land to increase fertility in the soil can run off into streams and rivers, and pollute our water system
• The illegal dumping of silage,slurry and sometimes milk,can lead to river becoming over-polluted resulting in killing fish.