Energy Flashcards
fossil fuels
- coal
- natural gas
- crude oil
advantages of fossil fuels
- readily available
- reliable for large scale production
-efficient
disadvantages of fossil fuels
- takes millions of years to form
- prices increased due to rise in demand
- pollutes atmosphere with harmful gases
uses of fossil fuels
- transport
- electricity
- heating
energy demand
rising across the world
why is energy demand rising
- population growth
- increasing development
renewable energy sources
- solar
- biomass
- hydropower
- wind
- wave
energy use
- MEDC’s use more energy that LEDC’s
- greatest growth in use happens in LEDC’s
energy security
the availability, reliability and affordability of energy
energy security facts
- adequate supply of energy ensures there is enough energy available to meet demands
- reliable supply means energy sources can be consistently accessed
- affordable energy supply ensures energy is priced reasonable
energy independence
a countries ability to produce or procure its own energy resources without relying on imports
energy conflicts
- the unequal distribution of energy resources among different regions or countries can create a power imbalance
- geopolitical tensions can escalate when countries rely heavily on imported energy
climate
the long term average of weather conditions in a particular region or location
weather
the current state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place
ocean circulatory systems
- warm ocean currents carry heat from tropics towards higher latitudes
- cold ocean currents transports cold water from polar regions towards lower latitudes
- have a vital role in regulating temperatures
atmospheric circulatory systems
- result in the movement of air masses, distribution of heat and formation of weather patterns
- hadley, fertel and polar cells transport heat from the equator towards the poles
jet streams
narrow, fast flowing bands of wind in the upper troposphere
- result in temperature differences
sources of carbon dioxide
- combustion of fossil fuels for energy generation and transport
- deforestation and land use changes reduces planets capacity to absorb carbon dioxide
sources of methane
- produced by natural processes such as decomposition of organic matter
- human activities such as agriculture, oil and gas extraction
effects of greenhouse gases
- trap heat in atmosphere causing temperature to rise
strategies to mitigate climate change
- reducing energy consumption
- reducing emissions from agriculture
- use of alternatives to fossil fuels
- geoengineering
climate change adaptation strategies
- flood defences
- vaccination programmes
- desalinisation plants
