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AS Geography > Energy > Flashcards

Energy Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a renewable source?

A

One that can be replenished at a similar rate to which it’s used. e.g. tidal and solar energy.

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2
Q

What’s an energy mix?

A

The amount of each resource used by a country.

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3
Q

What is primary energy?

A

Energy released from a direct source, e.g. heat energy from burning fuel.

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4
Q

What is secondary energy?

A

When primary energy is converted into a different from, e.g. heat energy used to generate electricity.

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5
Q

What countries have large energy reserves?

A

Iran, Saudi Arabia = large oil reserves

China, Australia= large coal reserves

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6
Q

Why is global energy production unevenly distributed?

A
  • Some countries have large energy reserves and the money to exploit them,
  • Some countries have few resources or are unable to exploit the resources due to lack of money or political instability.
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7
Q

What is the relationship between GDP and energy consumption?

A

Wealthy countries tend to consume lots more energy per person because they’re wealthy and can afford to, poor countries consume less energy and their lifestyles are less dependent on energy consumption.

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8
Q

What is a TNC?

A

A trans national corporation is a company that operates in more than one country, and they play a major role in energy production and distribution. e.g. Shell

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9
Q

What is a fossil fuel?

A

a hydrocarbon deposit such as petroleum, coal or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geological time and used for fuel. They’re non-renewable and finite. They generate green house gases and are unsustainable.

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10
Q

How is coal formed?

A
  • Plants die and get covered in silt and mud

- The matter is compressed and ground heat and pressure remove oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen, leaving just carbon.

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11
Q

What are the advantages of coal?

A
  • Burns well
  • Solid, easy and safe to transport
  • Inexpensive to buy due to large reserves
  • Easy to mine
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12
Q

What are the disadvantages of coal?

A
  • Finite and fast depleting
  • Harmful upon combustion
  • Ruins habitats
  • Coal mining is dangerous.
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13
Q

How does crude oil form?

A
  • Dead bacteria, algae & micro-organisms under the sea with layers forming on top.
  • Pressure generates heat forming crude oil.
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14
Q

What are the advantages of crude oil?

A
  • Easily combustible
  • High energy output
  • Cheap
  • Oil fired power stations are very efficient
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15
Q

What are the disadvantages of crude oil?

A
  • Polluting
  • Oil slicks can be very damaging
  • Used oil is difficult to dispose of.
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16
Q

How does natural gas form?

A

-In temperatures of over 150 degrees generated by pressue from layers of sediment on top of dead sea life, natural gas forms.

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17
Q

What are the advantages of natural gas?

A
  • Domestically produced
  • Can produce less CO2 per Watt than coal
  • Can be piped into homes directly.
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18
Q

What are the disadvantages of natural gas?

A
  • Hydrofraking may trigger earthquakes and pollute water

- New plant constructions are expensive.

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19
Q

What is fracking?

A

The process of drilling down into the earth before a high pressure water mixture is directed at rocks to release natural gas trapped inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure allowing gas to flow out to the head of the well.

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20
Q

How does fracking work?

A
  • A shaft is drilled several hundred metres into the earth.
  • Horizontal hole drilled into the gas bearing layer of rock.
  • Fracking fluid (8 million litres of water, sand & chemicals) is pumped into the ground using pumps.
  • The mixture pentrates into the rock layer and produces tiny cracks.
  • Sand prevents cracks from closing again.
  • Chemicals compress water, kill bacteria or dissolve minerals
  • Next, fracking fluid is pumped back out
  • Natural gas is released.
  • Hole is filled and sealed.
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21
Q

What are the problems with fracking?

A
  • Drinking water sources can be contaminated by highly toxic chemicals. Water can’t even be cleaned in a treatment plant.
  • Greenhouse gases are released such as methane, a worse greenhouse gas than CO2
  • Fracking process consumes a lot of energy
  • Drill holes are quickly exhausted so must be drilled more frequently
  • 3% of recovered gas is lost in extraction and escapes into the air.
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22
Q

What will the future trends of world trade patterns of fossil fuels be?

A

As countries become more developed, their demand for energy will increase so fossil fuel demand will be higher possible exceeding supply. Industrialising countries such as Asia pacific will have most demand.

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23
Q

What is geopolitics?

A

The way geography, economics and the distribution of resources affects the politics of nations and the relationships between nations.

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24
Q

What is a free market?

A

A market economy in which the forces of supply and demand are free of intervention by a government.

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25
Q

What is communism?

A

A system of government where the state plans and controls the economy. Everything produced is divided between people as the government sees fit. E.g. Russia

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26
Q

What is the background information behind the Russia - Ukraine Conflict?

A
  • Cold war between USA (free-market) and USSR (communists) resulted in communism collapsing and Eastern European countries become independent.
  • Russia allows TNCs to operate in their country to search for and exploit gas and oil fields.
  • In 2000, and bought oil and gas back into government control to avoid profits going abroad.
  • Russia’s economy is heavily dependent on oil and there are strong controls on TNCs operating in Russia such as high taxes on oil exports and extraction.
  • Russia has dominance over exporting oil and gas particularly to Europe
  • Ukraine is a hub transferring oil and gas from Russia to Europe.
27
Q

Why did the Jan 2009 Crisis occur?

A
  • When Russian natural gas company Gazprom refused to conclude a supply contract unless Naftogas, the Ukranian company paid its accumulating debts for previous gas supplies.
  • The dispute began in 2008 with a series of failed negotiations and on Jan 1st 2009, gas supplies were cut off to Ukraine.
  • On Jan 7th it turned to crisis when all Russian flows through Ukraine were halted so most of South eastern Europe was cut off and many of these countries are highly dependent on Russian gas.
  • On Jan 18th dispute was resolved when Vladimir Putin and Ukranian Counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko negotiated a new contract and gas flows resumed.
28
Q

What were some effects of the Jan 2009 gas and oil crisis?

A
  • Both Russia and Ukraine suffered major blows to their economies in the middle of an already serious economic crisis.
  • Gazprom lost around $1.5 billion in revenues due to lack of sales.
  • Ukraine lost an estimated $100 million in transit fees.
  • Russia and Ukraine also lost trust and reputation as reliable suppliers.
  • In the middle of winter, many Southeastern European countries were cut off, leaving many without heating etc.
  • Slovakia depends entirely on Russian gas and they declared a state of emergency and threatened to restart and ageing nuclear reactor to prevent total power failure.
  • In Bulgaria, more than 150,000 homes in the main cities lost their heating and some schools and businesses were forced to shut down.
  • There were protests in front of the Ukrainian Embassy accusing Ukraine of being “gas terrorists”
  • The elderly and young were left particularly vulnerable if they were cut of from heating in sub-zero temperatures and many were forced to relocate.
  • Some countries received emergency gas from Hungary and Germany.
29
Q

How does India manage it’s demand of energy?

A
  • India is an LEDC with a population of 1000 million, many people as well as economic growth and industrialisation in India means demand for energy is very large.
  • They have limited poor quality reserves of coal & gas so much is imported.
  • Huge potential for HEP due to Himalayas to the North, especially when glaciers or snow melts when meltwater feeds India’s large rivers.
  • Also potential for wind power & nuclear as it becomes more developed
  • Biomass in rural areas
  • Bureau of energy efficincy to make buildings more energy efficient & introducing cleaner technologies.
  • Plans to improve public transport.
30
Q

How does the UK manage it’s demand of energy.

A
  • The UK’s energy demand is hoping to be reduced as it’s a MEDC and country is moving away from industrialisation as more products are imported and people increasingly work in tertiary or quarternary sectors.
  • More sustainable use is also helping to reduce demand.
  • UK is 14th on list of oil and gas producing countries, used to be one of the world’s main coal suppliers but mines are now exhausted and reserves left are too deep to extract economically.
  • The UK aims to achieve 15% of its energy mix from renewables by 2020, to reduce burning of fossil fuels that contributes to global warming, but it’s not on track.
  • Wind power is unreliable whereas wave power is very useful to the UK as the country has a long fetch meaning stronger waves.
  • Nuclear power stations are being proposed as nuclear power is affordable, dependable and emits little CO2, but disasters can be problematic.
  • CHP is coming into use more, which is efficient as a by product of electricity generation (heat) is used such as the Reddich Crematorium. Can reduce carbon emmisions by 30%.
31
Q

What are social impacts of extraction of oil on the Niger Delta?

A
  • People have lost peace and cannot meditate beside the river.
  • Women miscarry
  • Gas flares emit toxic fumes that cause health and respiratory problems.
  • Acid rain can destroy people’s houses
  • 75% of rural population have no access to clean water.
  • Shell began to build a school but it has taken a long time and is still unfinished.
32
Q

What are some economic impacts of extraction of Oil in the Niger delta?

A
  • Acid rain can destroy crops
  • Government and military rely on income from oil revenue
  • Villages on Delta are supposed to get 13% of revenue but never see it.
33
Q

What are some political impacts of oil extraction in the Niger delta?

A
  • Shell refuses to clean up and blames government for lack of funding
  • MEND (Movement for emancipation of the Niger Delta) kidnap and shoot foreign workers in anger because of the destruction of their area.
  • Politicians in Nigeria using oil money for their own benefits.
34
Q

What are some environmental impacts of the oil extraction in the Niger Delta?

A

The Niger Delta is one of the 10 most important wetland and marine ecosystems in the world.

  • Crude oil spills and leaking pipes destroy wildlife’s habitats and kill many species.
  • Greenhouse gases released from gas flaring are contributing to global warming.
  • Gas flaring releases sulfur into the air causing acid rain,
  • 9,000,000 barrels of oil spilt in the delta in the past 50 years.
35
Q

What is the natural resource curse?

A

Paradox that some countries with an abundance of natural resources tend to have less economic growth than areas with less resources.

36
Q

What are the causes of deforestation in Burkina Faso?

A
  • To make space for farming
  • Demand for wood products
  • Growing population needs more firewood
  • Poverty means people go after resources that are not mature.
  • Forest code not enforced
37
Q

What are the impacts of fuel wood gathering in Burkina Faso?

A
  • Biological diversity is threatened
  • Soil is more exposed due to less interception so leaching takes place, removing nutrients
  • The natural cycle of growth and decay is broken so the soil loses fertility from humus.
38
Q

What are the responses to deforestation in Burkina Faso?

A
  • Reforestation 10m seedlings planted every year but few survive due to lack of care
  • Not sufficient financing to enfore the forest code.
39
Q

What is SCI?

A

Solar Cookers International are an alternative to using fuelwood for cooking.

40
Q

How do solar cookers work?

A

They are a clean renewable source of heat energy. Their function is heating food and drink by focussing the sun’s energy.

41
Q

What are the advantages of solar cookers?

A
  • Reduce reliance on fuel wood
  • Don’t produce harmful smoke like burning fuelwood.
  • Helps conserve existing forests.
  • Dont require the collection and use of an external source, so time is saved.
  • Water can be pasteurised, killing pathogens that can cause disease.
42
Q

What are the disadvantages of solar cookers?

A
  • Can have adverse effects on the eyes, such as Arc eye and cataracts, so sunglasses need to be measured
  • Only suitable for small domestic cooking purposes and don’t address needs of heating etc.
  • Expensive, however NGOs have been distributing them.
  • Less useful in cloudy weather
  • Take longer to cook food
  • May not be possible to completely cook some thick foods such as roasts, loaves of bread or soup.
43
Q

What is acid rain?

A

A form of amospheric pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels leading to a rain water pH of less than 5.6. Mainly involves sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

44
Q

How does acid rain form?

A

1) Combustion of fossil fuels in power stations, factories and transport. Coal often has sulphur as an impurity and others release nitrogen oxides.
2) Acidic gases are released into the atmosphere.
3) Gases carried by prevailing wind
4) Gases dissolve in rainwater to form acid rain
5) Acid rain kills plant life, pollutes rivers and streams and erodes stonework.

45
Q

What are the effects of acid rain?

A
  • Acidic rainfall infiltrates into soils which trees absorb then die. Their leaves are also damaged, limiting photosynthesis and nutrients available to them.
  • Lakes are stationary water so when they acidify, sensitive fish can be harmed, as pH decreases aluminium levels increase, which are directly toxic to fish.
  • Acid rain can pollute water supplies and lead to upset stomach.
  • Low pH increases leaching of soil so it is left infertile.
  • Buildings/statues eroded by corrosion.
46
Q

What are solutions to acid rain?

A
  • Scrubbers are high tech filtering systems for factories that reduce emmisions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide but they’re massively expensive.
  • Catalytic converters in cars reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.
  • Lake liming neutralises acidified lakes but is only a short term solution.
47
Q

Where must nuclear reactors be located?

A

Near large bodies of water to keep reactors cool
Large areas of flat land
Strong ground to be stable
Away from large centres of population.

48
Q

What is nuclear power?

A

Energy contained in atoms, released as heat from a chain reaction in a radioactive element such as uranium.
The uk relies on it for 20% of its eletricity.

49
Q

What are the advantages of nuclear power?

A
  • There are large reserves of uranium, fossil fuels will soon run out
  • Less vulnerable to shortages from strikes national disasters and international tensions.
  • Uraniam spread evenly around earth so no country can take advantage of their resource.
  • Low output of greenhouse gases
50
Q

What are the disadvantages of nuclear power?

A
  • Radiation can be very dangerous especially in disasters like Chernobyl or Fukishima
  • Dealing with nuclear waste is difficult
  • Transportation is difficut
  • Threat of terrorist attacks.
51
Q

What are some examples of where wind power is used?

A

Triton Knowle - largest offshore windpower site

London Array - planned offshore wind farm in Thames Estuary with 1000 mw capacity.

52
Q

What are some facts about wind power?

A

60% of world’s windpower is in Europe

3% of UK’s energy is generated by wind power.

53
Q

What factors slow down the development of wind power?

A
  • High costs to install
  • Equipment is unreliable with high maintenance costs.
  • Wind is not dependable so a back up is needed
54
Q

What are some negatives of wind power?

A
  • Remote areas where wind farms are located are far from grid and expensive to maintain.
  • NIMBY , people dont want wind turbines near where they live
  • Turbines are only 40% efficient
  • Noise pollution
  • Visual impact
  • Confuse radar
  • Can’t be turned on or off to quickly respond to increase in demand
  • High initial costs
55
Q

What are the advantages of wind power?

A
  • Renewable
  • Clean
  • Lots of wind in UK
  • Land below can still be used, e.g. farming
  • No air pollution
  • Built on and off shore
  • Sustainable
  • Cheap once running.
56
Q

What is Woking notable for?

A

Woking is located in South East England, Surrey and it has a population of 60,000.
It is a leader in green technology and notable for having the UK’s first fuel cell combined heat and power system for a swimming pool.
Fuel cell creates energy directly from fuel by producing a reaction.
They have hybrolights, charged every day by solar and wind power.
At Brockhikk - CHP and photovoltaic systems used in sheltered accomodaton.
-They have a home energy conservation act involving:
Free energy efficiency advice
Insulation discount
Tackling fuel poverty schemes
Innovative condensing boiler scheme
Over 7500 households took advantage of the council’s schemes.

57
Q

How can transport be made sustainable?

A
  • Improve walking and cycling environment in cities
  • Enhance role of public transport
  • Cycle to work scheme - tax exemptions
  • Park and ride schemes
  • Congestion charges
  • Hybrid fuel vehicles - run on two types of fuel
  • Electric cars
  • Hydrogen fuel cell buses, run on electricity produced from hydrogen.
58
Q

What are the problems in Karnataka, SW India?

A
  • There is a lack of electricity in rural areas
  • High reliance on LPG which is expensive and non-renewable
  • School class sizes have swelled due to new laws and some schools cant afford energy costs.
59
Q

How is SELCO providing solar power in Karnataka?

A
  • Solar pannels bought by the community in a self-help scheme.
  • Lights enable businesses to stay open longer and children can study at night
  • Each pannel costs $400 but can save money in the long term instead of buying other fuels.
60
Q

How are biofuels being used in Karnataka?

A

Sanja Chula cooking stove uses biofuel.

  • Saves schools money which can be used to buy books,
  • Comes from local crop farm waste, so farmers can make money
  • Renewable resource and carbon neutral.
61
Q

What is an example of a sustainable home and how is it sustainable?

A

Greenhouse in Leeds, North Yorkshire.

  • Part of a larger urban regeneration scheme with developments including a communal landscaped garden, medical centre and allotments.
  • Energy is generated with wind turbines for each home, rooftop solar pannels (for hot water ), ground source heat pumps, smaller rooftop wind turbines.
  • Super insulation system (houses cool in summer, warm in winter)
  • Double glazing (reduces heat loss)
  • Low energy washing machines and appliances.
  • Transport: free cycle hire, green taxis and a car sharing club
  • Recycling facilities
62
Q

Why do sustainable homes need to be designed?

A
  • To reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • Better adaption to climate change
  • Reduced impact on environment
  • Fossil fuels are running out
  • Increase QOL
63
Q

How can homes be made more sustainable?

A
  • Moss on roofs to soak up water for use in toilet flushing.
  • Surfaces made from timber
  • Use of biomass to power ovens and heat wood burners.

AS Geography (6 decks)

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