GCSE 2.C - The Challenge of Resource Management Flashcards
1
Q
Resource
A
Stock or supply of something that has value and purpose
2
Q
Energy Mix
A
the range and proporitons of different energy uses within a country
3
Q
Energy Security
A
The ability to secure sufficient, affordable and consistent energy supplies
4
Q
What are the 3 main resources needed for basic human development?
A
Food, Water, Energy
-> Affects the economic and social well-being of people and countries
5
Q
How does lack of access to food distrupt basic human development?
A
When people dont have access to safe, nutritious food, they cant eat the right balance of nutrients. -> Malnutrition including undernourishment
Healthy Pop needed to support country
6
Q
What is undernourishment?
A
When people dont get enough food of any kind
7
Q
How can malnourishment limit children’s development?
A
By causing non-communicable diseases such as iron deficiency
Aslo increases the likelyhood of getting ill - 1/3 of all under 5s (globally) die from diseases linked to malnourishment
8
Q
How is water a vital resource?
A
1) People need clean, safe water for drinking, cooking and washing
2) Without proper sanitation, water sources get polluted by raw sewage
-> Water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid kill many people each year
3) Water is needed to produce food, clothes, and many other products - big impact on lifestyles
9
Q
Why is energy a vital rescource (HICS)?
A
1) Countrys need energy for industry and transport, as well as homes
2) Electricity can allow countries to develop industry - jobs/wealth
3) Lifestyles in HICs depend on large stable supply of electricity
4)
10
Q
Why is energy a vital rescource (LICS)?
A
3) LICs without access may use other resources
-> Burning wood local deforestation - walk further to find fuel
-> Kerosene stoves can release harmful fumes
4) Electricity can also provide energy to power pumps for wells and provide safe water for communities
11
Q
How can a lack of vital resources affect people?
A
Affect their ability to go to work or school
-> prevent people from learning or using skills needed to help their countries develop
12
Q
What do countries often have to do to access resources not close to them?
A
Import them or find technological solutions to produce more
e.g. Building desalination plants to produce freshwater from seawater - expensive
13
Q
How does consumption of resources vary in a HIC?
A
- Consumption of resources is greater in HICs - can afford to buy the resources they need and expect a higher standard of living
E.g. Luxembourg import majority of the energy they use
14
Q
How does consumption of resources vary in an NEE?
A
Consumption of resources in an NEE is increasing rapidly - China
Industry is developing quickly (requires lots of energy) and population are also increasing rapidly
15
Q
How does consumption of resources vary in an LIC?
A
Lower - Cant afford to
- Export avaliable resources
- Import lacking resources
16
Q
What types of food in the UK becoming more popular?
A
High Value Foods
Seasonal Products
Organic Produce
17
Q
Why are high-value products becoming more popular?
A
As peoples incomes have increased, exotic fruits, vegetables, spices and coffee. These foods are often grown in LICs e.g. Ethiopia then exported back to HICs e.g. the UK
18
Q
Why are seasonal products becoming more popular?
A
- Theyre only avaliable in the months they grow
- Fruit and vegetables are imported to meet the demand for seasonal products all year round
- E.g. Strawberries from Mexico
19
Q
Why are organic products becoming more popular?
A
People are becoming more concerned about the environmental impacts of food production, and how chemicals can affect their health. As organic food production is strictly regulated (e.g. no artificial fertilisers are used), demand is growing. Some organic food is produced in the UK, but lots is imported.
20
Q
How is the carbon footprint of our food growing?
A
- Growing, packaging, and processing of food costs CO2 and other greenhouse gases.
Up to 10% of the UK’s total greenhouse gas emmisions in 2017 came directly from agriculture - Transporting food
- The amount of greenhouse gases produced is called its carbon footprint
21
Q
How is the transport of food causing a growth in our carbon footprint?
A
Transporting food from where it is grown to where it is sold costs CO2.
The distance food is transported to market is called food miles. More food miles mean more CO2 produced.
22
Q
What does a higher carbon footprint cause?
A
More global warming
23
Q
Why can imported foods cause a larger carbon footprint?
A
They need to be transported a longer way
24
Q
How are people becoming aware of food productions carbon footprint?
A
- Becoming aware of the environmental issues caused by transporting food. This leads to people to look for food, such as farmers markets, farm shops, and locally produced vegetable boxes.
25
How is agriculture becoming more industrialised?
Since the 1960s, there has been a growth in agribusiness in the UK
26
What is agribusiness?
Large-scale, Industrial farming where all processes, from the production of seeds and fertilisers to the processign and packaging of the food, are controlled by large firms.
27
How has agribusiness in the UK changed?
- Farm sizes have increased - many small farms have been taken over and field sizes increased so that food can be produced more cheaply
- The amount of chemicals used in food production have been increasing - large quantities of artificial fertilisers and pesticides are applied to crops, and animals give special feed to encourage growth
28
How has the number of workers in agriculture changed?
fell to just over 1.1% of the UK's employment in 2017. This is partly because of the greater use of machinery e.g. in planting and harvesting
29
How does the demand for water vary throughout the UK?
The places with a good supply of water ( UK average annual rainfall) aren't the same as the places with the highest demand (UK population density)
30
How is UK's average annual rainfall dispersed?
The North and West of the UK have high rainfall. These are areas of water surplus ( there's a greater supply than demand)
31
How is the UK's population density distributed?
| How does this relate to demand for water?
The South East and the Midlands have high population densities, so there's a high demand for water. There are areas of water defecit ( there's a greater demand than supply )
32
How is the UK's demand for water increasing?
*Since 1975, the amount of water used by households in the UK has gone up by about 70%*
-> Partly due to appliances that use water e.g. dishwashers or washing machines
** 1. Population **
33
How is the UK's population affecting the demand for water?
The UK's population is predicted to increase by over 6 million people by 2040, to total 73 million.
Population densities are also changing - there are plans to build lots of new homes in the south east where there is alreasy a water defecit.
34
Why does water pollution need to be managed?
Polluted or low quality water reduces the amount avaliable for use, putting pressure on water resources
35
What are the main problems affecting the quality of river water in the UK?
- Nitrates and phosphates from crop fertilisers are washed into
rivers and groundwater
- Pollutants from vehicles are washed into water sources through runoff when it rains.
- Chemical and oil spills from factories can pollute local water sources and groundwater
36
How is pollution affecting the UK's water sources
Up to 80% of water in parts of Southern England comes from groundwater, but pollution is affecting up to 50% of groundwater used for public supply in the UK
-> Many groundwater sources have closed or have needed expensive treatment to make them safe to use
37
What strategies have been used to manage water quality?
- Improving drainage systems and imposing regulations on the amount and types of fertilisers and pesticides used.
- WATER TRANSFERS
38
How can water transfers help maintain water supplies?
- This is transferring water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit
- > E.g. Birmingham is supplied with water from parts of wales
39
What issues can water transfers cause?
- Dams and aqueducts that are needed are expensive to build (e.g. *The Birmingham Resiliance Project has estimated costs of 300m*)
- It can affect wildlife that lives in rivers (e.g. Fish migration can be disrupted by dams)
- There may be political e.g. people may not want their water transferred
40
What energy mix did the UK traditionally rely on?
Fossil fuels
-> In 1970, 91% of our energy came from coal and oil
41
What was one reason that the UK traditionally relied on gas?
The discovery of large gas reserves under the North sea
-> By 1980, 22% of the UK's energy was supplied by gas
42
How has the UK's energy mix changed?
There has been a shift away from burning fossil fuels, and towards renewable energy sources
| Also fossil fuels are running out
43
Stats - Energy in the UK shifting towards renewability
All coal-fired power stations in the UK are due to close by 2024, and in 2022, over 38% of all electricity in the UK was generated from renewable rescources
44
What are the biggest sources of renewable energy in the UK?
Wind and Bioenergy
-> The use of solar and hydroelectric power has also increased
45
How are the UK's supplies of **Oil and Gas** running out?
1) North sea oil and gas reserves are being quickly used up and production has been declining since 2022
46
How are the UK's supplies of **Coal** running out?
1) The UK still has some coal reserves, but coal production has significantly decreased since the mid-20th century.
-> There has been less demand due to an effort to reduce CO2, and the cost of mining the remaining reserves is increasing
47
What has been used to try and combat the decreasing reserves of coal, oil and gas in the UK?
The use of shale gas from underground
-> Extracted Via fracking - contraversial and banned in 2019
48
What are the economic issues with extracting fossil fuels
1) Expensive - cost of extraction increasing as reserves used up
2) North Sea Oil Expensive - If Oil cost drops, it may become inprofitable
49
What are the economic issues with using renewable resources?
| Nuclear as well
1) Electricity cost to consumer is high
2) Money is needed to research into alterantive rescources
-> Shale gas
-> Over £25 Million for new power station at Hinkley Point
50
What is the economic issue with using domestic sources of energy?
They dont currently provide enough to meet demand
-> The UK has to pay to import energy from other countries
51
What are the envrironmental issues with fossil fuels?
1) Releases CO2 and other greenhouse gases
2) Fracking may pollute groundwater and cause mini-earthquakes - halted in the UK in 2019 due to this
3) Accidents (e.g. oil spills or nuclear disasters) can leak toxic chemicals into water sources, soils and the atmosphere
52
What are the environmental issues with renewable rescources?
1) Natural ecosystems can be damaged by renewable energy generators like large wind farms or the tidal power project planned for fleetwood in lancashire
2) Power stations and windfarms are considered an eyesore
53
What is energy security?
having a reliable, uninterrupted, and affordable supply of energy
54
What can a country's energy supply depend on?
- Supplies avaliable (import/produced)
- Size of population
- Amount of energy a typical person uses
55
What is an energy surplus?
when a country produces more energy than its population requires
-> Extra energy can be exported
-> Gives country energy security
56
What is an energy defecit?
Having less energy than required
-> energy insecurity
57
What are examples of countrys that produce lots of energy because they have large energy reserves and the money to exploit them?
Iran, Saudi Arabia - Large oil reserves
China, Australia - Large coal reserves
UK, Russia - Large oil and gas reserves
58
What are some examples of countrys that produce little energy because they:
- Have too little resources
- Dont have enough money to explot resources due to poverty or political instability
Ireland - has few resources to exploit
Sudan - politically unstable, has little money
59
Why do wealthier countries consume more energy?
Consume lots of energy per person
- People expect / can afford a higher standard of living
- Most have access to electricity / heating
- Most use energy-intensive devices e.g. cars
| E.g. Australia, Sweden and the USA
60
Why do poorer countries consume less energy?
Consume less energy per person
- less people able to afford it
- Less energy avaliable
- Lifestyles less reliant on high energy consumption
| Burkina Faso and Mongolia
61
What are the 3 main reasons why global demand for energy is increasing?
Rising population
Economic development
Technological Advances
62
Rising energy demand - Rising population
**Stat - Global Population is expected to rise to 9 billion by 2040**
- More people = more energy needed (e.g. to heat homes)
63
Rising energy demand - Economic Development
Increased wealth in countries
- People using this wealth to buy material possesions - alot use energy e.g. cars and TVs
- As countries develop, industry expands - uses alot of energy
64
Rising energy demand - Technological advances
- Creates new devices needing energy - becoming more popular (ipads, Iphones)
- Made energy more affordable - more people can afford to use more energy
65
What is an example of technological advances making energy more affordable?
The use of wind energy in Texas has prevented consumers' energy costs from rising
66
What factors affect energy supply?
Physical, technological, environmental
67
What physical factors affect air supply?
- Unequal global distribution
- Supplys of fossil fuels will run out - non-renewable
68
What is an example of unequal global distribution of fossil fuels / energy supply?
- Some have few resources
- Some have inaccesible resources e.g. Antarctica oil reserves
- Location of fossil fuels
69
Example - non-renewable fossil fuels running out
South Africa's Mossel Bay is low on gas, leading to the closure of a nearby refinery
70
What does the location of fossil fuels affect
The cost and ease of extraction
e.g. Some oil reserves in the USA are trapped in rocks and so do not flow as easily
71
How can climate/geography affect a country's ability to produce renewable resources?
e.g. solar wind / power
72
How can natural disasters affect energy supply?
The likelihood of natural disasters that can damage energy infrastructure affects the types of energy that can be used e.g. earthquakes may damage gas pipelines
73
How do technological advances affect energy supply?
- Means it is possible to exploit new resources
-> previously inaccesible gas reserves can now be reached by fracking
- Makes it easier to exploit existing resources
- Some countries are still unable to exploit their energy resources - tech is too expensive or in the early stages
74
Ex - Technology making it easier to exploit resources
Autonomous machines
- Dont need people to operate them - can be used in hard-to-reach or risky
75
What economic factirs affect energy supply?
1) Remaining non-renewable are costly to extract - harder to reach
2) Prices of Fossil fuels
3) Some LICs may have potential energy sources but not enough money to exploit them
4) Building new energy infrastructure is expensive
76
Ex - Energy infrastructure is expensive
Niger has large uranium reserves but lacks the money to develop nuclear technology
77
How does the price of fossil fuels affect energy supply?
Prices of fossil fuels ar every volitaile - can vary alot due to complex economic and political factors e.g. world trade rates and trade deals between countries
- Countries that rely on energy imports may not always be able to afford them
78
How do political factors affect energy security?
1) Political instability in countries with large energy reserves can affect their ability to export resources
2) Climate change - linked to burning FF - has resulted in international agreements to reduce concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
3) Concerns over the safety of nuclear power and nuclear waste disposal have resulted in stricter regulations - harder to build nuclear power stations
| e.g. Paris Agreement - reduced CO2
79
Ex - political instability affecting energy supply
Oil exports from the Middle East decreased during the Gulf war (1990 - 1991)
80
What are the impacts of energy insecurity?
- Environmental and economic costs
- Food production
- Industrial output
- Potential conflict
81
What are the environmental and economic costs of energy insecurity?
- As fossil fuels are used up, more reserves in less accesible and more envrironmentally sensitive areas are exploited
-> This increases the economic costs of extraction and environmental damage
82
Ex - Environmental and economic costs of energy insecurity
The UK began fracking near Blackpool
to exploit shale gas reserves.
-> However, fracking was halted after a 2.9 magnitude earthquake struck Lancashire in 2019
83
Energy Insecurity - Food Production
- May affect how many agricultural machines can be used
- Demand for cleaner and cheaper energy sources increases demand for biofuels - takes up land that could be used to grow food -> Food shortages/ increased prices
84
Ex - Energy insecurity affecting food production
Its predicted that 168 million hecatres of land would be needed togrow enough sugar cane to meet all of the USA's energy demands
85
Enegy insecurity - Industrial output
Energy shortages and higher costs reduce industrial output - factories have to produce less or locate to somewhere with better energy security to minimise costs
-> High costs are then passed onto the consumer, as the producers are forced to pay more
86
Ex - energy insecurity affecting industrial output
In 2017, some companies in the UK (such as Tata steel) had to shut down during peak hours because of energy costs
87
Energy insecurity - potential for conflict
- Potential for political instability when energy demand exeeds energy supply
- Can cause conflict between countries with energy surplus and energy defecit
88
Ex - Energy insecurity - potential for conflict
in 2012, Sudan and South Sudan came into conflict over ownership of the Heglig oil field, which lies on the border of the two countries.
South Sudan attempted to claim the oil field from Sudan to prevent energy insecurity, and a short was was fought.
89
Solar
**What:** Energy from sun used to heat water / Generate Electricity using photovoltaic cells
**Pros:**
Solar Cookers and water heaters are cheap
Excess energy can be sold
**Cons:**
Photovoltaic cells are expensive
- Depend on sunlight = unreliable
90
Ex - Solar
Morocco is home to the world's largest solar farm, the Noor Complex.
- Expected to provide electricity for 1 Million people
91
Hydro (HEP)
**What:** Energy from falling water. Water in dam falls through tunnels - turning turbines, generating E
**Pros:**
Flexible and efficient - water flow and E production can be controlled to match demand and limit waste
**Cons:**
Building dams can destroy habitats and communities + expensive
92
Ex - HEP
The Three Gorges Dam in China is the largest HEP station in the world. In 2016, China produced more HEP than Brazil, Canada and the USA combined
93
Geothermal
**What:** Water pumped into the ground - heated into steam to then turn turbine - gen e or piped to houses for heating
**Pros:**
Cheap and reliable - little construction needed
**Cons:**
Location based - needs high tectonic activity
94
Ex - Geothermal
87% of Iceland's heating and hot water for homes comes from geothermal energy
-> thanks to position on plate boundary
95
Tidal
**What:** Changes in water level used to turn turbines
**Pros:**
Tide Cycles are reliable
**Cons:**
Expensive to build and install + not consatnt supply
96
Ex - Tidal
The Proposed Blue Eden Tidal lagoon in Swansea could generate 320 MW of renewable energy
97
# Energy
Wave
**What:** Changes in water level turn turbines
**Pros:**
Unusable during winter - works well with solar
**Cons:**
Expensive to build and install
98
Ex - Wave
Wave energy projects are being tested in Cornwall
99
Wind
**What:** Use wind energy to generate electricity
**Pros:**
No Greenhouse gas emmisions once turbines built
**Cons:**
Wind is variable - not constant supply
100
Ex - Wind
Delabole wind farm in Cornwall
101
# energy
Biomass
**What:** Burning wood, plants or animal waste to produce biofuels
**Pros:**
Doesn't require much energy - good choice for LICs
**Cons:**
Only renewable if managed sustainably
102
Ex - Biofuel
The USA produced over 1 Million barrels of biofuel a day in 2015, mainly consisting of ethanol
103
What are the cons of nuclear power?
Expensive to build and decommision
- Nuclear waste has to be contained and stored for 100s of years
Accidents can be disaterous and cause global panic e.g. the fukushima disaster, 2011
104
What are the advantages of fracking?
1) Lots of shale gas avaliable in the UK
2) Increases the UK's energy security and reduces exports
3) Gas releases half as muchCO2 than other fossil fuels
4) Fracking is cheaper than some other renewables
5) Fracking has already been tested - e.g. Texas, USA
105
How much shale gas is predicted to be avaliable in Lancashire, UK
At least 5 Trillion m3
106
What are the disadvatages of fracking
1) releases CO2 - contributes to global warming
2) Risks polluting groundwater - drinking water / air
3) Uses lots of water (limited resource)
4) Causes Earthquakes - 2.9 Mag in Lanc 2019
107
What is sustainable energy?
Providing energy today without preventing future generations from meeting their energy needs
108
What is carbon footprint
mesure of the amount of greenhouse gases an individual's activities produce
-> Direct and indirect emmisions
109
# Carbon footprint
What are direct emmisions?
Those produced from things that use energy e.g. having the heating on, using electrical applicances, commuting and air travel
110
# Carbon Footprint
What are indirect Emmisons?
Emmisions produced to make the things we buy. E.g. food, clothes
111
# Sustainable Design
How can buildings be designed to use energy more sustainability
1) Insulation - Less energy is needed to heat homes
2) Modern Boilers - more efficient
3) Solar Panels - provide renewable energy + low CF
112
# Sustainable Design
How can transport be designed to be more energy sustainable?
Switching to electric or biofuel
113
How can demand for energy be reduced?
Giving people inscentives to lower their energy use
e.g. the government can offer tax releif and expemtions to businesses that use energy efficent technology
114
How can you reduce the demand for energy used for public transport?
Improving public transport and encouraging walking or cycling
-> Conjestion charges in London encourages people to reduce how frequently they drive in certain areas
115
How do you reduce the demand for energy in homes?
Fitting smart home energy meters in people's homes helps them be more aware of their energy usage and find ways to reduce it
116
What are some examples of technology being used to increase effeciency
1) Energy Saving light bulbs - LED bulbs use around 80% less energy than incandescent light bulbs
2) Hyrid cars - fusing petrol and electricity
3) Regenerative breaking - some vehicles can store the energy lost from braking and re-use it
4) More effecient engines
5)
117
What is the case study for generating sustainable power?
**Bihar** - a rural state in North-East India (NEE)
-> *85% of people who live in Bihar are not connected to the electricity grid* and those who are often have an unreliable suply
**2007, a local scheme began to use local biomass - rice husks - to supply more homes with electricity**
118
How does the rice husk energy production in Bihar work?
1) Rice husks are collected and used to generate electricity in small, local power plants
2) Each power plant has a simple design
-> Rice Husk gasifier
-> Filters (clean the gas)
-> Gas turbine, generator and distribution system
119
How efficient is the rice husk energy in Bihar?
can supply electricity to homes within a 1.5km range
- Very efficient as the rice husks and energy does not have to travel far
120
How efficient was the Bihar energy project
**By 2015, 84 rice husk power plants were operating in Bihar, supplying electricity to 200,000 people**
