geography Flashcards
What is a natural resource?
Something that can be used by humans
Examples include food, water, and energy.
Are food, water, and energy evenly distributed across the planet?
No, they are not spread evenly across the planet.
What are some consequences of the UK’s reliance on food imports?
Economic, social, and environmental impacts.
How is water distribution characterized in the UK?
Unevenly distributed due to location.
What is the UK’s ongoing search regarding energy sources?
A more sustainable source of energy.
What is fracking and what does it lead to?
A source of energy that leads to economic, social, and environmental impacts.
What is the local sustainable food production example from Jamalpur, India?
Rice fish farms.
What are the benefits of rice fish farms?
- Increase in food created
- Fish provide protein
- Farmers make money
- Farms expand creating jobs
- Natural fertiliser and pesticides used
- Land doesn’t get exhausted
What factors influence the supply of food in a country?
- Economic
- Social
- Environmental
- Political
What are some impacts of poor access to food?
Impacts on social and economic wellbeing.
How can the supply of food be increased?
- Hydroponics/aeroponics
- Using biotechnology
- Use of appropriate technology
- Irrigation
What is significant about Almeria, Spain in terms of agriculture?
It has thousands of greenhouses growing millions of tonnes of food a year.
What are the advantages of large scale agriculture in Almeria?
- Job creation
- Export income
- Greenhouses conserve water
- Does not cause soil erosion
- Longer growing season
What are the disadvantages of large scale agriculture in Almeria?
- Creation of litter
- Use of chemicals and pesticides
- Poorly paid jobs
- Some illegal workers causing tensions
Fill in the blank: Hydroponics/aeroponics use _______ or air to grow crops with no soil.
water
True or False: Almeria’s greenhouses cause soil erosion.
False
What is a natural resource?
Something that can be used by humans
Examples include food, water, and energy.
Are food, water, and energy evenly distributed across the planet?
No, they are not spread evenly across the planet.
What are some consequences of the UK’s reliance on food imports?
Economic, social, and environmental impacts.
How is water distribution characterized in the UK?
Unevenly distributed due to location.
What is the UK’s ongoing search regarding energy sources?
A more sustainable source of energy.
What is fracking and what does it lead to?
A source of energy that leads to economic, social, and environmental impacts.
What is the local sustainable food production example from Jamalpur, India?
Rice fish farms.
What are the benefits of rice fish farms?
- Increase in food created
- Fish provide protein
- Farmers make money
- Farms expand creating jobs
- Natural fertiliser and pesticides used
- Land doesn’t get exhausted
What factors influence the supply of food in a country?
- Economic
- Social
- Environmental
- Political
What are some impacts of poor access to food?
Impacts on social and economic wellbeing.
How can the supply of food be increased?
- Hydroponics/aeroponics
- Using biotechnology
- Use of appropriate technology
- Irrigation
What is significant about Almeria, Spain in terms of agriculture?
It has thousands of greenhouses growing millions of tonnes of food a year.
What are the advantages of large scale agriculture in Almeria?
- Job creation
- Export income
- Greenhouses conserve water
- Does not cause soil erosion
- Longer growing season
What are the disadvantages of large scale agriculture in Almeria?
- Creation of litter
- Use of chemicals and pesticides
- Poorly paid jobs
- Some illegal workers causing tensions
Fill in the blank: Hydroponics/aeroponics use _______ or air to grow crops with no soil.
water
True or False: Almeria’s greenhouses cause soil erosion.
False
What has been the increase in average household water use in the UK since 1985?
75%
What is the average daily water usage per person in the UK?
150 litres
What is the average daily water usage per person in Africa?
47 litres
What is one reason the UK has not implemented a national water transfer scheme?
Expense
Who manages water quality in the UK?
The Environment Agency
What percentage of water in the UK is classified as good?
27%
Name two sources of water pollution.
- Agricultural chemicals (e.g., fertiliser)
- Untreated waste from industry
What is eutrophication?
Insufficient oxygen in rivers caused by algae growth from fertilisers
What are two effects of water pollution on aquatic life?
- Aquatic life killed by pesticides
- Wildlife poisoned by toxic waste
What is a water deficit?
Where water demand is greater than supply
What is water stress?
Demand for water exceeds the available amount restricting use
What does water quality refer to?
The chemical, physical, and biological content of water
What is a water surplus?
Where water supply is greater than demand
In which part of the UK is rainfall highest?
The west
Where does 1/3 of the UK’s population live?
The southeast
What type of water transfer occurs between Kielder reservoir and the North Tyne River?
Small scale water transfer
What are pollution traps and give an example?
They filter pollutants; for example, reed beds
True or False: The east of the UK has a higher than average rainfall.
False
Fill in the blank: The UK has considered a national water transfer scheme to match _______ and demand.
[supply]
What percentage of the UK’s food was imported in 2019?
45%
This reflects the growing food demand in the UK.
What are three factors contributing to changing food demand in the UK?
- Growing population
- Demand for exotic, high-value food
- Desire for organic alternatives
What is meant by seasonal food in the context of UK food sourcing?
Food that is sourced during its natural growing season within the UK
What defines organic produce?
Food grown without the use of artificial chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides
How far does food travel annually in the UK?
Over 30 billion kilometres
This contributes significantly to carbon emissions.
What percentage of the UK’s carbon emissions is contributed by food?
17%
11% of this is due to the transport of imported food.
What is local sourcing?
Reducing carbon emissions by importing only foods that cannot be grown in the UK and consuming seasonal produce
What is agribusiness?
Treating a farm like an industrial business to increase food production
What is the definition of food miles?
The distance covered supplying food to consumers
What is a carbon footprint?
A measurement of all the greenhouse gases we individually produce
Define high-value food exports.
Imported food products that fetch higher retail prices despite increased food miles
What are two impacts of agribusiness on employment?
- Decline in employment
- Negative impact on the environment
Why is organic produce more expensive?
- Lower yields
- Higher labour costs
Fill in the blank: Local food sourcing is a method of food production and distribution that is _______.
[local]
This contrasts with national and international sourcing.
What are some challenges faced by low-income countries (LICs) in agriculture due to high-value food exports?
- Less land for locals to grow food
- Greater pressure on water supplies
- Exposure to harmful chemicals
True or False: Local sourcing encourages the import of foods that can be grown in the UK.
False
What is the Almeria scheme?
A development in southeast Spain with the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world, covering 26,000 hectares.
What is considered an arid area?
An area receiving fewer than 25 centimetres (10 inches) of precipitation a year.
What is hydroponics?
A method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without soil.
What are the main reasons for the introduction of the Almeria scheme?
- Changes in diet
- Improved transport infrastructure
- Development of plastic for greenhouses
- Favorable climate conditions
- Availability of cheap labor
- Government and EU funding
What is irrigation?
Applying water to land in order to supply crops and other plants with necessary water.
How much rainfall does the Almeria area receive on average each year?
200mm
What is the average temperature in the Almeria region?
20 °C
True or False: The success of the greenhouses has led to their expansion into the Alpujarra hills.
True
What are some advantages of the Almeria scheme?
- Less water used due to drip irrigation
- Low energy costs due to warm temperatures
- Year-round availability of fruits and vegetables
- High-skilled job opportunities in scientific agribusiness
- Reduction in chemical usage due to regulations
What are some disadvantages associated with the Almeria scheme?
- Conflict between immigrant groups
- Poor working conditions for some immigrants
- Ecosystem destruction from plastic covering large areas
- Harm to marine ecosystems from plastic dumping
- Increased health risks from pesticide use
- Drying up of aquifers due to water extraction
What is the multiplier effect?
An increase of one type of economic activity in an area prompts an increase in demand for goods and services, triggering the development of other types of economic activity.
Fill in the blank: The area around Almeria has developed the largest concentration of ______ in the world.
greenhouses
What has contributed to the reduction of transport costs in the Almeria region?
Improved transport infrastructure and new, fast transport methods.
Who provides cheap labor for the greenhouses in Almeria?
Temporary migrants from North Africa, Eastern Europe, and South America.
What is the trend in UK energy consumption since 1970?
The UK consumes less energy than it did in 1970, despite an increase in population by 9.1 million
By what percentage has the average household in the UK reduced energy use?
12 percent less energy is used by the average household
How much has energy use in heavy industry decreased?
60 percent less energy due to the decline of heavy industry
What is the trend in energy demand by transport in the UK?
Demand for energy by transport has increased
Define biomass in the context of energy.
A source of fuel or energy using organic materials e.g. wood
What is a fossil fuel?
A natural fuel formed in the geological past from living organisms
What does energy exploitation refer to?
Developing and using energy to the greatest advantage
What is a renewable energy resource?
A resource which is not diminished when it is used
What does HEP stand for and what does it involve?
Hydroelectric power; electricity generated by turbines driven by moving water
What was the majority source of the UK’s energy mix in 2015?
Fossil fuels
What percentage of the UK’s energy mix does nuclear power provide?
Just over one-fifth
What percentage of the UK’s energy mix is made up of renewables?
Just over 20%
What caused an increase in coal use in 2011 in the UK?
Older power stations worked to capacity before closure due to EU regulations on emissions
What has happened to oil and gas reserves in the UK?
They have declined
What is a potential consequence of relying on renewable energies such as wind?
They will eventually become too expensive or run out
What environmental issue is caused by CO2 emissions?
Contributes to acid rain and climate change
What are some issues associated with fracking for shale gas?
Can cause earthquakes and groundwater pollution
What are the economic concerns related to nuclear power?
High set-up costs; costs increase in remote areas
How long is nuclear waste radioactive?
For 100 years+
What are the long-term impacts of nuclear accidents?
Long-term impacts on people and wildlife
What is a downside of using biomass for energy?
Can reduce land available for food production, increasing food prices
True or False: Biomass increases biodiversity.
False; it reduces biodiversity as only one crop is grown
What is a potential ecological impact of HEP schemes?
Flood land upstream, changing the landscape and wildlife
How can wind turbines affect wildlife?
Can affect bird migration
