Human systems and resource use Flashcards
What is the crude birth rate (CBR)? + one disadvantage of it as a measure
The number of live births per 1000 people in a population. Some countries do not have proper records of birth rates
What is the crude death rate (CDR)? +one disadvantage of it as a measure
The number of deaths per 1000 people in a population. It is a poor indicator of mortality
What is the total fertility rate (TFR)?
The average number of births per woman of childbearing age
What is doubling time (DT)?
The length of time it takes for a population to double in size, assuming its natural growth rate is constant (i.e. no wars or pandemics)
What is the natural increase rate (NIR)?
The difference between the number of live births and deaths x 100
What is the formula for CBR?
(total number of births/total population) x 1000
What is the formula for CDR?
(total number of deaths/total population) x 1000
What is the formula for doubling time?
70/percentage growth rate
What are some causes of population growth? (3)
-> larger child-bearing population
-> migration into a country
-> Better opportunities for income
-> Better healthcare so a decrease in death rate (more people living for longer)
What are some problems of exponential population growth?
(choose 3)
-> less resources
-> More opportunities for crime
-> overcrowding
-> more environmental issues
-> more waste
-> increase in conflict (usually over resources)
-> increase in poverty
-> increase in waste
What is a LIC in ESS?
Low economically developed country (LEDC)
What is a HIC in ESS?
More economically developed country (MEDC)
What is a NEE in ESS?
Newly Emerging Economy (NEE)
(its the same thing)
What is the demographic transition model (DTM)?
Describes how the birth and death rate change over different stages
What happens in stage 1 of the DTM?
- high BR
- high DR
- population : low
Why is the BR and the DR like this in stage 1?
- BR:
- lack of contraception
- lack of women empowerment/jobs
- to replace infant deaths due to high DR
- DR:
- lack of sanitation
- lack of good healthcare
- lack of resources
What is an example of a place in stage 1?
Indigenous tribes in the Amazon
What happens in stage 2 of the DTM?
- high BR
- decreasing DR
- increasing population
Why is the BR and the DR like this in stage 2?
- BR:
- lack of contraception
- lack of women’s empowerment
- religion
- the population has not realised that the number of deaths is decreasing
- DR:
- more doctors = low infant mortality
- improved healthcare (vaccines)
- improved sanitation, food and water
What is an example of a place in stage 2?
Afghanistan
What happens in stage 3 of the DTM?
- decreasing BR
- low and steady DR
- increasing population
Why are the BR and the DR like this in stage 3?
- BR:
- access to contraception
- women’s empowerment/jobs
- realised the BR is decreasing
- DR:
- better healthcare
- better sanitation, food and water
What is an example of a place in stage 3?
Brazil, China, India - NEE
What happens in stage 4 of the DTM?
- DR = low and steady
- BR = low but fluctuating
- Overall pop. = high and steady
Why are the BR and the DR like this in stage 4?
- BR:
- no need to have children
- women empowerment
- fluctuating = small baby boom (i.e. after the 2012 Olympics) or decreasing fluctuation (due to pandemics and cost of living crisis)
DR:
- better healthcare
- better sanitation, food and water
What is an example of a place in stage 4?
Modern UK
What happens in stage 5 of the DTM?
- DR: low but higher than the birth rate
- BR: low
- Overall pop. = high but will start to decline as birth rate is rlly low
What is an example of a place in stage 5?
Japan, Italy
What is a population pyramid?
The data presented, in a pyramid, showing the population with respect to age and gender in a nation for a year
What does a wide base suggest on a population pyramid?
A wide base suggests youthful population
What does a narrow base suggest on a population pyramid?
A narrow base suggests an ageing population
Why would there be sudden changes in bars on a population pyramid?
- migration
- wars
Define “dependency ratio “
Ratio of people not in work to those in work
What is the dependency ratio formula? in %
(the number of people less than 15 and greater than 65 yrs old/ the number of people who work) x 100
Why might a country want to change its dependency ratio?
To get enough people working to pay for taxes for dependent people (below 15 or over 65)
What are pro-natalist policies? give a country exampls
A policy that aims to increase their population by encouraging a high birth rate. Denmark/ Japan
What are anti-natalist policies? give a country example
A policy that aims to decrease their population by encouraging a lower birth rate. China/ India
Why do countries adopt a pro-natalist policy?
They may have an ageing population or a small workforce, therefore there are not enough people to pay taxes and care for the dependent people and maintain a strong economy.
Why do countries adopt an anti-natalist policy?
If the birthrate in a country is too high, there will be many children, which will lead to a population explosion and a very rapid population growth - which may not be sustainable in terms of space or resources necessary.
Name 2 positives and 2 negatives of a anti-natalist policy
+
-> Increased empowerment and education of women, to reduce BR
-> People who follow the policy benefit from higher wages, better education and employment, and healthcare
-
-> may result in a lack of respect for human rights (i.e. one-child policy - China)
-> There may be a sex preference (i.e. for boys rather than girls)
Name 2 positives and 2 negatives of a pro-natalist policy
+
-> Better welfare benefits for women who have more than one child
-> More companies may employ women to encourage women to work after childbirth
-
-> can be hard to implement and assess
-> may be expensive to maintain annually
Give 2 example countries that had pro-natalist and anti-natalist policies and their policy names, if they had one
pro-natalist: ageing pop
Japan
Denmark - “Do it for Denmark”
anti-natalist: large pop
India
China - “One child policy”
What is turnover time?
This refers to the time it takes for a molecule of water to enter and leave a part of the system.
Usually, the larger the body of water, the higher the ________
turnover time
Name the processes of the hydrological cycle (8 steps)
- Evaporation from an ocean/lake
- Evapotranspiration from trees
- Condensation
- Precipitation
- Surface run-off
- Soil infiltration
- Percolation
- Groundwater flow
What is white water? + example
It is freshwater. Springs/wells
What is grey water? + example
Water that is slightly polluted – not to drink. Laundry
What is black water? + example
Heavily polluted water. Toilets
What is water scarcity?
An area which water falls below 1000 m³ per person a year
What is physical water scarcity?
When physical water access is limited (i.e. deserts)
What is economic water scarcity?
When a population does not have the necessary monetary means to access adequate sources of water
Describe the distribution of physical and economic water-scarce areas
Central Africa and landlocked countries in Asia are the most water-scarce areas due to lack of rainfall, desert areas and corruption in LEDC
Causes of physical water scarcity
Landlocked countries
Drought
Lack of rainfall
Overuse of aquifers and its consequent slow recharge
Causes of economic water scarcity
Lack of infrastructure
Lack of income
Name three factors affecting water resources and how they might affect water resources
Rising sea levels (it can cause saltwater intrusion, turning freshwater into salt water, that’s impacting ecosystems, water and agriculture)
Changing rainfall patterns (this creates unreliability with water resources. It impacts migration, crops and agriculture)
Changes in the amount and timing of snowfall (many countries depend on snowmelt for water resources, this may impact their crops and water)
Give a brief description of a dam and reservoir and provide one benefit and one disadvantage
A reservoir is a large body of water usually held behind a large wall (dam) that controls it.
Benefit-
Provides water for agriculture and livestock
Disadvantage-
Expensive to build and relocate people
Give a brief description of wells and boreholes and provide one benefit and one disadvantage
A means of tapping into aquifers to gain access to groundwater
Benefit-
Can be a main source of water for people in arid/semi-arid areas
Disadvantage-
Groundwater can be contaminated in several ways affecting health
Give a brief description of redistribution and provide one benefit and one disadvantage
When water is provided from one place to another in times of need
Benefit-
Many people and businesses can survive and have a greater standard of living during water-scarce times
Disadvantage-
It requires a substantial cost to build infrastructure for pipes, therefore it is usually found in any MEDCs/HICs
Give a brief description of desalination and provide one benefit and one disadvantage
The process of removing salt from seawater
Benefit-
It provides flexibility over seasonal issues, for example uneven rainfall
Disadvantage-
High energy consumption
Give a brief description of replenishing aquifers and provide one benefit and one disadvantage
When water seeped into the ground to replace underground aquifers
Benefits-
Increases and maintains water levels/enables aquifer integrity
Disadvantage-
Some methods can be expensive to implement
Give a brief description of cloud seeding and provide one benefit and one disadvantage
A technique used to increase rainfall/snowfall in an area, for example: an agricultural area
Benefit-
Creates more winter snowfall, to enhance the natural water supply to communities/specific areas
Disadvantages-
Placement of chemicals may have an impact on the people below, as cloud seeding is not a scientifically research method
Give a brief description of Forest water management and provide one benefit and one disadvantage
Protecting forests to preserve the quality of drinking water supplies
Benefit-
guarantee against erosion, landslides and loss of soil
Disadvantage-
May take a lot of effort to maintain
Name the case study for an area of water conflict
The Aral Sea
Describe the Aral Sea and its location
The Aral Sea is situated in central Asia between southern Kazakhstan and northern Uzbekistan. It used to be the world’s fourth-largest saline lake with 10 g of salt per litre. Two lakes feed into the Aral Sea: the Amu Darya River and the Syr Darya River
Name 4 causes of the Aral’s seas condition
- agriculture and cotton production was promoted - draining its main water resources
-industrial processes
-high-level of evaporation left behind land with high levels of salinity
-decrease levels of water
Name the six main effects of the Aral’s condition
-Increased water insecurity/availability for people in the area
-the Aral Sea once supported 40,000 fishermen, once they left this created an economic disaster
-plants cannot grow in high levels of salinity, therefore there were reduced economic opportunities and an increase in desertification
-there are increased dust and sandstorms, which cause respiratory diseases
-high levels of cancer were caused by the release of fertilisers
-there was a loss of biodiversity as there was an increase in fish deaths and an increase of fish migrating out of the sea
Solutions to the reduction of the Aral Sea + benefits and problems (1 each)
They built the Kokaral Dam in order to bring water back into the river. One benefit is that it brought water into the northern Aral Sea, and therefore brought back fish and increased levels of biodiversity. However, it did not increase water into the south side of the Aral Sea
What is Boserup Theory?
The theory that as the population increases, the food supply will increase too, as humankind will develop technologies to produce more food and cope with the growing population.
What is a negative of boserup theory?
Didnt take into account that migration, due to overpopulation, can cause bad farmimg practices
What is Malthusian theory?
The idea that food supply was limited to population growth. As the population increases the food that is required will outgrow the level of food produced.
What is a negative of the Malthusian theory?
Did not consider globalisation and the improvement of technology
what are the strengths of the DTM?
- helps predict future population trends based on historical patterns
- useful for comparing different demographic trends across countries and regions
- provides a clear and easy to understand model of how birth rate, death rate and over population can change over time
what are the limitations of the DTM?
- does not take into account internal variance or inequalities within a country
- does not account for the impacts of migration, government policies or global events
what is solid domestic waste
Solid domestic waste (SDW) refers to waste generated from households. It includes a wide variety of materials discarded in daily life.
What are the three sources of solid domestic waste
- domestic
- agricultural
- industrial
what are the three types of solid domestic waste
- e waste
- food waste
- biohazard waste
what is a linear economy
an economy in which products are made, used and disposed of
Name three recyclable solid domestic waste
- glass
- paper and cardboard
- metal
what are the:
socioeconomic
political
environmental
technological
factors affecting waste disposal
socioeconomic:
- Wealthier and urban societies produce and generate more waste due to higher consumption levels
political:
- EU regulations have increased recycling rates
- South Korea’s ‘pay as you throw schemes’ have reduced waste volume
environmental:
- Colder climates may generate more heating fuel waste
- natural disasters can create large amounts of debris
technological:
- digital technology has led to an increase in e-waste
- advanced recycling technologies has reduced waste in some countries
what are the 3 Rs
Reduce, reuse, recycle —emphasises the importance of minimising waste generation from the start.
what are the 4 methods of waste
- landfills (positive:
- incineration
- plastic pollution
- waste being exported to LICs
what is biodegradability
Biodegradability refers to the ability of a substance to be broken down by natural processes, particularly by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi.
What are the environmental impacts of waste management
- water pollution
- soil contamination
- air pollution
What are the human impacts of waste management
- Health Risks from Contaminated Waste
- Exposure to Airborne Pollutants
- Food Chain Contamination
what are the measures against waste management
- Reduced Consumption
- Public Awareness and Education
- Effective Waste Disposal
- Regulation and Policy
- Restoration of Damaged Systems
Are preventative or restoration measures better
preventative measure minimises waste before it occurs, and generally low-cost over long term, whereas restoration measures are more time-consuming and cannot fully reverse damage
name 2 adv and 2 d.adv of composting
adv:
- Composting can be done at the commercial and industrial levels but also on a household level
- Creates fertile soils
d.adv:
- If not done correctly can attract pests
- Only for organic matter
name 2 adv and 2 d.adv of recycling
adv:
- Prevents the loss of useful raw materials.
- Reduces the consumption of new raw materials.
d.adv:
- Requires public buy in (only as good of a measure iwth the no of people who take part)
- Not always cost effective
name 2 adv and 2 d.adv of incineration
adv:
- SDW burned at very high temperatures. Very useful for clinical waste and any hazardous waste containing pathogens
- Landfill space is running out. Incineration can burn up to 90% of the total waste generated in a chosen area
d.adv:
- Toxic fly ash is difficult to dispose of safely and adds waste miles (distance the waste is transported) as it is moved to landfills.
- Emits smoke from the chimneys includes nitrogen oxide, particulates, heavy metals, acid gases and the carcinogen dioxin.
name 2 adv and 2 d.adv of landfills
adv:
- Old landfill sites can be landscaped and re-used for building projects.
- Creates jobs for the local community - though they are usually unskilled and low paid jobs
d.adv:
- Landfill sites give off dangerous gases that cause air pollution and global warming (methane). There is also the potential for explosions if methane is allowed to build up.
- Liners can fail and leachate leak into the local environment and groundwater sources
name 2 adv and 2 d.adv of Anaerobic Digestion
adv:
- Renewable Energy Production: Anaerobic digestion produces biogas, a renewable energy source that can be used for electricity, heat, or as a fuel, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- Odour Control: Anaerobic digestion can help manage odors associated with organic waste, making it a more pleasant waste management option compared to traditional composting or landfilling.
d.adv:
- High Initial Costs
- Potential for Methane Leakage: If not properly managed, there is a risk of methane leakage
what is a circular economy
- produce
- use
- recycle
- reuse
