P2 SC The Challenge Of Resource Management Flashcards
Define resource
A supply of something that has a value or purpose
Adequate supplies of resources are essential for…
Countries to develop
World Health Organisation suggests we need _____ calories per day
How many people fall below this figure?
2000-2500
Over 1 billion
People need to be well fed to…
Contribute to the economy
What four countries produce the most food?
China
India
USA
Brazil
What four countries have the highest daily calorie intake per head?
Austria
USA
Greece
Belgium
Water is essential for…
People / animals to drink
For crops / agriculture
Food supply
Source of power
Imbalance in water supply is mainly due to variations in…
Climate + rainfall
Rainwater needs to be captured in ____ or taken from rivers / _____
These are very ___ and require…
Reservoirs
Aquifers
Expensive
High levels of investment
The UN estimates that by 2025 there will be __ countries facing _____
50
Water scarcity
Energy is required for ______ ______
Economic development
Energy powers _____ and provides ____
Factories / machinery
Fuel for transport
In the past many countries depended on their own _____
Today the situation is more ___ with energy being ____ worldwide
Energy resources
Complex
Traded
Energy consumption is ____ as the world becomes more ____ and demand increases
Increasing
Developed
The world’s _____ countries use far more energy than ____
_____ supplies much of world’s oil but it’s own consumption is relatively small
Richest
Poorest
The middle east
How is the demand for food changing in the UK?
By 2037 population expected to reach 73 million —> increases future demand for food
46% of UK’s food is imported
Why does the UK import so much food?
- UK-produced food expensive because of poor harvests / price of animal feed
- Demand for greater choice + more exotic foods
- UK climate unsuitable for production of some foods eg cocoa, tea, bananas
What impacts does importing food have?
Expensive - high economic cost
Pollution + carbon footprint
We import a lot of vegetables from countries such as Kenya
What are the issues with this?
Kenyan farmers only earn fraction of price of vegetables in UK supermarket
2/3 are causal labourers - no job security / benefits, low pay
Producers only get 12% of final price, supermarkets get 45%
What is the UK doing in response to the challenges of dependency + carbon emissions?
Source food locally + eat seasonal foods
Organic produce - no chemicals used, however more expensive
Agribusiness - intensive farming aimed at maximising amount produced
What is an example of an organic farm?
Riverford Organic Farms - Devon
Delivers boxes of fresh vegetables around UK from its regional farms
Helps reduce food miles
Supports local farmers
What is an example of agribusiness?
Lynford House Farm - East Anglia
570 hectares
High inputs of pesticides / fertilisers
Land farmed intensively
High costs of machinery, increased efficiency, small no. of employees
What are the UK’s demands for water?
50% used domestically
21% wasted through leakage
The EA estimates the demand for water in UK will rise by 5% by 2020 - why?
- Growing population
- More houses built
- Increase in use of water-intensive domestic appliances
How far does the UK’s water supply meet demand?
Enough rain to supply demand, but rain doesn’t always fall where needed
Which area of UK has water surplus? Why is this?
North and West
High rainfall, lower evaporation rates, potential reservoir sites, low population density
Which area of UK has water deficit?
Why is this?
South and East
Densely populated, low rainfall
Where in the UK is water stress most serious?
SE England
What are water transfer schemes?
Attempt to match supply + demand by moving water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit
Why is there opposition to water transfer schemes?
- Cost of building dams / tunnels / pipes
- Potential damage to ecosystems - mixing of flora / fauna as water transferred from one area to another
- Energy needed to pump water over large distances - production of greenhouse gases when fossil fuels used
What is an example of a water transfer scheme?
The Thirlmere water transfer scheme
West Cumbria needs water - due to population growth + climate change
Thirlmere scheme (2017-2022) will transfer from Thirlmere to W Cumbria
Two 30km pipelines - using gravity flow rather than pumps (better for env.)
Despite increasing demand for electricity, energy consumption has fallen - why?
Decline of heavy industry
Improved energy conservation
What things have resulted in falls in energy in UK?
Low energy appliances
Better building insulation
More fuel-efficient cars
UK has seen __% fall in energy use by industry, and __% fall in domestic energy use
60%
12%
What is energy mix?
Range and proportions of different energy sources
By 2020 the UK aims to meet __% of its energy requirement from ____ sources
15%
Renewable
In 2015 the government decided to phase out what?
Subsidies for wind + solar energy development
What % of UK’s gas and oil reserves have been exhausted?
75%
The UK’s ____ ____ is affected as it becomes increasingly dependent on ____ _____
Energy security
Imported energy
A major change in the UK’s energy mix has been….
Decline of coal due to environmental concerns + aging coal power stations
Fossil fuels are likely to remain important to UK because:
UK’s remaining reserves will provide energy for several decades
Coal imports are cheap (3/4 coal comes from abroad)
Existing power stations use fossil fuels
Shale gas deposits will be exploited
All ______ power stations are to be closed by ____
Coal fuelled
2025
UK has rich reserves of ______ _____ trapped underground in ___ rocks
Natural gas
Shale
What is fracking
To extract gas from shale rocks, high pressure liquids are introduced to fracture the shale + release the gas
Fracking is controversial - people are concerned about:
- Possibility of earthquakes
- Pollution of underground water sources
- High costs of extraction
What are economic impacts of nuclear energy?
Expensive to build / decommission - proposed new plant could cost £18bn
High costs for producing electricity
Construction jobs, helps economy
What are environmental impacts of nuclear energy?
Safe processing and storage of waste is a big problem
Warm waste water can harm local ecosystems
Risk of radioactive leaks
What are economic impacts of wind farms?
High construction costs
May reduce visitor numbers (bad for local economy)
Some become tourist attractions
Locals can benefit from lower energy bills
What are environmental impacts of wind farms?
Visual impact on landscape
Avoid harmful gas emissions, reduce carbon footprint
Noise from turbines
Construction of wind farm + access roads can impact environment
What is water insecurity
Not enough water to maintain good health / livelihood due to short supply or poor quality of water
What is water stress
Demand for water exceeds supply or poor quality restricts use
What is water surplus
Water supply is greater than demand
What is water security
Having reliable source of water available (good quality and quantity)
What is water deficit
Water demand is greater than supply
What is economic scarcity
Areas that physically possess water but economic factors, eg lack of infrastructure, prevent exploitation
What is physical scarcity
Areas that experience low rainfall (arid / semi arid regions)
Describe the global pattern of water deficit and surplus
Water deficit along the Tropics eg N Africa, Australia, Middle East
Surplus in N America, Europe, parts of Asia
Suggest reasons for the global pattern of deficit and surplus
Deficit in areas with low rainfall
Surplus in areas with high rainfall
Areas with high population density + high consent rations of industry have highest water demand
Describe the global pattern of water stress
Areas like Middle East, C Asia, Caribbean, Spain, Turkey, Mexico etc
Many countries face high water stress - __% of available water used every year, leaving the threat of water _____
80%
Scarcity
Water stress occurs when…
Less than 1700m3 is available per person per year
Water stress may damage…
Economic development
Human health
Wellbeing
Why is water consumption increasing?
- Growing population
- Energy sources
- Changing lifestyles
- Urbanisation
- Global demand for food
- Irrigation
How much is the global population increasing by?
About 80 million / year
Why do energy sources increase water consumption?
Need water in their production eg for cooling power stations
Why has changing lifestyles increased water consumption?
Increase of average use per head
Why has urbanisation increased water consumption?
More water needed for drinking, sanitation and drainage
How much is global demand for food expected to rise by?
70% by 2050
What factors influence water availability?
- Limited infrastructure
- Poverty
- Pollution
- Geology
- Over-abstraction
- Climate
How does climate influence water availability
Regions with high rainfall usually have surplus water
Those with dry climates have less reliable water
How does over-abstraction influence water availability
When water is pumped from the ground faster than it can be replaced
Causes wells to dry up
How does geology influence water availability
Infiltration of water through permeable rock builds up groundwater supplies
How does limited infrastructure influence water availability
Poorer countries may lack the facilities to transport water to areas in need
How does pollution influence water availability
Increasing amounts of waste and use of chemicals in farming have led to more polluted water supplies
How does poverty influence water availability
Many poor communities lack access to mains supply and may only have a shared supply
What are the impacts of water insecurity?
Waterborne diseases + water pollution
Food production
Industrial output
Water conflict
How does water insecurity impact water pollution / waterborne diseases
If water supply infrastructure is limited, there may be little to no sanitation
Open sewers / polluted water sources cause contaminated drinking water —> life threatening diseases eg cholera
What is a named example for water pollution + waterborne diseases?
River Ganges, India
How has the River Ganges been affected by pollution and diseases
River is 2520km long and flows through N India and Bangladesh
Most polluted river in the world
Bathing in or drinking from water is very dangerous
How much raw sewage enters the River Ganges each day
1 billion litres
What two kinds of waste are found in the River Ganges
Human
Industrial
Factories discharge what into the River Ganges daily?
260 million litres untreated wastewater
What industry leaks toxic chemicals into the River Ganges?
Leather industry
How does water insecurity impact food production
Agriculture uses 70% of global water supply
Drier regions with unreliable rainfall are most at risk
Droughts affect food supply
What are the USA’s major agricultural outputs?
Wheat
Maize
Rice
What is a named example for impact of water insecurity on food production
River Nile, Egypt
How has food production in Egypt been affected
Nile is Egypt’s primary water source
Climate change + demands of countries upstream are expected to reduce its flow by 10-90% by 2095
Food production in S Egypt likely to decline 30% by 2050
Egypt imports __% of food and agricultural products
40%
How does water insecurity impact industrial output
Industry is 2nd largest consumer of water
Predicted to be fastest growing sector
Growth in manufacturing + processing industries will account for much of the future demand
Industrial output is predicted to increase in demand by…
120% by 2050
What is a named example of how water insecurity affects industrial output
Chinese industry
How has Chinese industry impacted water
By 2030 it will use 33% of country’s water
Water shortages cost China $40bn
China depends on coal resources to drive economic growth - coal mining + power stations use 20% of China’s water
How does water insecurity affect water conflict
Water sources cross national + political borders
Issues such as reservoir construction and pollution can impact multiple countries and create conflict
What is a named example of water conflict
Rogun Dam, Tajikistan
How has the Rogun Dam caused water conflict
Rivers flow from Tajikistan to Uzbekistan
Electricity from dam will support industrial growth in Tajikistan
However Uzbekistan suffers from water deficit and dam may reduce their supplies - they also rely on exporting cotton which requires irrigation
How can water supply be increased?
Diverting / storing water
Dams and reservoirs
Water transfers
Desalination
How does diverting / storing water increase water supply
Water can be diverted and stored in aquifers or reservoirs - particularly useful in places where surface water evaporates quickly
What are the advantages of diverting and storing water
Recycles water
Takes reliance away from surface water sources
Water can be used in dry periods
What are the disadvantages of diverting and storing water
Cost of filtration + injection system
Dependent on rainfall
How do dams + reservoirs increase water supply
Dams interrupt river flow and create manmade lake (reservoir) to store water and control river discharge
What are the advantages of dams + reservoirs
Control of water flow - it can be transported and used for irrigation
Help prevent flooding
Can be used to generate energy too
What are the disadvantages of dams and reservoirs
Can displace people
Reduce flow of water downstream
Expensive to construct and maintain
What do water transfer schemes do
Redistribute water from areas of surplus to deficit
What is desalination
Process where salt is removed from seawater to produce freshwater
What are the issues involved with desalination
Very expensive
Environmental impacts on ecosystems when salt waste dumped back into sea
Lots of energy required - adds to CO2 emissions
What is our named example of a large scale water transfer scheme?
The Lesotho Highland Water Project
What is the context for the Lesotho highland water project?
Lesotho is a highland country surrounded by South Africa
Heavily dependent on SA’s economy
Few resources, high levels of poverty, growing population
High rainfall
What is the Lesotho highland water project?
Water transfer scheme aimed to help solve water shortage in SA
__% of water from Segu (Orange) river in Lesotho will be transferred to River Vaal in S Africa
40%
The Lesotho scheme will involve construction of…
Dams, reservoirs + pipelines
Roads, bridges and other infrastructure
What are the main features of the Lesotho highland water project
Aims to transfer 2000 million m3 of water each year
Water transferred to SA via a tunnel enabling HEP production at Muela plant
Katse and Mohale Dams store water
What are the advantages for Lesotho?
Provides 75% of GDP
Income from scheme helps development and standard of living
What are the disadvantages for Lesotho?
Unique wetland ecosystem destroyed
Building of first 2 dams displaced 30,000 people
What are the advantages for S Africa
Provides water to area with regular droughts
Provides safe water to extra 10% of population without access to safe supply
What are the disadvantages for S Africa?
40% of water lost through leakages
Costs likely to reach $4bn/year
What strategies can help create sustainable water supplies?
Water conservation
Groundwater management
Recycling
Grey water
How can water conservation create sustainable water supplies
Reducing waste + leakages
Water meters to encourage wise use
Water tariffs that increase sharply after higher use
How much of the global water supply is lose through leakages?
25-30%
How can we save water at home?
Only use washing machines / dishwasher on full load
Tap off when brushing teeth
Twin flush toilet system
Collect rainwater for use in garden
How can groundwater management create sustainable water supplies
Groundwater stored in aquifers must be managed to maintain quality + quantity
Abstraction (loss) must be balanced by recharge (gain)
If groundwater levels fall…
Water can become contaminated, making expensive water treatment necessary
What is PGM
Participatory Groundwater Management
What has PGM scheme involved in India
Training locals to monitor rainfall / groundwater levels
Help farmers plan when and how much water to use for irrigation
Why was the PGM scheme needed in rural India
50% of water is used on irrigation
85% of drinking water is groundwater
Through the PGM scheme, communities have used ______ to balance water supply and demand using ______ practices
Scientific monitoring
Sustainable
How does recycling create sustainable water supplies
Reuses treated wastewater for useful purposes eg irrigation
Large quantities used for cooling in electricity or steel-making plants
How does grey water help create sustainable water supplies
Water is taken from sinks, baths, showers and washing machines
Mainly used for irrigation or watering gardens
What is our named example of a local scheme in LIC/NEE to increase sustainable water supplies
The Wakel River Basin project
Where is the Wakel River Basin project taking place
NW India
In the south of the state of Rajasthan
Thar desert
Driest and poorest part of India
Little surface water
What are the negative effects of over-use of water for irrigation in Rajasthan
Waterlogging and salinisation
What are the negative effects of over-abstraction in Rajasthan
Falling water tables in aquifers
Wells dry up
Why is there little coordination of water management in Rajasthan
Wells are controlled by locals and households
What NGO is involved in the Wakel River Basin project
Global Water for Sustainability Program
How does the Global Water for Sustainability Program work with locals
Works with them to improve water security
Locals actively involved in decision making to make management successful
What are the 2 main aims of the Wakel River Basin Project
- Increase water supply / storage using appropriate local solutions
- Raise awareness in communities of the need for effective water management
How does the Wakel River Basin Project increase water supply?
Encourages collection of rainwater
Taankas - underground storage systems, each can hold enough to supply a family for several months
Joheds - small earth dams, have raised water tables by 6m
Pats - irrigation channels - transfer water to fields
How does the pat system work
Small dam called a bund diverts water from stream to field
Villagers take turns to water fields this way
Maintenance completed by the farmers
Why is public awareness and education important
Informs local people of how to conserve water and increase water security
By conserving water, problems like… are reduced
Soil erosion
Desertification
Groundwater pollution
