Physical Geography - Carbon Eq2

Question 1

What is the difference between per capita consumption and consumption in terms of units of GDP?

Answer 1

Per capita consumption refers to the amount of energy consumed by an individual, while consumption in terms of units of GDP refers to the amount of energy consumed per unit of economic output.

Question 2

What is meant by the term “energy mix”?

Answer 2

The term “energy mix” refers to the proportion of different types of energy sources used to meet energy demand.

Question 3

What is the difference between domestic and foreign energy consumption?

Answer 3

Domestic energy consumption refers to the energy consumed within a country, while foreign energy consumption refers to energy imported from other countries.

Question 4

What is the difference between primary and secondary energy consumption?

Answer 4

Primary energy consumption refers to the energy consumed directly from natural sources, such as coal, oil and natural gas. Secondary energy consumption refers to the energy obtained from transforming primary energy sources, such as electricity.

Question 5

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources?

Answer 5

Renewable energy sources are those that are replenished naturally and can be used indefinitely, such as solar and wind power. Non-renewable energy sources are those that are finite, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Question 6

How does access to and consumption of energy resources vary?

Answer 6

Access to and consumption of energy resources depends on factors such as physical availability, cost, technology, public perception, level of economic development, and environmental priorities.

Question 7

What factors influence access to and consumption of energy resources?

Answer 7

Physical availability, cost, technology, public perception, level of economic development and environmental priorities all play a role in influencing access to and consumption of energy resources.

Question 8

How do national comparisons, such as the USA versus France, demonstrate differences in access to and consumption of energy resources?

Answer 8

National comparisons, such as the USA versus France, can demonstrate differences in access to and consumption of energy resources based on factors such as economic development and environmental priorities. For example, France may have a higher proportion of renewable energy in their energy mix compared to the USA.

Question 9

What is the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) in securing energy pathways and supplies?

Answer 9

TNCs are large companies that operate in multiple countries and play a significant role in the production, distribution, and sale of energy resources. They have significant influence in the energy industry and can impact the availability and cost of energy for consumers.

Question 10

How does the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) impact the energy industry?

Answer 10

OPEC is an intergovernmental organization of oil-producing countries that coordinates and unifies the petroleum policies of its member countries. It has significant influence on the global price of oil and can impact the availability and cost of energy for consumers and countries that import oil.

Question 11

What role do consumers play in securing energy pathways and supplies?

Answer 11

Consumers play a role in securing energy pathways and supplies by making choices about how they use energy and supporting policies and technologies that promote sustainable energy sources.

Question 12

How do governments play a role in securing energy pathways and supplies?

Answer 12

Governments play a role in securing energy pathways and supplies by setting energy policies and regulations, investing in research and development, and providing funding and incentives for the development of sustainable energy sources. They also negotiate international agreements and alliances to secure energy supplies and can also nationalize energy companies and resources.

Question 13

What causes a mismatch between locations of conventional fossil fuel supply and regions where demand is highest?

Answer 13

The mismatch between locations of conventional fossil fuel supply and regions where demand is highest is caused by physical geography.

Question 14

How does physical geography impact the distribution of fossil fuel resources and demand?

Answer 14

Physical geography plays a significant role in determining where fossil fuel resources are found and where energy demand is highest.

Question 15

How does the mismatch between fossil fuel supply and demand locations affect energy security and transportation?

Answer 15

The mismatch between fossil fuel supply and demand locations can affect energy security and transportation as it requires the transportation of fossil fuels over long distances, increasing the risk of supply disruption and the cost of energy.

Question 16

What solutions have been proposed to address the mismatch between fossil fuel supply and demand?

Answer 16

Solutions that have been proposed to address the mismatch between fossil fuel supply and demand include the development of renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency, and the use of technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

Question 17

What is the significance of energy pathways in terms of security?

Answer 17

Energy pathways, such as pipelines, transmission lines, shipping routes, and road and rail, are a key aspect of security as they ensure the delivery of energy resources to the regions where they are needed.

Question 18

How can conventional fossil fuel depletion affect energy pathways?

Answer 18

As conventional fossil fuel sources deplete, the reliance on these pathways increases, making them more vulnerable to disruption.

Question 19

Can you give an example of energy pathways that have been prone to disruption?

Answer 19

One example of energy pathways that have been prone to disruption is the Russian gas supply to Europe through pipelines.

Question 20

What are unconventional fossil fuel energy resources?

Answer 20

Unconventional fossil fuel energy resources refer to fossil fuel resources that are more difficult and expensive to extract, such as tar sands, oil shale, shale gas, and deep water oil.

Question 21

What are the social costs and benefits of developing unconventional fossil fuel resources?

Answer 21

The development of unconventional fossil fuel resources can bring economic benefits, such as job creation and increased revenue, but it can also result in negative impacts on local communities and the environment, such as pollution and land degradation.

Question 22

How do unconventional fossil fuel resources impact the carbon cycle?

Answer 22

The extraction and use of unconventional fossil fuel resources can contribute to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the effects of climate change.

Question 23

What are the consequences of developing unconventional fossil fuel resources for fragile environments?

Answer 23

The development of unconventional fossil fuel resources in fragile environments can have significant negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem health.

Question 24

What is the role of business in developing unconventional fossil fuel reserves?

Answer 24

Businesses play a key role in the development of unconventional fossil fuel reserves, investing in the technology and infrastructure needed for extraction.

Question 25

How do environmental groups and affected communities respond to the development of unconventional fossil fuel resources?

Answer 25

Environmental groups and affected communities often raise concerns about the negative impacts of unconventional fossil fuel development and advocate for alternative energy sources.

Question 26

Can you give an example of an unconventional fossil fuel resource and its development?

Answer 26

An example of an unconventional fossil fuel resource is Canadian tar sands, which have faced significant controversy over their environmental impacts.

Question 27

How does the development of unconventional fossil fuel resources compare to the development of conventional fossil fuel resources?

Answer 27

The development of unconventional fossil fuel resources is generally more complex, costly, and environmentally impactful than the development of conventional fossil fuel resources.

Question 28

What are some examples of renewable and recyclable energy sources?

Answer 28

Examples of renewable and recyclable energy sources include nuclear power, wind power, and solar power.

Question 29

In what ways can renewable energy sources help decouple fossil fuels from economic growth?

Answer 29

Renewable energy sources can help decouple fossil fuels from economic growth by reducing dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels and providing a cleaner, more sustainable source of energy.

Question 30

What are some of the costs and benefits of renewable energy sources economically, socially, and environmentally?

Answer 30

Renewable energy sources have costs and benefits economically, socially, and environmentally. For example, they can be more expensive to implement initially, but they have a lower impact on the environment, and can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, which can be a cost in the long run.

Question 31

How does the contribution of renewable energy sources to energy security?

Answer 31

Renewable energy sources can contribute to energy security by providing a more stable and reliable source of energy, and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, which can be subject to price volatility and supply disruptions.

Question 32

Can you give an example of a country that has been transitioning its energy mix?

Answer 32

One example of a country that has been transitioning its energy mix is the UK, which has been increasing its use of renewable energy sources in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and meet its climate change targets.

Question 33

What are biofuels?

Answer 33

Biofuels are an alternative energy source that are derived from biological materials, such as crops or waste products.

Question 34

How are biofuels used globally?

Answer 34

Biofuels are used globally as an alternative energy source, and their use has been increasing in recent years.

Question 35

What are the implications of the growth in biofuels for food supply?

Answer 35

The growth in biofuels can have implications for food supply as it can lead to competition for land and resources between biofuel production and food production.

Question 36

Are biofuels considered ‘carbon neutral’?

Answer 36

The carbon neutral status of biofuels is uncertain and debated, as there are different methods of producing and using biofuels that can affect their overall carbon footprint.

Question 37

Can you give an example of a country where biofuels are significant?

Answer 37

Brazil is one example of a country where biofuels are significant, with a large portion of its transportation sector being powered by biofuels made from sugarcane.

Question 38

What are some examples of radical technologies that could reduce carbon emissions?

Answer 38

Carbon capture and storage and alternative energy sources such as hydrogen fuel cells and electric vehicles are examples of radical technologies that could reduce carbon emissions.

Question 39

What is carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and how does it work?

Answer 39

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is a process that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by power plants and other industrial sources and stores it underground or in other long-term storage facilities.

Question 40

How does CCS technology contribute to reducing carbon emissions from the energy sector?

Answer 40

By capturing and storing carbon dioxide, CCS technology aims to reduce the amount of CO2 that is released into the atmosphere, thereby reducing carbon emissions from the energy sector.

Question 41

What are the challenges facing the implementation of CCS technology?

Answer 41

Some of the challenges facing the implementation of CCS technology include the high costs of capturing and storing CO2, as well as the lack of infrastructure and regulations in place to support its widespread deployment.

Question 42

What are hydrogen fuel cells and how do they generate electricity?

Answer 42

Hydrogen fuel cells are devices that generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

Question 43

How do hydrogen fuel cells contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

Answer 43

Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity without producing any greenhouse gas emissions, making them a promising technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 44

What are electric vehicles (EVs) and how do they work?

Answer 44

Electric vehicles (EVs) are vehicles that are powered by electricity from batteries, which can be charged from renewable energy sources like solar or wind power.

Question 45

How do EVs contribute to reducing carbon emissions?

Answer 45

By using electricity from renewable energy sources, EVs can significantly reduce carbon emissions compared to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.

Question 46

What are some of the uncertainties surrounding the feasibility and scalability of these radical technologies?

Answer 46

There is still uncertainty surrounding the feasibility and scalability of these technologies, as well as the costs associated with their development and deployment.

Question 47

What are the costs associated with the development and deployment of these technologies?

Answer 47

The cost of developing and deploying these technologies is still significant, and further research and development is needed to bring down costs and make them more viable on a large scale.

Question 48

What kind of research and development is needed to fully understand their potential impact on reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change?

Answer 48

Further research and development is needed to fully understand the potential impact of these technologies on reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change, and to identify the best way to implement them on a large scale. This research and development should include both technical and economic evaluations, as well as social and environmental considerations.