Resource Management

Question 1

What are resources?

Answer 1

A supply of something (e.g money or materials) that can be used. Some resources are essential for survival, whilst others are needed to maintain a
standard of living.

Question 2

Name 3 resources for humans?

Answer 2

Food
People cannot live without food. The average person needs to consume between 2,000 and 2,500
calories per day. The actual number of calories needed depends on factors such as sex, age, height and level of activity. Eating too few calories causes weight loss and can lead to a lack of energy. People who do not have enough food to eat may find it difficult to work. If there are too many people in a country who are unable to work, this can negatively impact the wealth of the country. Consuming too many calories can cause weight gain which can also make it difficult to work.

People cannot live without water. Water makes up about two thirds of a person’s body. We need it for our body to function, e.g to absorb nutrients and get rid of waste. Each person should drink between 1.6 and 2 litres of water a day. The actual amount of water needed depends on factors such as the air temperature and the type of activity that a person undertakes each day. Water is also used to keep ourselves clean and healthy, and is also needed to grow food and for industry. In drier countries or drier seasons, irrigation enables crops to grow. Industry uses water in many ways, such as cleaning, cooling and as a
raw material in production.

Energy has many uses. It heats homes and offices, cooks our food and powers transport. Much of the energy that is used is in the form of electricity. primary energy sources, such as fossil fuels or the wind, have been used to generate it.

Question 3

How is food resourced in the UK?

Answer 3

The UK does have food security. Around 40% of the UK’s food has been imported and much of it has been
processed.

In the past, people ate food that was in
season
, eg cabbages and leeks in the winter and tomatoes and cucumbers in the summer. Nowadays, people in wealthier nations can eat any type of food at any point in the year. Heated greenhouses allow crops to grow out of season and cold storage allows food to be transported from other parts of the world.
Trans-national corporations(TNCs) work in several different countries, processing food and exporting it across the globe.

Organic foods are grown without using any chemicals. They use natural fertilisers, such as animal manure, and natural predators instead of chemical pesticides. The consumption of organic produce has risen in the UK as fewer people are prepared to eat food that has been sprayed with harsh chemicals.

When farmland is converted to become organic, yields initially drop, but then they can improve to similar levels as non-organic crops. Organic farms are environmentally
sustainable, in that they don’t use artificial chemicals. Some people believe that organic farming is unsustainable as it can lead to a greater use of land area.

Question 4

What is water insecurity?

Answer 4

No reliable access to adequate quantities of acceptably clean water.

Question 5

What percent of the global population experience water insecurity?

Answer 5

80 percent

Question 6

What are water transfer schemes in the UK?

Answer 6

Water taken from a place of surplus to a place of deficit.

Question 7

How is the demand for water in the UK changing?

Answer 7

In the past, people used far less water. Water use has increased as more people wash cars, take longer showers and water their gardens. The average person uses around 150 litres of cleaned and treated water every day. Farming and industry also use large quantities of water.

Only a proportion of the UK’s total water use comes from within the country. Imported products, like food and cotton, use up water resources in the countries where they are grown. The UK’s
water footprint
is a measure of the total water used both within the UK and in other countries through imported products.

Question 8

How is renewable energy growing in the UK?

Answer 8

The UK has been reliant on fossil fuels for many years. Global supplies of fossil fuels were once thought to be running out. However, as technology improves, new supplies can be discovered and accessed more easily. There are huge, barely tapped reserves in South America, Africa and the Arctic.

It is estimated that gas will last another 50 years and coal another 112 years. Around 40% of the UK’s gas supply currently comes from
domestic
supplies (the North Sea). However, UK supplies of fossil fuels could run out within just 5 years.

Renewable
fuels make up less than 10% of the UK’s energy mix. The government needs to increase this figure to 15% by 2020 to meet its
European Union
target. The UK has a lot of potential for generating renewable energy:

Over 50% of all renewable energy generated in the UK comes from
wind farms
. Most of this is from onshore
turbines
, but the number of offshore turbines is increasing.
The amount of UK electricity generated through
hydroelectric power
(HEP) has remained the same since 2012. This will not increase unless new
dams
are built.
Less than 0.01% of UK energy is generated through tidal power. The UK is an island nation and could generate around 20% of its electricity using waves and tides.
Solar panels are becoming more common, particularly on peoples’ homes. The UK government think that 4% of our electricity could come from solar power by 2020.

Question 9

What is the main energy mix of the UK?

Answer 9

The energy mix of the UK consists mostly of gas, coal and nuclear fuel.

Question 10

What is water stress?

Answer 10

occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period or when poor quality restricts its use.

Question 11

How does the water cycle lead to eater surplus and deficit?

Answer 11

There is a fixed amount of water on the planet. Some is stored in the oceans and ice caps and some circulates as the
water cycle
. The amount of water available in an area is dependent on factors such as rainfall, temperature and population.

Higher rainfall leads to more water. Some places can have too much rainfall, which leads to
flooding
.
Higher temperatures cause
evaporation
. If water evaporates, then less is available for people to use.
Higher populations use more water. This means there is less available to share around.
Areas of water surplus have more water than they need. Excess water flows along rivers and out into the sea, but can become a problem if it floods the land. Areas of water deficit have too little water.

Question 12

How do different countries use Energy?

Answer 12

High income countries
(HICs) and
new emerging economies
(NEEs) consume a lot of energy. The people living in these countries are usually linked to a national electricity grid. They use a lot of technology in their lives and have a high
standard of living
. Factories in NEEs also use energy to manufacture products.
Low income countries
(LICs) use less energy. Many people living in LICs are not connected to an electricity grid, but rely on primary energy sources, such as fuel-wood or animal dung.

Some countries produce large supplies of energy. They may have fossil fuel reserves or access to other energy sources, such as geothermal heat. Other countries are dependent upon imported fuel. Fuel prices are set by the exporting countries and so those importing fuel often have to pay high prices.

Places that have energy security produce a high percentage of the energy that they consume. Places that have energy insecurity consume more than they produce. Energy security is determined by the balance between the amount of energy produced in that country and energy imported from abroad.

Question 13

What is fracking?

Answer 13

Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to get oil and gas out of the ground. Water, sand and a cocktail of chemicals are pumped deep underground at high pressure to open up cracks (or fractures) in the rock, releasing the oil or gas trapped inside.Fracked fuels can be even more damaging to the climate than regular oil and gas. The process of extracting these fuels risks causing pollution.

Question 14

What factors affect the rate at which water is consumed?

Answer 14

Population growth, Population Density and Development.

Question 15

What are the three ways water is consumed?

Answer 15

Agriculture,Industry and Domestic

Question 16

How do countries with no freshwater get clean water?

Answer 16

Desalination
- in countries where water is scarce, desalinisation of seawater provides safe drinking water. This is expensive as it requires large amounts of energy. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has limited freshwater. Around 40 per cent of the country’s drinking water comes from desalination.

Question 17

How can we reduce water consumption?

Answer 17

Educating people about the importance of saving water helps to reduce
consumption. If people understand the importance of water
conservation, they are likely to use less. For example, people can get in the habit of turning off taps whilst cleaning their teeth.

There are many devices that reduce water use in the home, such as taps that aerate water and
dual flush toilets. Modern appliances, like dishwashers and washing machines, generally use less water than older models. Many homes are now fitted with
water meters. These calculate a bill based on how much water is used. People with water meters often think more about how much water they use.

Some water does not need to be perfectly clean.
Greywater recycling
systems gather ‘greywater’. This is rainwater or water that has already been used, eg for washing clothes. It is safe to use greywater to flush toilets or to water gardens, but it is not safe to drink.

Question 18

What are the three factors that make water supply an issue in the UK?

Answer 18

Ageing Infrastructure

Seasonal Imbalance

Supply and Demand is not balanced.

Question 19

What are the factors affecting water supply?

Answer 19

Climate – low levels of rainfall and high temperatures lead to
water deficits
. When rainfall is low, there is less water available. When temperatures are high, water evaporates and so there is less available to use.
Water surpluses
are common where rainfall is high and temperatures are lower.
Geology – rainfall flows down to the rocks beneath the ground. Some rocks are
permeable
and allow water to flow through them. Permeable rocks can lead to less surface water. For example, limestone landscapes often have dry rivers - the rivers only exist when rain has just fallen. Permeable rocks form
aquifers
, which means they are stores of water. 70% of the water supply in the south east of England comes from the chalk aquifer beneath the surface. Other rocks are
impermeable
. These rocks do not hold water, but they can trap it in the layers above.
Pollution – some places have plenty of water, but pollution has made it unsafe to use. Untreated
sewage
and waste water from factories cause problems.
Groundwater
is usually cleaner, although pollutants can travel down into the ground. Gold mining near Johannesburg, South Africa, has led to uranium, arsenic and sulphuric acid polluting streams and rivers.

Over-abstraction
– when water is taken from aquifers, groundwater levels fall. If the amount of water taken is greater than the amount of water falling as rain, it is called over-abstraction. The Sonoran desert in Arizona has experienced over-abstraction as water is taken for irrigation and urbanisation. The land here is subsiding and water is becoming scarcer.
Limited
infrastructures – pipelines are needed to safely move water from place to place. Sealed pipes reduce the potential for leaks and pollution. Some places do not have these pipes in place. They can be expensive to lay as they need to be buried underground. Water pumps also form part of the water infrastructure. Water pumps in villages across Kenya were recently fitted with transmitters that send text messages if the devices break down.
Poverty – nearly 1 billion people in Africa do not have access to clean, safe water. This locks them in a
cycle of poverty - they cannot afford water so they become ill and when they become ill then cannot work and earn money.

Question 20

What are the impacts of water insecurity?

Answer 20

Lack of clean piped water - water insecurity leads to a lack of clean, piped water. This means that many girls across Africa spend hours walking to collect water rather than attending school.

Waterborne disease
- drinking or using dirty water puts people at risk of waterborne diseases and illnesses.
Food production - water insecurity can lead to lower levels of food production. Irrigation can increase crop yields by as much as 400%. Places that do not have enough water to irrigate crops have less food to eat.
Industrial output - industry needs water for all stages of production. Water is used as a raw material
, a coolant, a method of transport, and in some cases a source of energy. Areas that experience water insecurity are unable to operate factories and make products. This leaves them relying on imports, which may be expensive.
Conflicts - water is a source of conflict in some parts of the world. Seizing
dams is a powerful way of controlling water and electricity supplies.

Question 21

Assess the reasons why the global demand and supply for water resources has
changed over the past 50 years.

Answer 21

• Over the last 50 years, global population has grown very quickly, and this has
  triggered an increase in the global demand for water resources.
• Another reason why demand for water resources has gone up has been the
  growing affluence; this increased wealth has enabled people to afford
  technology and to spend leisure time doing activities that require water (e.g.
  washing machines, showers, dishwashers and swimming pools, golf courses).
• Advances in technology during the past 50 years have led to a changes in the
  way water is used – for example via HEP to generate electricity.
• As developing/emerging countries become wealthier, their capacity to use and
  to develop new and more sustainable water supplies increases.
• The supply of fresh water to households in developed countries has not changed
  very much over the last 50 years.
• Water supply is still a major challenge in many developing countries – with a
  continued reliance on charitable organisations such as WaterAid to provide the
  means to access clean drinking water.
• As countries develop, demands for food stuffs (e.g. meat and cereals) goes up –
  and therefore the demand for water in the agricultural sector also goes up.
• Over the last 50 years, greater awareness about personal hygiene (e.g.
  brushing teeth / daily shower) has led to a large increase in the demand for
  water.
• Rapid population growth has been uneven, with the majority of the growth
  being in emerging/developing countries; in these countries, water is
  predominately used in agriculture – and increased affluence means that
  technology (e.g. irrigation systems) can be used to water crops.
• In developed countries, a major factor that affects the supply of water is the
  variation in annual rainfall; this has resulted in some areas experiencing
  drought conditions e.g. UK several times in the last 50 yeas / since summer
  1976.
• In emerging countries industrialisation has led to a very rapid increase in the
  demand for water e.g. in factories and in thermal power stations. In addition to
  this, industrialisation in emerging/developing countries often leads to
  environmental degrdation – in particular the pollution of water courses. In
  theory, these countries can now afford afford to manage their water resources
  in a more sustainable way – but this is not always the case.
• In some countries, the growing demand for water resources is out-stripping
  supply. This can lead to water shortages – and the need for investment into
  large-scale water transfer / storage schemes.

Question 22

Explain one reason why there are different views about the development of
desalination technology

Answer 22

The process of desalination requires chemicals (e.g. chlorine) to be added
to water before desalination (1) but these can only be used for only a
limited amount of time (1) which means that once they’ve lost their
ability to clean the water, these chemicals are dumped (1) which
becomes a major environmental concern as they often find their way
back into the ocean, where they poison plant and animal life (1).
Brine is a waste product of desalination (1) which can be a pollutant if
dumped back into the ocean (1) because many species are not equipped
to adjust to the immediate change in salinity / decrease in oxygen (1)
which can cause animals and plants to suffocate (1).
Desalination can increase the amount of brine / chemicals in the water
(1) which can kill plankton and phytoplankton, which form the base of all
marine life by forming the base of the food chain (1) which then could
reduce the biodiversity / number of species further up the food chain (1).
By-products of the chemicals used in desalination can get through into
the drinking water system (1) which may endanger the people who drink
it (1) because desalinated water can be acidic – doesn’t agree with
human digestive systems (1) which means human health can be placed
at risk (1).

Positive views e.g.
Desalination can provide people with clean / fresh drinking water (1)
because it removes dissolved salts and other minerals from seawater (1)
which means that it provides a solution for areas that have limited
resources of fresh water (1) and therefore a reliable alternative source of
water in times of severe drought (1).
Desalination can provide more water for agriculture / industry (1) which
means that more water is available to farmers for irrigation (1), which
means that arid regions or areas experiencing droughts can now grow
crops (1) which boosts the economic productivity of a country (1)
Desalination uses tried-and-tested technology (1) which means that the
method is proven and effective at providing clean water (1) and this is a
method that can be considered ‘renewable’ (1) because there is an
almost inexhaustible supply of sea/ocean water (1)
Desalination can actually help preserve current freshwater supplies (1)
which is important as our freshwater supplies are limited / under
increasing pressure (1) as a result of growing demand / population (1)
which means that the process of desalination will reduce potential water
shortages in the future (1)