Resource management Flashcards
What are natural resources?
Features of the natural environment (air, water, land) that are useful to people.
What is the biosphere?
Composed of all living organisms.
What is the hydrosphere?
All of the water on or near the earth.
What is the lithosphere?
The solid, rocky crust covering the entire planet.
What is the atmosphere?
The body of gases surrounding our planet.
What are abiotic resources?
Non-living resources.
Obtained from the lithosphere, atmosphere and biosphere.
What are biotic resources?
Living things.
Obtained from the biosphere and capable of reproduction.
What are non-renewable resources?
Resources that cannot be remade.
What are renewable resources?
Resources that can be naturally replenished in a much shorter timescale.
Why is deforestation taking place in Cameroon?
High demand for vegetable oil for food and cosmetics, and for timber.
What are the impacts of deforestation in Cameroon?
Less interception, more flooding, soil erosion, nutrients leached from soil, food insecurity and impact on biodiversity.
Name some specific facts about deforestation in Cameroon.
70,000 hectares cleared for palm oil plantations.
8000 species of plants and 250 animals at risk (Chimpanzees, gorillas, leopards).
1% cleared per year.
Why is oil extraction taking place in Ecuador?
Increasing demand for oil for energy and products.
What are the impacts of oil extraction in Ecuador?
Impact on ecosystems and people.
Oil leaks, toxic sludge left behind, toxic water dumped into rivers.
Local tribes lose access to clear water for drinking, cooking, fishing.
Leads to miscarriages and birth defects.
Why is overfishing happening in the North Sea?
High demand for food.
What are impacts of overfishing in the North Sea?
Critical fish population levels - more caught than replaced in last 100 years.
Loss of biodiversity and jobs.
Name some specific facts about overfishing in the North Sea.
300,000 tonnes of cod caught in 70’s to 20,000 in 2006.
Describe how the distribution of resource use/consumption varies in the UK.
. Iron and coal helped fuel the industrial revolution
.Oil and gas from the North Sea are important but declining.
. Only 12% of the UK is woodland
. 75% of the UK is farmland
In the south-east, population density is high but rainfall is low.
The combination of high population density and low levels of precipitation creates high water-stress and supply is not able to meet demand.
Describe global water consumption patterns.
. Lower water stress nearer the equator (Brazil)
. Rapidly industrialising countries are under high stress (India and China)
. Northern African countries are under very high stress (Libya).
Describe reasons for the patterns of global water consumption.
. High rainfall at equator
. Lower rainfall at approximately 30 degrees N and S of equator.
. Arid environments with high evapotranspiration means less water in water stores.
Describes issues due to global water consumption.
Food and water insecurity leads to diseases and knock on effects on employment levels.
Describe global food consumption patterns.
. Richest countries consume more calories (America)
. Poorer countries consume less (Ghana)
. Some African countries consume less than 2000 calories per day.
Describe reasons for the patterns of global food consumption.
Some locations in sub-Saharan Africa cannot grow food due to low rainfall and have high populations.
Describe issues due to global food consumption.
. Undernutrition and malnutrition in countries.
. HIC’s - diseases linked to obesity - Heart disease and diabetes.
Describe global energy consumption patterns.
. Richest countries consume more energy (Canada and America)
. Poorer countries consume less energy (Chad)
. Saudi Arabia has high energy use.
Describe reasons for the patterns of global energy consumption.
. Some locations have access to fuel reserve (Saudi Arabia)
. Some countries have access to renewables (solar/wind), corrupt governments impact distribution
.Economic development means high tech and energy use.
Describe issues due to global energy consumption.
Inability to access resources means lack of development.
Describe why water is such a valuable resource.
- Most of it is seawater
- 60% of freshwater is snow or ice
- 30% is deep underground
- Varying residence times
Only 1% of freshwater is easily available for humans to use.
Why is global supply of water unevenly distributed?
Due to the amount of rainfall places receive and the amount that is lost through evaporation and transpiration.
What is water stress?
When there is not enough water to meet people’s needs.
How many people do not have access to clean drinking water around the world?
1.2 billion
