Resource Management Definitions

Question 1

Low Income Country (LIC)

Answer 1

-Subdivision of countries based on income per capita (less than $1045 per year)

Question 2

High Income Country (HIC)

Answer 2

-Subdivision of countries based on income per capita (more than $12746 per year)

Question 3

Resource

Answer 3

• A stock or supply of something that has a value or a purpose.
• The three most important are food, energy and water.

Question 4

Resource Management

Answer 4

The control and monitoring of resources so that they do not become depleted or exhausted.

Question 5

Industrialisation

Answer 5

An increase in the processing of raw materials and the manufacture of goods in factories.

Question 6

Agribusiness

Answer 6

Application of business to agriculture

Question 7

Local Food Sourcing

Answer 7

• A method of food production and distribution that is local, rather than national and/or international.
• Food is grown (or raised) and harvested close to consumers’ homes, then distributed over much shorter distances

Question 8

Malnutrition

Answer 8

-A poorly-balanced diet lacking in vitamins and minerals which leads to health problems

Question 9

Undernutrition

Answer 9

-Not having enough food in terms of calories consumed per day. (Guideline for men = 2,500 calories per day)

Question 10

Food Miles

Answer 10

-The distance covered supplying food to consumers.

Question 11

Organic Produce

Answer 11

• Food which is using environmentally and animal friendly farming methods on organic farms.
• Artificial fertilisers are banned and farmers develop fertile soil by rotating crops and using compost, manure and clover.
• It must be free of synthetic additives like pesticides and dyes.

Question 12

Fossil Fuel

Answer 12

-A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the rains of living organisms.

The first fossil fuel to be exploited on a large scale was coal. Oil followed during the 20th century, with natural gas challenging these two fuels for a significant share of global supply in the 1970s. Russia contains the largest natural gas reserves, followed (in order) by Iran, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and the United States. Large amounts of natural gas are found in shale rock.

Question 13

Carbon Footprint

Answer 13

• A measurement of all the greenhouse gases we individually produce through burning fossil fuels for electricity, transport etc.
• It is expressed as tonnes (or kg) of carbon dioxide equivalent.
• Carbon footprints can be calculated for countries and for individuals (it is ‘carbon footprint per capita’ when averaged on a per person basis in a country).

Question 14

Ecological footprint

Answer 14

• A measurement of how much area of biologically productive land and water an individual (or population) requires to produce all the resources needed to sustain the lifestyle and to absorb the waste that is generated.
• The ecological footprint is measured in global hectares.

Question 15

Water scarcity

Answer 15

• This refers to the problem in which there is a lack of sufficient fresh water to meet the demands of people in a particular region (such as water for farming and/or household use).
• It is estimated that nearly 3 billion people in the world experience problems of water scarcity (of which around 800 million people lack regular access to safe, clean drinking water).

Question 16

Biomass (energy)

Answer 16

• Renewable organic materials, such as wood, agricultural crops or wastes, especially when used as a source of fuel or energy.
• Biomass can be burned directly or processed into biofuels such as ethanol and methane.

Question 17

Energy Conservation

Answer 17

Reducing energy consumption through:

• Using less energy
• Becoming more efficient in using existing energy sources

Question 18

Energy Exploitation

Answer 18

-Developing and using energy resources to the greatest possible advantage, usually for profit.

Question 19

Energy Security

Answer 19

-Uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.

Question 20

Energy Gap

Answer 20

-When a country’s ability to supply energy to its citizens falls short of the demand.

Question 21

Geothermal Energy

Answer 21

-Energy produced by heat stored deep in the Earth.

Question 22

Hydro(electric) Power

Answer 22

-Electricity generated by turbines that are driven by moving water

Question 23

Solar Energy

Answer 23

-The Sun’s energy exploited by solar panels, collectors or cells to heat water or oar to generate electricity.

Question 24

Sustainable Development

Answer 24

• Development that meets the needs of the present without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• It refers to the idea of using Earth’s resources in such a way that they will not be damaged or depleted in the long run.
• For example, an energy supply system based on fossil fuels is not sustainable in the long-term because fossil fuels will run out.

Question 25

Nuclear Energy

Answer 25

• The energy released by a nuclear reaction, especially by fission or fusion.
• Nuclear energy uses fuel made from mined and processed uranium to make steam and generate electricity.

Question 26

Renewable energy sources

Answer 26

• A resource which is not diminished when it is used; it recurs and cannot be exhausted (at least on human timescales!).
• Includes wind power, tidal and wave power, solar power, and energy from Earth’s interior (geothermal).

Question 27

Non-renewable energy

Answer 27

• This refers to sources of energy that are ‘finite’ and will eventually run out with continued use, because they are being extracted at a rate far higher than the rate at which they are replenished.
• Fossil fuels are a form of non-renewable energy.
• Nuclear power stations require the mining of uranium which is also a finite resource and therefore non-renewable.

Question 28

Sustainable Energy Supply

Answer 28

• Energy that can be used well into the future without harming future generations.
• Sustainable energy is the combination of energy savings, energy efficiency measures and technologies, as well as the use of renewable energy sources.

Question 29

Wind energy

Answer 29

Electrical energy obtained from harnessing the wind with windmills or wind turbines.

Question 30

Global warming

Answer 30

• This term is usually used to refer to the warming of the Earth’s atmosphere that is currently taking place due to the human-caused increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and other ‘greenhouse gases’.
• This is mainly occurring due to the use of fossil fuels and to deforestation (i.e. humans cutting down and clearing large areas of forest).

Question 31

Greenhouse gases

Answer 31

• Gases in the atmosphere that have the effect of absorbing heat given off from the surface of the Earth, thereby slowing the escape of heat energy to space and causing the lower atmosphere to warm.
• Water vapour, carbon dioxide, and methane are important greenhouse gases.