Resource security Flashcards
Name two water transfer schemes.
South Africa, and Lesotho
What is a stock resource?
A resource that is finite and therefore can be exhausted.
What is a flow resource?
These are ongoing, and either immediately available or created at a comparable rates to consumption.
Reasons for mineral resources.
Mineral content discovered within a rock.
The conditions geologically.
The accessibility in relations to the market.
What is a resource frontier?
They are exploited once it can be determined what is located in an area. Not previously explored.
What is a resource peak?
The point where resources reaches a point whereby it begins to diminish.
What is the name for the idea of peak resources?
Hubbert’s Curve
When is it predicted that peak oil will occur?
2030
What determines peak production?
The availability and discovery of reserves.
Development of new technologies.
Demand for the resource.
The grade of the available resource.
How can resources be managed sustainably?
Long term planning, in order that extraction doesn’t occur too quickly.
Ensuring that there is a plan for workers after the collapse of the resource.
Aiming to prolong the extraction process.
What is an EIA?
Environmental Impact Assessment
What is the purpose of an EIA?
Assess the potential impacts of a resource development project, and is completed before this occurs.
What do EIA’s contain within them?
The potential dangers created by a project, the damage it can have upon flora and fauna along with the damage to the topography.
Suggests ways to mitigate against any major environmental impacts.
What does an EIA lead to?
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
What is an inferred resource?
Has possible economic viability, but not known.
What is a possible resource?
Expected that the inferred resource could materialise, with further exploration.
What is an Indicated resource?
Conditions and location of the resource is can be predicted, and planning for exploitation can occur.
What is a measured resource?
Detailed planning has occurred, and the resource is certain.
Why do LIC’s require more minerals?
To aid development and technological advancements.
What are the trading patterns of minerals?
Increased demand, as they are required by more nations.
Minerals are shipped from multiple nations, towards China. This aids in the creation of technology.
Creates a global trading network, that enables technology consumption.
What is geopolitics?
The factors of both political and geographical, that influence the use of land and resources.
How can environmental impacts of mineral extraction be mitigated?
Spraying water on mine roads to reduce toxic dust in the air.
Not mining on environmentally unstable areas.
Processing onsite processing to reduce emissions of transporting it elsewhere.
How can environmental impacts of mineral transport be mitigated?
Driverless trains and trucks are more efficient, decreasing emissions.
Using more efficient fuels in vehicles.
How can environmental impacts of mineral processing be mitigated?
Creating aluminium having only oxygen as a bi-product, making it carbon neutral.
Improving efficiency in mining.
Powering plants using renewable sources of energy.
What is a mineral?
A naturally occurring compound formed by chemical processes, meaning that they are not organic.
How can a site be restored following extraction?
Planting trees.
Stabilising waste material.
Tailing management Facilities- used to store waste
Planting vegetation on piles to remove toxins within the ground
What makes copper sustainable?
It can be recycled, meaning the amount of mining required is much less than previous years.
How much is water demand predicted to increase by 2050?
55%
What is water stress?
When demand supersedes the available amount of clean and safe water.
1700m3 per person.
What can water stress lead to?
Over-exploitation of long term water stores, such as aquifers.
What is eutrophication?
The process of de-salination within bodies of water, due to the cover of vegetation preventing light into water.
What is economic water scarcity?
A country has enough water, but due to their economic status they are unable to exploit it .
What are the patterns of global energy trade?
Many nations are beginning to develop alternate domestic sources of energy.
It is becoming much less economically viable to import stock energy sources.
What has changed the dynamics of water geopolitics?
Climate change and population growth.
What are the concerns is diplomatic solutions are not made about water sources?
Water wars between nations.
What will river management aim to prevent?
severe shrinking of main rivers, that act as water sources.
Water wars, and to allow each nation sufficient water.
Where is the majority of drinkable water stored?
Antarctic ice caps
Greenland.
How much water is directly available for human consumption?
1%
Why is water demand predicted to increase?
Higher demand from LIC’s and NEE’s for resources.
Expansion of economic activities.
Which areas are at most risk for water stress?
Highly urbanised areas, especially in areas that have exploited all groundwater.
How might cities combat water stress in the future?
Digging deeper into aquifer stores.
Collecting rainwater, in water catchments.
Desalination of sea water.
How can water supply be increased?
Storage- Dams
Diversion- moved from its natural course
Water Transfer
Desalinisation
Water Catchment
How does water catchment increase water supply?
Wetland restoration or reforestation allows for more rainwater to be collected. Water companies are able to block drainage to increase water retention, whereas farmers can use higher surface runoff.
How does water storage increase water supply?
The construction of temporary dams means that the needs for water can be met with each season. During the wet season water can be stored, and during the dry season this water can be diverted to fields.
How does water diversion increase water supply?
Provides better irrigation for the areas that require it, and drinking water. However it has to be carefully managed to avoid long term damage.
How does water transfer increase water supply?
Moving water from areas of excess, to areas of deficit ensures equal share of water.