Resource Security Flashcards
resource
any aspect of the natural environment that can be used to meet human needs.
they have economic value and so can improve a country’s wealth or economic development.
they are unevenly distributed around the world, this results in trade.
flow
a synonym for renewable resources.
renewable
Know as infinite. Have a natural rate of availability. Have a continuous yield which can be consumed at any time without endangering future consumption
stock
a synonym for non-renewable resources
non-renewable
Known as finite. Have been built up over millions of years. They cannot be used without depleting the stock and they will eventually run out.
sustainable development
development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations
non-critical renewable
everlasting resources
critical renewable
sustainable energy resources that require careful management or else they will run out
primary energy
energy sources in raw form that are used to produce secondary energy resources
secondary energy
manufactured sources of power
resource security
the ability of a country to safeguard a reliable and sustainable flow of resources to maintain the living standards of the population while ensuring economic and social development
recyclable
the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. Recycling can prevent the waste potentially useful materials and reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials
what are the 3 steps of natural resource development
- exploration
- exploitation
- development
exploration
the process of searching and area to try and find, map and evaluate the size of natural resources
exploitation
the action of extracting and using natural resources to the fullest or most profitable use
development
the action of refining, distribution, marketing and sales of a resource
what factors decide whether to exploit a resource or not
quantity quality laws accessibility technology economic viability market price attitudes of people/ government environmental impact
development of a resource will only go ahead if it is…
economically viable
explain the 7 stages of non-renewable resource development
geological exploration (UPSTREAM) if successful and viable initial drilling and establish extraction infrastructure extraction storage and transport processing/ refining distribution to markets (DOWNSTREAM)
as of 2018 what % of global energy is supplied by fossil fuels
81%
name 5 examples of resource frontiers
Chad, Africa South Sudan, Africa Amazon rainforest, Brazil The Arctic Mongolia
resource frontier
a place with natural resources that are being exploited for the first time.
often very remote areas with technical difficulties and have environmental sensitivities
sometimes in politically unstable areas
they are developed as other resources are depleting
increased demand makes it economically viable
resource peak
when a stock resources reaches maximum production level. After this supply will decline and prices will rise
what is an example of a resource peak
peak oil
when did the UK pass peak oil
1999
what can result in the slowing down of depletion of peak oil
new technology which allows hard to reach reserves to be exploited
what kind of countries consume the most energy
mainly HIC’s
which countries consume the largest amount of energy
china is the largest consumer and USA is the second largest
However, the USA consumes more energy per capita than China
why has there been a rapid increase in energy consumption worldwide in the last 50 years
due to rise in living standards and countries start to industrialise very rapidly
-0.5 to 0.5
no significance
0.5 to 0.7
limited positive correlation
-0.5 to -0.7
limited negative correlation
-0.7 to -1.0
significant negative correlation
0.7 to 1.0
significant positive correlation
factors influencing energy consumption
technology resource availability energy efficiency GDP per capita government policy environmental concerns cost of energy supplies population size
what is the most traded fossil fuel
oil
why is oil in such high demand
due to the mismatch between areas of production and consumption
what problems does the trade of oil cause
environmental risks due to pipelines and tankers.
geopolitics issues with Middle Eastern countries.
what are the problems with trading gas
can be traded through pipelines which are very expensive.
the trade can be disrupted by political issues
what type of energy is not usually traded
renewable energy
what type of renewable energy can be traded
electricity
why can’t renewable energy be traded
they provide energy in situ
how can electricity be traded
can be traded across international borders via interconnectors
what is an example of an interconnector
UK, France
why is coal less economically viable to trade
it has lower value and is very bulky so hard to transport
geopolitics
the way in which political decisions and processes affect the way space and resources are used on an international scale
energy pathway
the flow of energy from the producer to the consumer
energy security
the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price
OPEC
organisation of petroleum exporting countries.
its members own half of the worlds oil reserves.
how can the OPEC manage oil sale
they can cut production and raise the price or they can increase production and reduce the price
energy surplus
meaning a country has more energy than is needed, so they can export
example of energy surplus
saudi arabia
energy deficit
a country doesn’t have the energy resources required the fulfil demand, they have to import energy
example of energy deficit
UK
what two countries are energy sufficient
Brazil and Denmark
where does the UK import energy from
many countries
net importer
countries that import more than they export
net exporter
countries that export more than they import
describe the geographical distribution of the top 10 oil producers
concentrated in the Middle East and the rest are widely distributed
what are the benefits to a country being a top 10 oil producer
they are energy sufficient and do not need to rely on imports, they can also export energy to make a profit boosting their economy
why might the pattern of oil producing countries change in the future
resource frontiers allow more oil to be extracted along with new technology
what kind of countries are oil importers
HiC’s and EE’s
why would countries need to import oil
if they have a energy deficit
why are the countries that import oil potentially vulnerable
they are vulnerable to rising prices
what are the 8 factors that can disrupt energy pathways
- price and payment disputes
- piracy
- conflict closing choke points
- political unrest
- diversion of supply
- technical problems
- supply runs out
- natural disasters
when was the 1970’s oil price shock
October 1973 - march 1974
what did the oil barrel price rise to in the oil price shock
$3 to $12
what caused the 1970’s oil price shock
Arab oil producers imposed an emarbgo on western countries in response to supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur war
what was the advantages as the oil price shock for the UK
the North Sea resource frontier was established (because it was economically viable) allowing the uk to become a net exporter
high oil prices encouraged the move to smaller cars made by Japanese companies, their experience resurrected uk manufacturing
what were the disadvantages of the oil price shock for the UK
price of petrol rocketed so transport more expensive
trade unions claim for higher wages and the introduction of 3 day week
high food prices due to global shortages
what physical geography influences sources of energy
geology
climate
drainage
what conditions are needed for solar energy
sunlight clear skies long days low air pollution less dense air
why is solar exposure better in mountains
the air is thinner and scatters less sunlight
where is an example of solar power
solar power plant, spain
what conditions are needed for wind power
minimum wind speed 7-10 mph optimum wind speed 25-35 mph maximum wind speed over 50 mph turbines need space to avoid eddying low lying coastal areas are best
onshore wind power example
whitelee windfarm, Glasgow
offshore wind power example
North Hoyle wind farm, Wales
what conditions are needed for HEP
large drainage basin
regular rainfall
change in gradient so water falls
cool temperatures so water doesn’t evaporate
stable underlying geology with impermeable rock
where is an example of HEP power
grand Ethiopian renaissance dam, Ethiopia
what is the major condition needed for fossil fuels
geology
what are two examples of fossil fuel locations
oil extraction, Saudi Arabia
fracking shale gas, North Dakota usa
what are the 5 steps of coalification
- 360 mil years ago plant debris buried under layers of mud and sand
- decomposition slowed down due to anaerobic conditions under the layers
- slowly decomposing material sank under weight of more sediment
- increasing weight, layers subject to increasing amount of heat and pressure
- increased heat and pressure reduces moisture, so carbon content of coal is increased
state the 6 steps to the formation of oil and gas
- organic material settle to bottom of sea
- material buried and fossilised by sediment on top
- organic matter pressurised and heated gradually to form oil, under hotter conditions it forms gas
- pressure continues to rise forcing gas upwards into more porous rocks
- some may escape but some come up against a layer of impermeable rock (cap rock)
- the oil and gas build up in the cap rock forming a reservoir trapped by impermeable rock
what is a transnational company
a company that operates in at least 2 countries
what is the main factor attracting TNCs to a country
access to raw materials
what are the influential factors attracting TNCs to a country
access to markets
friendly government policies
why do TNCs dominate the energy industry
large investments of capital are needed
they can influence politics, economy and environment
what are the advantages of fracking
creates jobs reduces reliance on imports cheap homegrown energy helps energy security benefits industry sale of land- some become millionaires community benefits
what are the disadvantages of fracking
non-renewable energy will run out release co2 contribute to climate change infrastructure creates blot on landscape chemicals can pollute groundwater/ public supply chemical use concerns local peoples health noise disturbance to local residents decrease in local property price leads to earthquake activity
shale rock
porous rock that exists in layers and in some areas can hold gas and oil in tiny pores
how many years does uranium have left
80
how is nuclear energy produced
the splitting (fission) of uranium atoms, controlled inside a nuclear reactor and the heat given off is transferred by a coolant to generate electricity. The heat creates steam which drive turbines.
what percentage of world energy is nuclear
6%
why do mainly HIC’s use nuclear power
require advanced technology and a huge investment
how much nuclear power does the UK use
9%
how much nuclear power does France use
78%
where are nuclear power stations located
near to the coast so there is a large amount of water for cooling.
away from centres of population due to explosion risk.
near to existing nuclear sites
what can nuclear fuel also be called
spent fuel
historically how was nuclear waste managed
low level waste was pumped out into Irish Sea, large quantities of radioactive waste lie on the seabed
how is nuclear waste managed today
waste is stored in sealed steel drums which are encased in concrete. Huge cooling coils in the tanks cool the heat the waste produces
what is the governments target to reduce energy consumption
reduce by 20% by 2030
the greenhouse effect
the natural process whereby greenhouse gases absorb outgoing infra-red radiation, keeping the atmosphere warm enough for life
greenhouse gases
methane, hydrofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide
global warming
an increase in the earths average temperatures due to human activity increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and reducing carbon sinks
anthropogenic climate change
human activity which increases the proportion of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and reduces carbon sinks, leading to an enhanced greenhouse gas effect, changing climates
what is acid rain waters ph
less than 5.6
why is acid rain referred to as a trans-boundary pollution event
because the gases can be blown across countries before they fall as acid rain
biomass
decaying plant or animal waste which can be burned to provide energy
solar energy
energy from sunlight is captured in solar panels and converted using photovoltaic cells into electricity
wind energy
wind turbines turn wind energy into electricity by a generator, built onshore and offshore in exposed areas where there is a high chance of stronger winds along coastlines
wave energy
the movement of seawater in and out of a cavity on the shore compresses trapped air, driving a turbine which is connected to a generator
tidal energy
tidal barrages built across estuaries. As tide flows in and out water passes through gates in the barrage turning a turbine which generates electricity
geothermal energy
in volcanic regions it is possible to use the natural heat of the earth. Cold water is pumped underground and comes out as steam, the steam can be used for heating or to turn a turbine for electricity
HEP
dams are built to trap large volumes of water. Tunnels containing turbines are built into the dams. The pressure of the water above drives water through the tunnels, turning the turbines, generators convert this to electricity
wave energy example
Hebrides, scotland
tidal energy example
range estuary barrage, northern France
biomass example
centre parcs, uk
HEP example
grand Ethiopian renaissance dam
geothermal example
Iceland
demand management
techniques used to reduce energy consumption and use energy more efficiently
combined heat and power
generates electricity while also capturing useable heat produced in the process
energy performance certificate
part of the governed strategy to tackle climate change.
must be issued when a new property id sold or rented.
info about a properties typical energy use and recomendations on how to save money
hybrid
part battery, part diesel
brownfield site
any previously developed land that is not currently in use but could potentially be contaminated
acid rain
any form of precipitation with acidic components
river abstraction
permanent or temporary removal of water from a river, lake, reservoir or estuary
boreholes
deep narrow hole into the water table to locate water
aquifers
porous rock underground that hold water
water surplus
excess water available to the system
water deficit
when water demand exceeds supply
chloropleth map
thematic map which a set of pre defined areas is coloured or patterned in proportion to a statistical variable
irrigation
the artificial process of applying controlled amounts of water to land to assist in production of crops, helping to grow agriculture
climate
the average weather conditions of a place over a long period of time
drainage
surface runoff of water, influenced by the permeability go the geology
geology
structure of the earths material including rocks and soils
how does geology influence water supply
determines whether water stays on the surface or goes underground into groundwater
how does drainage influence water supply
impermeable rock leads to water going to the surface stores such as rivers and lakes.
flows of surface stores such as rivers may vary during the year.
how does climate influence water supply
determines the amount of water available.
seasonal variations in rainfall can impact water supply.
temperature influences rate of evaporation
unconfined aquifer
a store of water underground that adjusts with the water table
confined aquifer
a store of water underground with impermeable rock above and below
river regime
the annual pattern of the rise and fall of river levels
equatorial climate
a hot tropical climate where there is high rainfall all year round
monsoon climate
a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry season
temperate climate
a moderate climate with no extremes in temperature
arid climate
a climate with low annual precipitation
mediterranean climate
a climate with warm dry summer and mild wet winters
polar climate
year round cold climate temperatures often below 0
how much of the earths water can be used for human use
less than 1%
7 sources of water
river abstraction resovoirs boreholes aquifers snow/glacier melt desalination water reuse
how much water is used for agriculture
70%
how much water is used domestically
8%
how much water is used in industry
22%
water security
the capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of quality water for, sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, socio-economic development, and ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water related disasters, preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability
examples of water surplus
UK, Norway, Iceland
examples of water deficit
South Africa, South Sudan, Nigeria
water stress
less than 1700m3 of water per person per year
why is population growth increasing global water demand
more people means more water is needed for drinking, washing, growing food, electricity generation.
As rates of urbanisation increase so does water demand
why is economic development increasing global water demand
as countries develop, energy use increases and manufacturing grows both of which use lots of water.
As peoples death increases they can afford flushing toilets, showers. Peoples diets may also become more meat based which require more water.
how can climate change cause water stress
increasing global temperatures increase evaporation rates and affect rainfall patterns
physical water scarcity
arid areas receiving less than 500mm of annual rain. Rainfall not adequate
economic water scarcity
exists when a population does not have the economic means to use adequate supply of water. Lack of investment in infrastructure and distribution
examples of physical water scarcity
pakistan
examples of economic water scarcity
peru
what are the 4 main methods of increasing water supply
catchment and management
diversion
storage and transfers
desalination
diversion
changing the course of a river to take water resources to a different area.
moving water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit via pipes, tunnels
catchment and management
collecting water for use.
rain water harvesting intercepts water before it hits the ground and stores it in tanks
desalination
the removal of salts and minerals from saline water so that it ca be used fro human consumption or irrigation.
the sea water can be passed through membranes to remove the salt this is called reverse osmosis
storage and transfer
water can be stored during times of surplus and the used during times of deficit.
building a dam across a river traps water creating a reservoir, this is filled during heavy rainfall and is released during drier periods
desalination example
saudi arabia
catchment example
bermuda - every house has a stepped roof
diversion example
thirlmere aqueduct
storage and transfer example
grand Ethiopian renaissance dam
drip irrigation
to avoid wasting water, pipes direct water to each individual plant
mulch
bark chips help water conservation by forming layer above the soil which reduces evaporation and therefore water loss
grey water
a type of recycled water (e.g. from showers). The water is relatively clean so it can be used to water gardens or flush toilets
cover crops
species are rotated within cash crops to blanket the soil year round, reducing evaporation rates
minimal ploughing
ploughing exposes the soil to the atmosphere and increases evaporation. minimal ploughing reduces evaporation from soil
displacement bag
placed in the cistern of a toilet which reduces the volume of water used when flushed
contour ploughing
ploughing across a slope reduces runoff
