resources Flashcards
what is a natural resource
it is a part or feature of the environment that can be used to meet human needs.
4 ways that natural resources can be classified and give a definition for each
name- definition
- Biotic- resources that are obtained from the biosphere (LIVING THINGS) like animals, birds, plants.
- Abiotic resources- resources that are NON-LIVING and obtained from the atmosphere (sunlight), lithosphere (rocks and ores and minerals and soil) and the hydrosphere (fresh water)
- Non-renewable resources - resources that cannot be replenished because it would take millions of years for them to form. fossil fuels (coal, oil, nat gas) and uranium
- Renewable resources- resources that can be replenished in a short timescale like timber, water, energy sources like HEP and solar and wind
4 ways in which humans exploit environments to obtain water, energy and food (DEFF)
- deforestation
- fishing
- farming
- extraction of fossil fuels
fossil fuel extraction:
- how is each done
- impacts (4)
- a) coal is mined at the surface and in deep shafts
b) oil and gas done by drilling into underground reserves inland or offshore - waste from mines pollute drinking water and air (people risk their health)
produces greenhouse gases when burnt and they go into atmosphere
waste and toxic sludge flow into rivers
ecosystems damaged and biodiversity reduced
deforestation:
1. where done and stat
2. what is it
3. why done (4)
4. impacts (3)
- Cameroon- lost 1% of forest each year from 2000-2005
- Trees are purposely cut down in forested area
- Clear land for farming, trees burnt as fuel, palm oil plantations, power stations
- removal and burning of trees = ⬆️ CO2 in atmosphere = global warming
70% of land animal and plant species are in forests, habitats are lost so loss of biodiversity
removing trees exposes topsoil layer, more soil erosion occurs, which costs many billions of dollars per year to fix
fishing:
- where done and what species
- how done
- impacts (2)
- North Sea is overfished for cod. Unsustainable- more being caught than be replaced
- commercial fishing done by towing a net behind a boat (trawling) or dragging a metal frame along a seabed to harvest shellfish (dredging)
- lead to less fish in the water as whole food chain is impacted - loss of biodiversity
petrol and oil from fishing vessels can spill into the water and pollute it
farming:
- 2 types
- how is modern farming different
- impacts
- arable for crops and pastoral for animals
- more machinery in modern farming
- artificial pesticides and fertilisers which can harm or kill organisms if in water course
removing hedgerows reduces biodiversity in species that live there
heavy machinery used in planting and harvesting compresses the soil, making it more vulnerable to soil erosion
distribution of agriculture in the UK (sheep, cattle, arable and mixed locations and why) and in the world (4 regions and why)
UK:
sheep farming up north (Scotland) as sheep cope with harsh climate and steep terrain. crops grow poor here
cattle: sw england as climate is warm and wet so lots of grass.
arable in East and SE England - flat land, fertile soil, high summer temp
mixed: need good pastures and fertile soil so central northern ireland
Global:
South Asia / East Asia / North America / South America.
receive rain and sunlight- ideal.
large amount of vegetation in these regions result in decomposition which makes the soil fertile.
the distribution of rock and minerals:
in the uk (where are limestone, granite and slate found and quarried)
in the world (3 regions and what found and why)
what is important to obtain rocks and minerals
limestone- west, central and northern eng
granite- small patches in scotland + nw and sw eng + se NI
slate- Southern Scotland + NE wales + SE NI
Western America- copper found along the southern and northern american west coast
Southern Africa - gold in SA
Central Asia- Iron
due to unique geological conditions
you must have the required machinery to extract these rocks and minerals.
water distribution:
UK- where high, where low, solution?
globally- 3 regions where highest and why
where used
highest in North and west due to high amounts of rainfall and low population density
lowest in south east due to large aquifers, high population density and low rainfall
water transfer schemes used in East Anglia but too expensive to be used nationally
highest globally in Northern Europe and North and South America- receive significant amount of rainfall and have infrastructure to capture, store and distribute it.
used in industry as coolers and homes and hep
forestry:
2 places where done in UK and
what felled and why
6 regions where done globally and 2 types of forest
what used for
coniferous - fast growing and cope with wet and cold weather
done in Scotland and Northern England and also in upland areas where soil quality too poor for agriculture
boreal forest (coniferous)- Russia / Canada / Northern Europe
tropical forest - south america, west africa and SE asia
wood is burned as a fuel and used for building in construction and paper.
fossil fuels:
how formed and what done to them
where are onshore/offshore oil and gas found in UK
coal trends in the uk
3 biggest producers of oil
2 biggest producers of gas
biggest producer of coal
why is this the case
formed underneath layers of sedimentary rock over millions of years. been compressed and under pressure
onshore oil = south coast of dorset and east midlands
offshore oil and gas reserve in North Sea
oil = russia, usa, saudi arabia
gas = russia, usa
coal = china
the countries have enough of the fuel reserve as well as the equipment and tech to extract it
energy consumption:
where low and high and why
percentage increase of energy consumption in the next 35 years
high in more developed countries like USA and AUS. people can afford to have access to energy intensive devices and have access to electricity and heating. Manufacturing industries are common in these countries and it uses huge amount of energy. they can afford to exploit their energy reserves and harness renewable sources
low in developing countries like chad and mongolia as people can’t afford energy intensive devices and their lifestyle is different. primary sector like agriculture main industry and this uses less energy . don’t exploit energy reserves and harness renewables as they can’t afford the infrastructure needed to support it
as more development occurs in developing countries, energy consumption increases. 56% in the next 35 years, esp in asia and india
global water consumption:
3 factors that impact it
where highest- 2 regions and why
where lowest and why
- climate: how much rainfall received and how much water lost through evaporation and transpiration. results in a water surplus: rainfall>evaporation or a water deficit: rainfall<evaporation. some areas may not have water available to use. most have a balance
- development- more developed means water-intensive appliances afforded (dishwasher, shower, toilet flush) and schemes to increase water supply if needed like desalination
- industrial activity- water intensive activities like modern farming and mining lead to country water consumption increasing.
highest in north america - high development and industry. receives rainfall in most parts
highest in central asia- huge agriculture industry- 70% of water in central asia is used to grow food
lowest in northern and central africa- low level of development, little rainfall
food production:
where most and least 2 regions for each
2 factors that impact
east asia (good climate and developed) and north america (developed) produce a lot
central america and africa little as both are near equator so hot climate and low development
climate: too hot,dry or cold and can’t produce food
development: machinery increases efficiency and genetic engineering increases yields
