Resources Flashcards
What is a resource?
Something that satisfies a need or a want. As a result all resources have a value and a purpose
What is the difference between malnourished and undernourished?
Malnourished means eating the wrong type of food, so your diet is unhealthy
Undernourished means not getting enough calories to sustain a healthy diet
Why and how is demand for food changing?
We are a multicultural society so lots of people eat lots of different foods now
People have more disposable income so they can buy more expensive food
Buying food is more convenient so people demand a wider selection of food
Importing is cheaper from better technology
This means there is a demand for wider types of food
Why does the UK need to import 40% of its food?
UK produced food can be more expensive because of poor harvests
The UK climate can be unsuitable for some food types
Demand for seasonal produce year round
What are food miles?
The distances travelled by foods imported to the UK. Large numbers of food miles adds to our carbon footprint from commercial cultivation and transport by planes and lorries
What is an agribusiness?
An intensive farm aimed at maximising the amount of food produced. Farms are run as commercial businesses. They have high levels of investment and modern technology and chemicals. They can have a very high yield. GMOs and new technology also means different types of crops can be grown.
What are social, economic and environmental impacts of agribusinesses?
Only need a small number of people employed More efficient so makes more money Cheaper food for people High startup costs Alleged health problems Lots of water is needed Chemicals like fertilisers can harm the environment (eutrophication) Pesticides can harm local wildlife Soil erosion Boring landscapes
What are examples of an agribusiness and an organic farm?
Lynford House Farm is an agribusiness
Riverford Organic Farms are organic farms
How is the UK responding to the social and economic issues linked to growing food miles and increasing agribusiness?
Encouraging more people to eat organic foodstuffs
Encouraging seasonal food consumption and local food security
Reducing food loss and waste
Considering import taxes on food
What is the UK’s water demand like?
75% of supply is used in industry
The amount used by the average household has risen by 70% since 1985
The amount used per person is 150 litres per day
What are some reasons for the increased water demand in the UK?
Demand for out of season food Changes in personal hygiene Increased industrial production Increased leisure use More houses being built Increased UK population Increased wealth
How can the UK’s increased water demand by managed?
Use of domestic water meters
Increasing use of grey water
More efficient domestic appliances
Water transfer schemes
What are water transfer schemes?
Transferring water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit using pipes. Supply and demand is matched so everywhere has enough water. No water has to be imported. There are negative environmental and wildlife in source areas and dams disrupt environments. It is very expensive. E.g. water from Kielder Dam in Northumberland being pumped to Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesborough
What are domestic water meters?
Using a meter to measure how much water your house is using and charging water use based off this, encouraging people to use less water. People save money so have an incentive to use less water but not everyone has a meter and some people with meters do not care about them.
What are water efficient appliances?
Appliances that save water and recycle their grey water and use it again. It is cheaper in the long term for saving water but they can break and are expensive in short term so many people will not buy them.
What is increased use of grey water?
Recycling used water and using it again for things that do not need completely clean water. It can be used in factories and houses but public opinion is not good of it. Very expensive for homes (£1000/home).
What are causes of water pollution?
Chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers
Untreated water from industries
Rubbish may be dumped
Runoff from roads and motorways
People putting inappropriate items into the water disposal system
Sewage containing bacteria pumped into rivers and the sea
Pollution from boats
What are the the social, economic and environmental impacts of water pollution?
The supply of drinking water can be poisoned
Microbacteria can cause the spread of disease
Fishermen and workers in the tourist industry may suffer
Toxic waste can poison wildlife
What are different water quality management strategies in the UK?
Legislation: laws limiting discharge factories can put in rivers. It is free but people could break them and it can harm the economy
Education campaigns: informing the public about damage from inappropriate items in sewage systems. A lot of the solutions are easy but people do not have to follow them
Waste water treatment: removing suspended solids to produce clean water. Cleans up dirty water but is quite expensive and is a local act
Building better infrastructure: better sewers and water mains can prevent spills and accidents. Spills are often expensive but so are the schemes to prevent them
Pollution traps: putting reed beds next to motorways that are on rivers. Looks nice and prevents pollution at the source, but there is not always room and is not completely effective
Green roofs and walls: new buildings with roofs of grass and trees to filter out pollution in rainwater. Also reduces flooding risk and CO2 in atmosphere, but takes time and can be expensive
What are the four resource types?
Physical - natural materials at or below the Earth’s surface
Energy - resources used specifically for heat and power
Mineral - materials normally quarried or mined from the ground in raw form
Biological - anything living we use from the natural environment or resources grown for human use
What are the differences between renewable, sustainable and non-renewable resources?
Renewable: will never run out and can be used over and over again
Sustainable: can be used and then replaced
Non-renewable: are used up and cannot be replaced
Why is energy important?
It is needed for lots of everyday activities, like transportation, food production, and manufacturing. Developed countries base their economies on energy in industry
What is energy insecurity?
Lacking an uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price
What is energy security?
An uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price
What is the energy gap?
Developed countries are phasing out fossil fuels. The loss of energy from this is greater than the amount of energy being produced from renewable sources. These countries now have an energy deficit, so energy insecurity is increasing. There is now more reliance on imported energy
Why is energy consumption increasing?
Development - consumers have surplus money to buy more technology e.g. cars and industry and agriculture use more technology
Population growth
Modern technology
What physical factors affect energy supply?
Geology - whether a country contains fossil fuel deposits
Climate - allows for renewable energy e.g. hydropower in Brazil
Environmental conditions - harsh climates make extracting energy expensive like in the Arctic Circle
What human factors affect energy supply?
Costs of exploitation and production - cheaper energy sources can easily be exploited and allows for cheap energy
Technology - advances in technology allow for the discovery of new energy sources and new ways to exploit energy
Political factors - wars can prevent energy from being extracted
What are social, economic and environmental effects of energy insecurity?
Taking risks with the environment e.g. clearing forests for wood and to grow biofuels in Brazil
Price increases in products manufactured using energy e.g. food and industrial output
More expensive energy
Power cuts
What is the potential for conflict as a result of energy insecurity?
The main energy consumers will compete for what energy is available and push up prices
Home produced goods and imported goods compete on price
Countries with energy security may have conflict with those without
What is the challenge with meeting increased demand for energy?
Finding ways that: Do less damage to the environment Are affordable Suit available technology Do not increase energy insecurity
What are the economic and environmental benefits and costs of fossil fuels?
Creates jobs in extracting fossil fuels and brings jobs to the are. Carbon capture and storage can mitigate CO2 emissions.
The UK has no coal mines so it must be imported from other countries. The burning of fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases.
What are the economic and environmental benefits and costs of nuclear energy?
After initial investment it is cheaper than other energy types. It is cleaner and less polluting than fossil fuels.
It is very expensive to build and decommission power plants. Waste must be stored safely for many years to avoid contamination.
What are the economic and environmental benefits and costs of renewable energy?
Many jobs are created in the manufacture of renewable energy. They produce much lower carbon emissions.
The impact on the visual environment can impact on tourism. Many people consider wind turbines ugly.
How can a country increase energy supply?
Try to exploit its own resources further
Reach agreements with other countries to import energy
Reduce energy consumption through new technology or saving energy
Using alternative or renewable energy sources more
How is natural gas formed and how is it extracted?
It is formed from decaying animal and plant matter that lived millions of years ago. It is found trapped in deep shale rock formations. Wells are drilled and the gas comes to the surface, either under its own pressure or forced by pumped water. It is pumped through pipelines to where it is used or shipped in huge tankers.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of natural gas?
It producers 45% less carbon emissions than coal. It can be used for many different purposes and is easy to distribute. It creates jobs in areas of extraction.
Leakages can be very expensive and cause fires; leaks can be hard to detect as it is odourless. Infrastructure is expensive.
What is fracking?
It is a way of extracting gas locked in rocks deep below the surface. Holes are drilled in rocks and water, sand, and chemicals are pumped into them at high pressure. Shale rock contains layers with gas trapped between them and fracking splits the rock and releases the gas.
What are the social, economic and environmental benefits of fracking?
Creates jobs and infrastructure
Landowners can be paid for fracking on their land
Cheaper than offshore drilling
Less chance of leaks in the sea
What are the social, economic and environmental costs of fracking?
Chemicals can leak into ground and drinking water It needs lots of water Leaks are costly to clear up Can discourage tourism Has been linked to low level earthquakes
What is carbon footprint?
A measurement of all the greenhouse gases we individually produce as a result of our lifestyle
What is energy conservation?
Reducing energy consumption through using less energy and becoming more efficient is using existing sources
How can we produce our carbon footprint?
Switch off lights, use energy efficient lightbulbs Walk/ cycle rather than car Spend less time on internet Recycle/ re-use Use public transport or more efficient cars Use cleaner fuels Have less holidays Turn down thermostats
What are examples of energy efficient building design?
Loft insulation Creating own energy Double glazed windows Draught proofing Cavity wall insulation Solid wall insulation Efficient boilers
What are larger scale schemes to create a sustainable energy future?
Government education strategy - advertising the benefits of recycling, rationing the use of non-renewable resources. Works at all levels of scale but does not necessitate anything
Government incentives strategies - encouraging energy efficiency and renewables by subsidising efficient homes and giving tax breaks for good business. Encourages good behaviour but people could still not afford upgrades
International agreements - making governments cut down on GHG emissions. Richer countries can work together and help poorer ones but only guidelines and some countries like the USA have pulled out
Technological fix - Boseruption view: necessity is mother of invention, people will innovate. Some schemes are very promising e.g. combined heating and power but schemes are new and not fully developed
Sustainable city design - e.g. Malmo, Sweden’s Western Harbour strategies like renewable energy and buses on biogas are used. It has worked well but it is very expensive and requires lots of infrastructure
Reducing energy usage in businesses - e.g. Marriott hotels things are turned off by automated systems when not in use. The chain is paid for this but it is only temporary - at some times of high demand
Why does Nepal have energy supply issues?
More than 28 million people live in remote areas
Nepal is very mountainous so a national grid would be almost impossible, and villages are often inaccessible
Nepal has no natural deposits of fossil fuels
What is Nepal’s energy demand like?
Currently low as it is a LIC, with limited car use and electrical appliances
Increasing as population grows and develops with new businesses and household appliances
How does the micro-hydro plant scheme work in Nepal?
The UN Development Programme trains local communities to dig small channels to divert water from streams. This then falls down the penstock under gravity, driving a turbine and generator. There are more than 500 schemes in Nepal.
How much energy does the Ruma Khola plant near Darbang produce?
50KW, providing electricity for 700 households in 5 villages
What are the advantages of the micro-hydro power scheme in Nepal?
Classrooms can be lit so children can be educated
Streets and homes can be lit at night - reduced fire risk as kerosine lamps no longer needed
Built and run by the community so they can repair and fix it
Provides renewable energy with no harmful emissions
Improves healthcare as X-ray machines can be powered and medicines refrigerated
Reduced flooding risk as water flow is regulated
Darbang is now mechanised so can sell goods e.g. soap
