The Carbon Cycle and Energy security - Case Studies

Question 1

UK’s energy mix

Answer 1

– 1980 –
- 38% Oil
- 34% Coal
- less than 2% Renewables
– 2012 –
- 15% Coal
- 32% Oil
- 2% Renewables

Question 2

Norway’s energy mix

Answer 2

– 2010 –
- 40% Hydropower
- 1.5% Coal
- 33% Oil

Question 3

Factors affecting access and consumption of energy in the UK

Answer 3

• Physical availability - 150 yrs coal left but it is too deep to mine efficiently - North sae reserves also running out
• Environmental priorities - 2015 committed to 40% reduction in domestic greenhouse gas emission by 2030 - so far CO 2 emissions per capita have dropped by 6.5 tonnes annually ( over 50% decline )
• Public perception and political considerations - Public concern over fracking sites and Privatisation of energy suppliers in 1980s - overseas companies such as France’s EDF decide UK’s energy mix

Question 4

Factors affecting access and consumption of energy in Norway

Answer 4

• Physical availability - 600 HEP sites which supply 97.5% of the country’s renewable energy - Has mountainous valleys and high rainfall
• Environmental priorities = Royalties and taxes form the sale of fossil fuel goes into a sovereign wealth fund to prepare for a future without fossil fuels - also ‘policy for change in 2016 wanted carbon neutral by 2050’
• Technology = 6th Largest exporter of natural gas thanks to Deepwater drilling tech

Question 5

Russia blackmailing Europe over gas supplies

Answer 5

• Gas prices 10 times higher - Stocks are low due to the cold winter
• Russia not supplying as much gas as it could be however a new pipeline being constructed gives Russia more power over the rest of Europe

Question 6

The London Array project

Answer 6

• Completed in 2013
• 175 turbines
• Powers 584,000 homes
• Helps make the UK the 6th largest generator of wind power globally

Question 7

Cons of the The London Array project

Answer 7

• Second phase couldn’t be completed due to the protection of the ‘red throated diver’ bird
• Require constant maintenance
  – PROS –
• Britain has lots of coast and therefore lot’s of potential for wind power

Question 8

Biofuels in Brazil

Answer 8

• Provides 7.2% of the countries electricity
• 90% of vehicles have flex-fuel engines
• Brazil world’s biggest producer of ethanol and sugar cane - has created 1.34 million jobs
• Sugar cane use reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 90% and produces 10x more energy than the inputs needed to grow it

Question 9

Three north shelterbelt project

Answer 9

• World’s largest tree planting project
• 66 billion trees planted - intended to span 4500km and increased earth’s forest cover by a 10th
• located in China

Question 10

Concerns regarding the three north shelterbelt project

Answer 10

• Figures define dryness and a healthy tree loosely
• Water wells depth increasing from 9m to 60m

Question 11

The great barrier reef - Ocean acidification and Climate change

Answer 11

• Scientists are using labs to speed up the effects of climate change to see what will happen in the future
• Increasing acidity restricts coral from building limestone skeletons
• Rising temps causes corals to reject photosynthesising algae which causes the coral to bleach and become white

Question 12

The great barrier reef - Scientists at AIMS

Answer 12

• 2 degree temp rise will cause coral reefs to be destroyed
• Using selective breeding to create coral which can withstand the higher temps

Question 13

Debt for nature swap between the USA and Brazil

Answer 13

• Brazil will use the money to conserve it’s Atlantic coast rainforests
• USA has signed debt for nature swap deals with 15 countries worth $240 million

Question 14

Impact’s of Climate Change on the Yukon river - located in NW Canada

Answer 14

• Precipitation to increase by 20% by 2100
• Snow melt begins earlier = since 2000 the River has increased in size by 39%
• Ice area shrank by 22% in 50 years