Topic 6 carbon and energy Flashcards
What are the advantages and disadvantages of shale gas (fracking)?
Fracking involves pumping water and chemicals into the ground to force out gas.In the short term it helps meet the USAs demand for low cost energy.
In the long term however water sources could become severely contaminated as fracking seriously polluted water so much so that it can’t be cleaned and has to be Locked deep underground.However water moves and could contaminate other fresh water sources.The process also releases Methane.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of deep water oil?
Deep water oil helps create jobs both in the development of the rig and on the rig,it also helps countries such as Brazil and the USA more energy secure.In addition it plants artificial coral reefs Which support ecosystems.
However there are some possible environmental risks such as the bp oil spillage in 2010 which spilt 200 million gallons of oil onto the Gulf of Mexico.It is also very damaged for example the bp oil rig explosion killed 17 people.In addiction it increases our reliance on fossil fuels which is unsustainable for the future.
Advantages and disadvantages of tar sands?
Tar sands help produce 40% of Canada’s oil.In addition it helps create jobs.
The disadvantages is that mining it requires large ground clear of areas of taiga which could have significantly ecological and environmental impacts.Less trees mean an increased amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
What are some alternatives to fossil fuel?
What are the benefits?
What are the costs?
Some alternatives to fossil fuels include solar,wind and nuclear energy.
Benefits is that they help combat climate change as they greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels.They also decrease pollution which is beneficial to our health.Also creates jobs in installation.
They are all very costly,wind solar power are intermittent meaning they only work at certain intervals(for example solar power -when the sun is shining).Nuclear energy produces radioactive waste which can cause accidents
What is the role of OPEC? And their justification of importance
What is the role of TNCs and their justification of importance?
The role of consumers and their justification of importance?
The role of OPEC is to regulate the supply of oil in order to set a price on the world market.Even though they do not have a role in how energy gets to people they are still the most important as they hold 78% of all the worlds oil and are able to control prices
TNCs have a role in distribution.They control how much oil gets to consumes but they still have to respond to opec prices
Consumers role is to create demand,whilst they have some power of oil companies as if they switched to renewable energy some companies would take a hit they are not as important as they still respond to OPEC prices.
Facts about Russian gas to Europe
Russia is the second largest exporter of gas to Europe.It exports its gas via a network of pipelines.3/5 pipelines cross the Ukraine which from a Russian perspective poses a threat as the Ukraine could increase the price it changes for gas running through its territory. This presents two options for Russia;to cut off the supply and use the two Northern pipelines which would put Poland and Finland in the same situation or annexe the Ukraine.
An example of an adaption strategy helping to tackle climate change?
Problems?
Solar radiation management-methods such as spraying seawater into the atmosphere create bright white clouds which reflect the suns energy back into space reducing the amount of suns energy reaching the planet making it cooler
Problems is that it is extremely expensive (estimated 5 billion) also can cause unpredictable weather changes such as reduced precipitation.
Another adaptation strategy helping tackle climate change?
Problems?
Another adaptation strategy is water conservation which can be done on a small scale and large scale.
Problem with small scale water conservation and management is that whilst they are very cheap they are largely ineffective unless everyone does it.However a lot of people see grey water recycling as unattractive and unsanitary to lots of people therefore people may choose not to do it.Large scale schemes are really expensive and have significant ecological and environmental impacts
What is an example of a mitigation strategy helping to tackle climate change?
The problems?
Carbon taxation is an example of a mitigation strategy.Governments can impose taxes on carbon emissions,reducing profits of business and encouraging them to change to low carbon alternatives.The higher the level of carbon emissions a vehicle produces the higher tax they will have to pay this encourages people to purchase more eco friendly cars
A problem is that new technologies are expensive and business and people may be slow to Adapt to these strategies,therefore it is only effective in the long term.
Another example of a mitigation strategy helping to tackle climate change?
The problems?
Renewable switching is another example of a mitigation strategy.It involves moving from mostly fossil fuels to using renewables which would greatly reduce carbon emissions,especially in electricity generation.
Problem is that renewable technologies are more widespread in developed and emerging countries but are not always available in developing countries.
How does increased atmospheric carbon from fossil fuel combustion alter climate?
And the global hydrological cycle?
Human activities have altered the Earth,s climate by doing things such as burning fossil fuels like coal and oil which release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.These extra greenhouse gasses act like a blanket trapping more heat in the atmosphere leading to a warmer Earth.
Climate change increased the risk of both heavy rainfall and extreme droughts.
What is sequestration?
What is a flux in the carbon cycle?
What is reservoir turnover?
Sequestration is the process which carbon is captured from the atmosphere and stored.
Flux in the carbon cycle is the movement of transfer between stores.
Reservoir turnover is the rate at which carbon enters and leaves a store.
