Topic 6 - Resource Management

Question 1

Define an Abiotic Resource and give 5 examples of abiotic resources.

Answer 1

An Abiotic Resource is obtained from the lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere.
Examples include minerals, soil, sunlight, precipitation and fresh water.

Question 2

Define Biotic Resources and give 4 examples of Biotic Resources

Answer 2

A Biotic Resource is obtained from the biosphere (living things) and are capable of reproduction.
Examples of Biotic resources are animals, birds, plants and fungi.

Question 3

Define Non-renewable resources and give 4 examples of Non-renewable resources.

Answer 3

Non-renewable resources are those that cannot be ‘remade’ and are finite because it would take millions of years for them to form.
Examples of non-renewable resources include coal, oil, uranium and natural gas.

Question 4

Define Renewable resources and give 3 examples of them.

Answer 4

Renewable resources are those that are potentially inexhaustible and can be naturally replenished in a much shorter timescale.
Examples of Renewable resources include wind, solar and hydro-electric power.

Question 5

Give 3 named examples in which countries are exploiting environments in order to gain resources.

Answer 5

Deforestation in Cameroon, Oil extraction in Ecuador and Overfishing in the North Sea.

Question 6

Explain the problem of Deforestation in Cameroon using statistics.

Answer 6

Around 1% of Cameroon’s rainforest is cut down per year for timber and farming including palm oil plantations. This affects biodiversity, soil and water supplies.

Question 7

Give 1 environmental, social and economic impact of deforestation in Cameroon.

Answer 7

Environmental Impact= It damages or destroys the homes of 8000 plant species and 250 mammal species.
Social Impact= It can result in the pollution of water supplies and have an impact on fishing.
Economic impact= Soil erosion can cost developing countries billions of dollars a year through the loss of valuable soil.

Question 8

Explain the problem of Oil extraction in Ecuador

Answer 8

During the 1960s oil was discovered in Oriente region and subsequently 350 oil wells were built. This led to 1000 open pits being filled with toxic sludge and rivers that tribes and animals rely on are being polluted.

Question 9

Give 1 environmental, social and economic impact of oil extraction in Ecuador.

Answer 9

Environmental and Social impact= is that pipelines carrying toxic material have cracked which thus pollutes water supplies that humans and animals rely on.
Economic impact= is that risk of health due to toxic pollution will result in strain on health services.

Question 10

Explain the problem of overfishing in the North Sea.

Answer 10

Heavy reliance on fish has led to a rapid decline in number of fish being caught due to unsustainable fishing practices. Catches of 300,000 tonnes of cod in the 1970s fell to 70,000 tonnes in 2015.

Question 11

Give 1 environmental, social and economic impact of overfishing in the North Sea

Answer 11

Environmental impact= Unsustainable fishing practices have led to a severe decline in the number of cod in the north sea.
Social impact= Millions of people rely on fish as a form of employment and as the numbers of fish decline less people will get jobs.
Economic impact= Industries that rely on fish for their products will begin to lose income as the numbers of fish decline.

Question 12

Where are valuable minerals such as gold and diamonds most commonly found?

Answer 12

They are most commonly found near areas of volcanic activity.

Question 13

Where are fossil fuels mostly found?

Answer 13

They are most commonly found in areas made of rocks formed by deposition.

Question 14

1) What percentage of the earth’s surface is made up of farmland?
2) What percentage of the earth’s surface is still covered by forests?
3) What percentage of forests have already been exploited for timer to create farmland?

Answer 14

1) 40% of the earth’s surface is made up of farmland.
2) 30% of the earth’s of the earth’s surface.
3) 80% of the earth’s forests have already been exploited for timber and to create farmland.

Question 15

Give 3 of the UK’s natural resources and describe their distribution.

Answer 15

1) Precipitation= This is higher in the north and west of the UK.
2) Agriculture= East Anglia has flat, fertile land so is suitable for arable farming (wheat). Sheep farming is located in the upland northern areas like Scotland.
3) Oil and gas= Oil and goas is extracted from the North Sea.

Question 16

Describe resource consumption in terms of Water, Food and Energy across the world.

Answer 16

1) Energy Usage= It is higher in technically advanced and developed countries such as the U.S. It is lower in developing countries such as Sudan.
2) Water usage= Water surplus in rainforest as precipitation > evaporation. Water deficiency in North Africa as precipitation < evaporation.
3) Food consumption= High in wealthy and more developed countries such as the U.S, Canada and the UK. Lower in developing countries such as Ghana, Bolivia and Peru where people survive on fewer than 2000 calories per day.

Question 17

Define a Choropleth map

Answer 17

It is a map in which countries are shaded according to which part of the key they come under.

Question 18

Give 2 advantages of the non-renewable energy resource coal.

Answer 18

1) Coal is a very productive resource as it generates large amounts of energy.
2) There are still enough coal reserves to last 200+ years.

Question 19

Give 3 disadvantages of the non-renewable energy resource coal.

Answer 19

1) Burning coal releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
2) Mining coal is dangerous and has caused many deaths.
3) It is expensive to develop mines and opencast pits.

Question 20

Give 3 advantages of the renewable energy resource wind.

Answer 20

1) It is a clean energy and does not pollute or emit greenhouse gases.
2) It is the lowest priced renewable energy resource.
3) Wind farms can be built on agricultural land providing income for the land owners.

Question 21

Give 3 disadvantages of the renewable energy resource wind.

Answer 21

1) Many people feel that wind turbines spoil their view of the landscape.
2) Energy is only produced when there is wind to spin the blades.
3) Offshore wind farms are far from where the resource is needed meaning expensive transportation is required.

Question 22

Define a countries energy mix.

Answer 22

Energy mix= The proportion of different energy sources used in a country.

Question 23

Define consumption in terms of energy usage.

Answer 23

Consumption= The action of using up a resource.

Question 24

Describe the composition of the UK energy mix.

Answer 24

• During the 1970s the UK relied heavily on coal and non renewable energy sources. 91% percent of energy consumption was from these sources.
• By 2014 this reliance had decreased with a rise in renewable energy sources.
• The UK government has a target of 15% of energy being from renewable sources by 2020.

Question 25

Explain how population can have an effect on a countries energy mix.

Answer 25

China has a very large population and therefore relies on a variety/mix of energy types as 1 type would not suffice for the whole population. Whereas, Iceland has a small population and only relies on one type of energy, geothermal power.

Question 26

Explain how Wealth can impact a countries energy mix.

Answer 26

More developed countries (e.g USA) can invest in a wider mix of energy types. Developing countries (e.g Pakistan) can’t afford a wider energy mix meaning that cheaper energy sources such as coal and oil will continue to be used.

Question 27

Explain how availability can impact a countries energy mix.

Answer 27

Countries such as the UK are able to develop wind power/tidal power due to location by water. Other countries that are landlocked rely on imports of less renewable sources such as coal and oil.

Question 28

Give 3 reasons for why the demand and supply has changed of global energy resources has changed over the past 100 years.

Answer 28

1) Rapid population growth
2) Increased wealth
3) Advances in technology

Question 29

(Worked example)

Explain 2 reasons why the demand and supply of global energy resources has changed.

Answer 29

One of the reasons is improvements in technology. Compared to 100 years ago, households now own many electrical items like laptops , mobile phones and dishwashers, all needing electricity for charging and this consequently increases demand. A second reason for change is world population growth, along with economic development in countries like China and Brazil, increasing the need to meet the supply demands of their people.

Question 30

Give 2 negative impacts of the development of the non-renewable energy resource coal on people.

Answer 30

1) Mining can cause subsidence of buildings.

2) Miners at risk of illness and death.

Question 31

Give 2 negative impacts of the development of the non-renewable energy resource coal on the environment.

Answer 31

1) Groundwater can become polluted.

2) Burning coal produces large amounts of carbon dioxide.

Question 32

Give 1 negative impact and 1 positive impact of the development of the non-renewable energy resource Oil on people.

Answer 32

1 negative impact: Leaks/spills exposes people to harmful chemicals.
1 positive impact: Extraction processes creates jobs locally.

Question 33

Give 2 negative impacts of the development of the non-renewable energy resource oil on the environment.

Answer 33

1) Oil spillages= pollution of groundwater and drinking water.
2) Land cleared for oil extraction= loss of farmland and natural habitat.

Question 34

Give a positive impact of the development of the non-renewable resource Natural gas on people.

Answer 34

It is safe because it is lighter than air so it will dissipate when there is a leakage.

Question 35

Give 1 positive and 1 negative impact of the development of the non-renewable resource Natural gas on the environment.

Answer 35

1 positive impact: It is made from methane which has fewer carbon emissions than other fossil fuels.
1 negative impact: Burning natural gas releases greenhouse gases which can lead to global warming and climate change.

Question 36

Give 2 negative impacts of the development of the non-renewable resource Uranium on people.

Answer 36

1) Damage from natural disasters mean that people can be exposed to radiation.
2) The construction of power stations use tax payers money.

Question 37

Give two negative impacts of the non renewable resource coal on the environment.

Answer 37

• Groundwater can become polluted (general).

- Burning coal produces large amounts of CO2.

Question 38

Give 2 negative impacts of the non renewable resource oil on the environment.

Answer 38

• Oil spillages = pollution of groundwater and drinking water.
• Land cleared for oil extraction = loss of natural habitat.

Question 39

Give 1 negative impact of the non - renewable resource natural gas on the environment.

Answer 39

• Burning releases greenhouse gases = global warming and climate change. `