Topic 9 Flashcards
What is renewable energy + examples
Energy sources that can be replenished in a short time scale
Wind energy
Solar energy
HEP
What is non renewable energy + examples
Cannot be replenished quickly as they take millions of years to form from remains of dead organisms
Coal
Oil
Natural gas
What is recyclable energy + examples
Energy sources made from waste products or whose waste products can be hsed to generate more energy
Nuclear energy
Biomass
How does mining have an impact on the environment
Strips away large areas of soil, rock and vegetation which permanently scars the landscape
Habitats destroyed to make way for mines which loses biodiversity
Forest clearing affects watercycle as there are less trees to take up water from the ground which increases soil erosion
Mining processes release CO2 and CH4 which contributes to global warming
How does drilling affect the environment
Onshore drilling requires land to be stripped of vegetation to make space for drills and roads
Oil spills cause major damage to the environment as it coats fur and feathers of animals so they can’t move freely or feed e.g. deepwater horizon spill leaking 4 mil barrels of oil
Extracting natural gas causes methane to leak into the atmosphere causing global warming
Wind energy environmental impacts
Take up lots of space as many turbines needed to produce significant electricity
Wind farms produce constant humming noise which causes noise pollution
Spinning blades can kill or injure birds and bats
Solar energy environmental impacts
Some solar farms use water to clean the panels which can cause drought in arid areas and disruot ecosystems
Heat reflected of panels can kill wildlife
Panels built on the ground can damage and disturb habitats
Hydroelectric environmental impacts
Use damns to trap water for energy, the reservoir created floods large areas of land
River on which the damn is built can be affected by changes in water flow e.g. sediment deposited in reservoir instead of downstream
Build up of sediment can block sunlight causing plants and algae in the river to die
How does technology affect access to energy
Poorer countries are not able to exploit their energy resources as they don’t have the technology required.
Developed countries can exploit more renewable energy supplied whereas developing countries rely on fossil fuels
How does geology affect access to energy
Fossil fuels are found in sedimentary rocks, where impermeable rocks have trapped oil and gas in the permeable gas below
Countries on plate boundaries may have access to geothermal energy
How does accessibility affect access to energy
Areas may have large reserves of energy resources but cannot access them
e.g. permafrost makes it difficult to access fossil fuels and protected areas such as antarctica cannot be exploited
How does climate affect access to energy
Hot, sunny areas can easily exploit solar energy
How does landscape affect access to energy
Wind turbines are most efficient in areas with steady and reliable sources of wind, e.g. on high ground or the coast
HEP requires lots of water to generate energy and steep sided valleys to use as reservoirs
How is there a relationship between development and energy consumption
Developed countries tend to consume more energy per person because they can afford to. People have access to electricity, heating, and use energy intensive devices like cars
Economic development in emerging countries is increasing wealth. People are buying more devices that use energy e.g. cars and TVs
Developing countries consume less energy per person, they cannot afford it.Less energy available and people less dependent on high energy consumption 
Why do some regions rely on traditional resources
Energy networks poorly connected, people have to rely on biomass e.g. wood for cooking and heating.
Very little development, countries cannot afford to exploit their own energy reserves will improve existing infrastructure
Why do industrial activities require large amounts of energy
Energy is needed to power machinery or for transport
Manufacturing industries in developed and emerging countries use lots of energy
Developing countries have more primary industry which uses very little energy
Difference between oil reserves and oil production, where are major oil reserves found in the world
Oil reserves are the amount of recoverable oil that can be extracted using today’s technology
Oil production is process of extracting and refining crude oil
World major oil reserves are mostly found in the Middle East
What factors affect oil production
Infrastructure – countries need the right equipment and technology to produce oil
Domestic demand – Saudi Arabia relies on oil to meet its own energy needs
Shrinking reserves – oil production from North Sea reserves have been declining as reserves are used up
How does global oil consumption increase
As countries develop:
GDP per capita increases, so does all consumption. People in richer countries have more energy intensive good e.g. cars
Rapid Industrialisation in emerging economies, the combination of growing population, a boom in industry and expansion of cities leads to high oil consumption
What affects oil prices and production
Conflicts: (e.g. those in middle east) can disrupt oil production which leads to decrease in supply which increases prices
Diplomatic relations: prices may increase due to tensions between oil producing countries. E.g. tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have causes uncertainty about oil production
Recessions: lower the demand for oil as industrial activities and economic growth slow which causes prices to fall
Economic booms: prices increase during periods of rapid economic growths because of increased consumption and demand
How does exploiting new oil and gas reserves bring economic benefits
Countries with high reserves can save money by reducing fossil fuel imports
Countries can make money by exporting fossil fuels
Oil and gas companies bring investment and jobs to areas.
How does exploiting new oil and gas reserves bring environmental costs
Ecosystems and biodiversity are damaged by land being cleared to make way for pipelines and roads to reach reserves
Exploiting offshire reserves can impact marine life due to noise and vibrations from drills. Animals that rely on noise to feed and navigate can be confused
Opening up isolated areas with roads and industry increases air pollution and pollutes soils and water
How does fracking negatively effect the environment
Chemicals used in fracking liquid as well as gas itself pollutes ground water and drinking water
Land must be cleared to make space for drilling pads which destroys habitats
How does surface mining of tar sands negatively affect the environment
Large amounts of space are needed which destroys habitats. This destroys biodiversity
Processing tar sands creates large amounts of liquid waste full of harmful chemicals. These can pollute water supplies if not managed properly
