UK Enviromental challenges Flashcards
1
Q
How much additional energy does the Gulf Stream deliver to the UK?
A
27,000 times the combined output of our power stations - raises UK winter temperatures by 5C.
2
Q
What are the 5 air masses that affect UK weather, and what are their characteristics?
A
Artic Maritime: Cold + Wet - North Pole.
Polar Continental: Cold + Dry - Eastern Europe + Russia.
Tropical Continental: Warm + Dry - North Africa
Tropical Maritime: Warm + Wet - Warm Atlantic
Polar Maritime: Cool + Wet - Canada + Greenland
3
Q
When was the Beast from the East?
A
28th February - 1st March 2018 (2 days)
4
Q
What weather was brought by the Beast from the East?
A
Strong easterly wind, Heavy Snow, Extremely Cold temperatures (wind chill caused it to feel like -10C)
5
Q
5 key impacts of the Beast from the East?
A
1) Man died after falling into frozen lake in London park
2) Travel disruptions
3) Schools were closed
4) Power cuts
5) Limited supplies in cut off areas
6
Q
What were the dates of Ex Hurricane Bertha?
A
10th - 11th August 2014 (2 days)
7
Q
What weather was brought by Ex Hurricane Bertha?
A
High winds and rainfall
8
Q
5 key impacts of Ex Hurricane Bertha?
A
1) Flooding
2) Travel Disruptions
3) Damage to homes and buildings
4) Trees falling down
5) Damage to transport infrastructure
9
Q
What air mass brought the Beast from the East?
A
Polar Continental
10
Q
Which parts of the UK were most affected by the Beast From the East?
A
East of England and Scotland
11
Q
What air mass brought Ex Hurricane Bertha?
A
Tropical Maritime
12
Q
Which parts of the UK did Ex Hurricane Bertha affect most?
A
North East Scotland
13
Q
When was the Heatwave?
A
June, July and August 2018 (3 months)
14
Q
What weather did the heatwave in 2018 bring?
A
Some thunderstorms, Very high temperatures and sunshine levels
15
Q
5 key impacts of the 2018 heatwave?
A
1) Hard for wildlife to find water - peatbogs dry up
2) Wildfires
3) Boosts for businesses - people going on trips boosts tourism industry
4) Water shortages - demand increased by 30%, supply dwindled
5) Melting roads and buckling train rails.
16
Q
Effects of Gulf Stream on UK?
A
1) Increased rainfall
2) Warmer winters - increases by 5C
Effects are especially prevalent in the West of the UK
17
Q
Which Air Mass caused the 2018 heatwave?
A
Tropical continental
18
Q
The 2018 heatwave was the largest since … ?
A
1976
19
Q
Why was the Somerset levels area prone to flooding?
A
1) Land is below sea level - maximum altitude of the Levels is 8m
2) Land is artificially drained - nowhere for water to go
3) No proper defence from floods - neither the Tone of the Parrett had been properly dredged for 20 years.
4) Very High tidal Range - Bristol Channel has second highest range in the world.
20
Q
What are the names of the 2 main rivers that run through the Somerset Levels?
A
Tone + Parrett
21
Q
When was the Somerset Levels Flooding?
A
January 2014
22
Q
Human Causes of Somerset Levels Flooding?
A
1) Building has developed on the floodplain, meaning water gets trapped
2) Artificially drained - thousands of years ago area was underwater, but was artificially drained for farming land.
3) Farming practices have changed, meaning land is less able to retain water
4) Rivers Tone and Parrett hadn’t been dredged properly for 20 years.
23
Q
How expensive was it to dredge the rivers, and how often did it used to happen?
A
£4 million, every 5 years
24
Q
Physical causes of Somerset Levels Flooding?
A
1) Prolonged rain, high winds and tidal surges.
2) 12 major storms between December 13 and February 14.
3) Bristol Channel has 2nd highest tidal range in the world.
4) Majority of the area is below sea level
5) Wettest January since 1910 - 193% of normal rainfall.
25
What were the Social impacts of the Somerset Levels Flooding?
1) Mulcheleny village had roads cut off for almost a month - 2 hourly boat was the only way in and out
2) Lack of trust in governments
3) Increased crime - 900 litres of fuel stolen from a pumping station.
4) Loss of livelihoods due to permanent damage
5) Emotional devastation at property damage
6) 81 road closures - disruption to livelihoods
26
What were the Environmental impacts of the Somerset Levels Flooding?
1) Fluctuations in wildlife numbers
| 2) Took up to 2 years for soil to be restored
27
What were the Economic impacts of the Somerset Levels Flooding?
1) Local buisnesses reported over £ 1million in losses
2) Home insurance went up 5 fold for local people
3) £200 million cost to tourism industry
4) Huge agricultural impact after crops destroyed and livestock moved
5) 50% of surveyed buisnisses across Somerset were impacted by flooding, and 86% were impacted by road closures.
28
What were the local responses to the Somerset Levels Flooding?
1) FLAG - Flooding on the Levels Action Group
2) Somerset land owners had to evacuate their residential properties
3) 130,000 cubic meters of silt removed from the Rivers Tone and Parrett between March and October 2014
4) Thornley village had a £180,000 earth embankment built to help protect 10 houses
29
What were the regional responses to the Somerset Levels Flooding?
1) A list of 10 trigger points for additional pumps if conditions are severe enough
2) Somerset County and Sedgemoor district Councils raised 1.5m for repairs
3) Set up of Somerset Rivers Authority
30
How is the Somerset Rivers Authority funded, and what do they do?
Initially funded by National government (2m paid), but after relies on council tax increases of £25 a year.
Focus on enhanced maintenance of river channels and flood banks in order to reduce the risk of flooding.
31
What were the national responses to the Somerset Levels Flooding?
1) Environment Agency installed 62 pumps, which removed 1.5 million tonnes of water.
2) Royal Marines were sent in to help villagers cut off by floodwater
3) The Somerset Rivers Authority is working with Segemoore District council and the EA on plans to create a £100m tidal barrier across the River Parrett by 2024.
4) A Somerset Levels and Moors Action Plan formed (£100m plan) with £10.5m funding from government, and £10m from the Department for Transport.
32
What are the main causes for the changes in UK farming?
1) UK population growth
2) Increase in cheap foreign produce
3) Increase in mechanisation due to better technology
4) Growth of agribusinesses.
33
How much of the UK's hedgerow was lost during the 20th century?
Half
34
How much of the UK's fertile topsoil has been lost since 1850?
84%
35
What are the 3 key problems with the mechanisation and intensification of farming?
1) Eutrophication
2) Soil Degradation
3) Hedgerows
36
Explain the process of Eutrophication.
1) The fertilizer is spread on the land, and is washed down into the soil by rain.
2) The fertilizer seeps into underground water systems and eventually makes its way into rivers and lakes.
3) The presence of fertilizer in rivers and lakes causes overgrowth of algae and aquatic plants. This covers the water surface and blocks sunlight from reaching underwater plants, causing them to die.
4) These dead plants are decomposed by bacteria, which grow in numbers, and use up the oxygen in the lake, and release carbon dioxide, making it anoxic.
37
How does consumers demand cause soil degradation?
Consumers want produce out of season -> fields not given time to recover -> soils become exhausted
38
How does use of heavy machinery in farming cause soil degredation?
Use of machinery -> large wheels cause soil to compact -> increases surface run off and results in soil erosion
39
Why are hedgerows important?
1) Provide a habitat for lots of animals such as hedgehogs
2) Are natural corridors for wildlife to move around
3) Help reduce soil erosion from the wind and rain
4) Important stores of carbon
40
Why has there been a reduction in the number of hedgerows?
Make space for larger fields and allow use of larger machines.
41
How many tonnes of fish do UK vessels land each year?
400,000 - 3rd largest catch in Europe
42
What are the 5 main impacts of over fishing?
1) Damage to the sea bed
2) Depletion of fish populations and by-catch
3) Ghost Nets
4) Discards
5) Aquaculture
43
What is bottom trawling and what are the negative effects of it?
The practice of dragging heavy nets along the sea bed to sweep up fish - it destroys the sea bed, which is a habitat for many species and is vital to the ecosystem.
44
What is by-catch and why is it a problem?
It is species that are caught when fishing for a different species. It affects the predator to prey balance due to harming numbers, and this causes issues throughout the ecosystem.
45
What is a ghost net, and how does it cause so much destruction?
Commercial fishing nets that have been lost or abandoned in the ocean. Species get trapped in them and die. They go through a cycle so they cause damage for a long time.
46
How many tonnes of fish are discarded each year in Europe every year?
1.7 million tonnes - most of the fish die
47
What is a CFP quota?
Limits on the size and numbers of fish that can be caught.
48
How much CO2 is created if you eat farmed fish 1-2 times a week?
146kg
49
What is aquaculture?
The farming of fish and marine organisms.
50
What is the problem of the differences between rainfall and population density in the UK, and what issues does this bring?
Where there is higher rainfall, there tends to be a lower population density. This means in some areas there is a water surplus, and in other areas there is a water deficit, meaning these areas could be under water stress.
51
How much water does Kielder water hold?
200 billion litres of water
52
What proportion of the water in the North East is supplied by Kielder water?
80%
53
What are the issues with reservoirs?
1) Flooding of land can lead to loss of settlements
2) Can flood areas of outstanding natural beauty (Kielder water)
3) Sediment can accumulate against dams in reservoirs which can result in a chemical imbalance in the water, leading to overgrowth or undergrowth of vegetation.
54
What are the benefits of reservoirs on the?
1) Dam can be used to create electricity (Kielder water generates 6 MW of electricity anually, saving 8600 tonnes of CO2
2) Can be a tourist attraction (300,000 people visit Kielder every year
3) Reliable source of water, can also be used in times of drought (EG: in the 1990s, water was brought from Kielder to Yorkshire)
55
What are the benefits of water transfer schemes?
1) Get water to where it is needed most (areas of water deficit - especially the south east)
2) If pollution occurs downstream clean water can be released to dilute it
56
What are the negatives of water transfer schemes?
1) There are potential implications for local ecology, as the chemistry of water in each area is different.
2) Sediment can accumulate in pipelines
3) The introduction of new water to an area can also spread non-native species, which can threaten local ecosystems.
57
What is the definition of energy mix?
The mix of different energy sources a country or region uses to meet its energy demands
58
What is the definition of energy supply?
The delivery of energy sources to where energy is needed.
59
What is the definition of renewable energy?
Energy from a source that is not depleted when used
60
What is the definition of non-renewable energy?
Energy from a source that is depleted when used.
61
Why has UK energy demand gone down since 2000?
1) Better insulation in homes
2) Reduction in manufacturing
3) More electric vehicles
4) Electricity saving tech
62
When was the miners strike, and what caused it?
1984-85 - because of the privatisation of mines, as the UK moved away from coal as an energy source.
63
When and what was the oil embargo, and what did it cause the UK to do?
1973 - rise in oil prices as countries refused to sell oil to the US because of their involvement in the Arab - Israeli war - caused UK to invest in their own oil supplies in the North Sea.
64
When was the Kyoto Protocol and what was its aim?
2005 - reduce dependence on coal and use renewable energy sources
65
When was the Paris agreement and what did the UK set out to do after?
2015 - be net-zero carbon by 2050
66
What are the advantages of using oil in the UK energy mix?
1) Helps UK energy security
2) Much of work done out at sea - low visual impact
3) Good for economy - provides jobs
4) Lower transport costs if sourced in UK
67
What are the disadvantages of using oil in the UK energy mix?
1) Non-renewable source of energy
2) Burning oil produces CO2
3) Much of our old is sourced overseas and importing it is becoming increasingly expensive.
4) Oil spills are very damaging to marine life
68
What are the advantages of using coal in our energy mix?
1) Coal is one of the most abundant sources of energy
2) Coal is very inexpensive compared to other fossil fuels
3) Electricity produced by coal is reliable
4) Transporting coal is easy
69
What are the disadvantages of using coal in the UK energy mix?
Most of the easily accessible coal in the UK has now disappeared
Non-renewable
Has the highest greenhouse gas emissions of any energy source
Blight on the landscape; aesthetically unappealing
70
What are the advantages of using natural gas in the UK energy mix?
Compared with coal and oil, this energy source burns cleanly and so is less polluting (no soot, ash or odours), it produces approximately 50% of the CO2 emissions of coal.
It is a consistent source of power and not reliant on variables such as wind or wave strength
Due to our vast North Sea reserves, it will help keep UK more energy secure and minimise dependency on foreign imports
Low transport costs (large energy produced per unit mass of fuel)
71
What are the advantages of using nuclear power in the UK energy mix?
It is a consistent source of power and not reliant on variables such as wind or wave strength
New technology may solve many of the disadvantages of this type of energy in the future, many people point to new power plants like thorium reactors which can’t be turned into weapons and much less wasteful
Low transport costs (large energy produced per unit mass of fuel)
It is an efficient and sustainable power – there are no CO2 emissions once constructed
Each power plant only occupies a small area but can produce huge amounts of energy
72
What are the disadvantages of using nuclear power in the UK energy mix?
The development of nuclear weapons technology.
Nuclear waste and pollution
Accidents and disasters
73
What are the disadvantages of using natural gas in the UK energy mix?
Non-renewable – it will run out
Produces CO2
Natural gas is highly combustible and odourless so it is difficult to detect a leakage
74
How many operational nuclear power plants does the UK have?
15
75
How much of the UK's electricity will Hinkley Point C provide when completed?
7% - enough for 5m homes
76
What are the benefits of the Hinkley Point C project?
1) £100m contribution to the local economy anually during peak construction
2) Saves around 9m tonnes of CO2 a year
3) New employment opportunities during construction
77
What % of all new oil and gas wells use fracking?
60%
78
What materials are used in fracking?
Water, sand and chemicals
79
What happens to the left over fracking fluid once the oil and gas has been extracted?
It gets sealed underground
80
How many different chemicals are said to be used in fracking?
Up to 700
81
What are the advantages of fracking?
1) It could attract up to £4b in investment anually
2) Provide up to 70,000 jobs
3) Halve to countries dependency on imported oil and gas
4) Will bring down gas prices
5) Short to medium term way to keep up with energy demands
82
What are the negatives of fracking?
1) Contamination of drinking water sources with dangerous chemicals which has a negative impact on the local people and enviroment
2) CO2 and methane emissions contribute to global warming
3) Increased pollution in local area
4) Impacts on seismic activity - areas around fracking sites are prone to earthquakes
5) Noise and visual pollution for local residents and wildlife
6) Habitat destruction to make space for fracking sites.
83
Where is the UK's last fracking site, and what happened to it recently?
Preston New Road in Lancashire - it was brought to a halt after a series of earthquakes above the UK governments limit.
84
What did the government say about fracking?
They would not agree to any future fracking until compelling evidence is found
85
How far has fracking modified the UK enviroment?
It has the potential to do so in a very large way if it is used more widely, but as of today it has only been use on a local scale for a short period of time so the impact is limited.
86
Which country uses fracking widely?
The US - impact by fracking on the environment are seen on a large scale here
87
How does fracking contaminate local water systems?
Fracking fluid containing dangerous chemicals seeps through the ground and into underground water systems, which feed into rivers and lakes.
88
Explain the process of fracking?
It is the process of drilling into the shale layer underground, and then injecting sand water and chemicals into the ground at high pressure to fracture the rock and form fissures via hydraulic fracturing, and release the gas trapped within them.
89
How does Biomass work?
Organic matter, or gas released by it is burned to heat water into stem, which turns a turbine. The turbine then powers a generator.
90
What percentage of UK electricity did biomass, wind power and solar power generate in 2018?
11%, 17% and 4%
91
What are the advantages of Biomass energy?
1) Renewable - organic matter can constantly be grown and burnt. It is also carbon neutral
2) Biomass is available in large quantities across the world - no need for expensive transportation
3) Can use existing power plants
4) Can generate from waste - bacteria can be used to generate methane from waste
92
What are the disadvantages of Biomass energy?
1) Large areas needed for all the different processes used in Biomass - this may take away space from ecosystems
2) Although being carbon neutral, there is still pollution from burning Biomass
3) Some plants use forests as fuel - this can destroy habitats
4) The construction and operating costs of biomass plants are expensive
93
What is an example of a Biomass plant in the UK?
Drax power station
94
What is an example of wind turbines in the UK?
London Array
95
What are the pros of wind power?
1) Renewable
2) Once built they don't produce CO2
3) The UK is the windiest country in the world (40% of Europe's wind)
4) Lots of jobs in maintenance and construction (60 labourers doing 12 hour shifts at London Array)
5) Don't take up much space (175 turbines in 100km2 at London Array) - can also be put offshore
96
What are the cons of wind power?
1) It is noisy - often around 30db (cant be place within 300m of houses
2) It is an intermittent energy source (only works in certain conditions)
3) Eyesore - especially onshore as they are often on top of hills
4) Rotate at high revolutions which can be harmful to birds and bats as it disrupts their flight path
5) It is not as affordable as fossil fuels yet, but it is getting closer
97
What are the pros of solar power?
1) Renewable
2) Once built they don't produce any emissions
3) The world receives 20,000 times more power than needed to supply the world from sunlight, meaning there is large potential
4) Can be on roofs, meaning they don't need to take up much space
5) They are silent
98
What are the cons of solar power?
1) Intermittent energy source
2) Relatively expensive
3) Use a lot of space, which could mean habitats are destroyed
99
What is an example of solar power in the UK?
Cleve Hill in Kent
100
What happened in each of these years: 1979, 1988, 1994, 1997, 2012 and 2015?
1979 - First world climate conference
1988 - IPCC set up
1994 - UNFCCC - attempts to stabilise CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere, but no binding limits or enforcement.
1997 - 37 developed countries try to reduce CO2 emissions
2012 - The Doha Ammendment
2015 - Paris Agreement - Aim to keep global temperature rise by 2C
101
What did the government comit to in June 2019?
Be net zero carbon by 2050
102
What does the government need to do to meet these targets?
1) Work with and educate communities
2) Invest in techniques of producing cleaner energy
3) Invest in ways of using energy more efficiently
103
Which 3 carbon budgets has the UK met its target for, or is on track to do so?
1) The 1st Carbon Budget - 2008 to 2012 - reduce emissions by 25% on 1990 levels
2) 2nd carbon budget - 2013 to 2017 - 31% reduction
3) 3rd carbon budget 2018 to 2022 - 37% reduction by 2020
104
Which carbon budgets is the UK not on track to meet its targets for?
1) 4th carbon budget - 2023 to 2027 - 51% reduction by 2025
| 2) 5th carbon budget - 2028 to 2032 - 57% reduction by 2030
105
How much has the UK reduced carbon emissions as of today?
44% on 1990 levels
106
What percentage of our electricity is produced from gas?
39%
107
What were the governments targets on insulating homes, and are they on track to meet them?
- 500,000 lofts and 90,000 walls insulated a year
| - In 2019, only 43,000 lofts and 18,000 walls were insulated
108
Is there any serious plan for de-carbonising the UK's heating systems?
No, this is a major floor in the UK's strategy for becoming carbon zero by 2050.
109
What are the governments targets relating to wind power?
Invest £160 million to upgrade infrastructure in Northern England, Scotland and Wales. Aim to quadruple capacity in 10 years
110
What is the progress on UK carbon catching schemes?
There are 43 large scale CCS around the world, but none in the UK. This is despite Boris Johnson saying the UK wants to be a world leader in CCS to the UN round table.
111
How successful have renewable electricity generation schemes been for the UK?
Very successful - 50% came from renewable sources for the first time in 2019. Offshore wind has been a huge success.
112
The government aims to eliminate non-electric cars by 2035, are they on track?
No, only 2.5% of cars on the road are currently electric, and there isn't sufficient charging infrastructure. The government was aiming for 3.5%.
113
What sectors are the UK failing and succeeding in reaching the target of being net zero by 2050?
Electricity generation is going well, transport and heating is less successful.
114
What are the environmental factors impacting the UK's energy sources?
- Concerns about wildlife may prevent the building of large scale wind or solar projects
- Earthquakes caused by fracking have led to a ban until evidence is found that it is safe
- Solar and wind energy are not constant sources of power
- Emissions from fossil fuels are damaging to the environment.
115
What are the political factors impacting the UK's energy sources?
- Local residents often reject large projects due to noise and visual impact
- Many people are concerned about the safety of nuclear power
- A focus on increasing energy security after past events such as the oil embargo
- Decision to ban sale of non-electric vehicles by 2035.
- People are increasingly aware of the environment.
- Commitment to being net zero by 2050
116
What are the economic factors impacting the UK's energy sources?
- The government has pledged 1-2% of GDP to reaching target of being net zero by 2050.
- Still few economically viable alternatives to gas heating
- High cost of building nuclear power stations may stall production
- Cost of solar panels and batteries has fallen by 2/3 since 2010
- UK faces a battle to compete against lower cost imported fuel
- As the cheapest form of renewable energy, 2017 saw a record amount of onshore wind farms in the UK.
117
What percentage of pupils use the Perse Bus Scheme?
9%
118
How many ground source heat pumps does The Perse have, and how much energy do they generate annually?
2 - generate 168,000 KWH annually - provides heating for PAC and New Classics Building
119
How many solar panels does the Perse have and how much electricity do they produce?
49 - 12.5KWH at peak averages to around 12,500KWH annually
120
What is the downside to the Perse's ground source heat pumps?
- They are expensive (£18,000 to install one ground source heat pump to the average home).
- they only cover one building.
- It is unlikely The Perse will convert the other buildings from gas heating.
121
What are the pros of the Perse's ground source heat pumps?
- They directly adress the Governments target of replacing all central gas heating, which they are struggling to meet
- Only require a small amount of electricity
122
What are the pros of the Perse's solar pannels?
- Sustainable
| - Equivalent energy to 4 homes
123
What are the cons of the Perse's solar pannels?
- Too small a scale, not able to cover most of the schools energy
- School does not use a renewable energy supplier, so there is still non-renewable energy (mainly from gas)
124
What are the pros of the Perse Bus Scheme?
- Reducing car use by 1080km a day (based on assumptions)
| - Cost effective as it is cheap for parents and school
125
What are the cons the of the Perse Bus Scheme?
- Only helps if it is assumed that the pupils were being driven prior to using the busses
- Only a small proportion of pupils
- Busses were often late,
