UK environmental challenges

Question 1

What is the difference between weather and climate

Answer 1

Weather - the day to day conditions of the atmosphere
Climate - the average weather conditions calculated over 30 years

Question 2

What is a prevailing wind

Answer 2

The most frequent or common wind direction

Question 3

What are the types of air masses

Answer 3

Polar maritime:
From Greenland / Arctic Sea
Wet, cold air brings cold, showery weather

Arctic maritime:
From the Arctic
Wet, cold air brings snow in winter

Polar continental:
From Central Europe
Cold conditions in winter with snow. Sunny and hot in summer

Tropical continental:
From North AfricHot, dry air brings hot weather in summer

Tropical maritime:
From the Atlantic
Warm, moist air brings cloud, rain and mild weather

Question 4

What is the North Atlantic Drift and continentality

Answer 4

North Atlantic Drift - a powerful ocean current responsible for maintaining warm conditions throughout the UK
Continentality - continental interiors warm up and cool more rapidly than maritime (coastal) areas

Question 5

What extreme weather event was caused by tropical maritime

Answer 5

Winter storms 2014:
Strong winds and huge waves made conditions extremely dangerous
Transport disruption was severely damaged at Dawlish
Huge waves overtopped flood defences and coastal communities, e.g. Cornwall and Devon

Flooding 2014:
10% was underwater
Many main roads were closed
Soil couldn’t be used for months

Question 6

What extreme weather event was caused by tropical continental

Answer 6

Heatwave 2003:
20,000 people died
Forest fires
Melting glaciers
Air pollution
The highest temperature was 38°C

Question 7

Case study : Somerset levels

Where is it located

Answer 7

South west of England
Between Quantocks and Mendip
Below sea level

Question 8

Case study : Somerset levels

What are the physical causes

Answer 8

Prolonged rain, hurricane force wind speeds and tide surges cause widespread flooding
Storms caused by a powerful jet stream drove low pressure systems and their storms across the Atlantic Ocean
12 major storms from December 2013 to February 2014

Question 9

Case study : Somerset levels

What are the human causes

Answer 9

River hasn’t been dredged properly for 20 years
Building on floodplains increases runoff into river

Question 10

Case study : Somerset levels

What are the social consequences

Answer 10

600 homes were affected
Villages, such as Muchelney, were cut off
Journey times were longer as some roads were inaccessible

Question 11

Case study : Somerset levels

What are the economic consequences

Answer 11

Financial cost of the economy was between £82 million and £147 million
Many livestock were moved out and sold
Business in the local area lost trade

Question 12

Case study : Somerset levels

What are the environmental consequences

Answer 12

7000 hectares of agricultural land was underwater for over a month
Water deoxygenated affecting aquatic life and leaving a black scum on the fields
Floodwater contained raw sewage, dead animals and toxic waste

Question 13

Case study : Somerset levels

How have stakeholders responded to the flood

Answer 13

Short term:
The Environmental agency installed pumps sourced as far away as the Netherlands to pump water back into rivers
Emergency services, the Royal Marine and other volunteer organisations supported local people
As floods receded, they started dredging rivers

Long term:
In March 2014, the government released a long term plan to reduce the flood risk, e.g. dredging, repair flood banks
A tidal barrier at Bridgwater to reduce storm surges
Landowners are encouraged to plant trees or allow land to become natural wetlands

Question 14

How has providing food affected the environment and ecosystems

Answer 14

Mechanisation of farming:
Hedges have been removed to make fields larger which destroys habitats
Intensive farming prevents fields from recovering
Machinery compresses soil which causes surface flooding
Eutrophication causes plants to grow in the water which takes the oxygen and kills wildlife

Commercial fishing:
Fish have more than half declined since the 1970s
Trawlers catch fish of all sizes - doesn’t allow young fish to grow up
Unintentional fish get caught
Fishing boats travel far - use more diesel and increases fossil fuels

Question 15

How has providing energy affected the environment and ecosystem

Answer 15

Wind farms:
Located on open countryside which can ruin the view. This can affect tourism
Interfere with bird migration
Interfere with seabed ecosystem when constructing

Fracking:
Potentially pollute aquifers
May lead to minor earthquakes

Question 16

How has providing water affected the environment and ecosystems

Answer 16

Reservoirs:
Inundate landscapes, flooding agricultural land, natural ecosystems and settlements
Traps sediment which prevents its natural transportation downstream
Construction may damage the environment and damage ecosystems

Water transfer scheme:
Water characteristics will be transferred between places which may harm ecosystems as the chemistry of the water changes
Construction and maintenance may disturb ecosystems

Question 17

What is the difference between renewable and non renewable energy

Answer 17

Renewable - produced from energy sources that will not run out
Non renewable - produced from resources that will run out or become too expensive

Question 18

How does biomass work and what is its importance in the UK

Answer 18

Energy produced from organic matter
Includes burning dung/plant matter and the production of biofuels, by processing specially grown plants, e.g. sugarcane

Biofuels are used in transport
Biofuel and waste account for over 5% of the UK’s electricity generation

Question 19

How does wind work and what is its importance in the UK

Answer 19

Turbines on land or sea are turned by the wind to generate electricity

In 2014, wind accounted for just below 10% of the UK’s energy demand
Has potential for the future

Question 20

How does hydro (HEP) work and what is its importance in the UK

Answer 20

Large scale dams and smaller micro-dams create a head of water that can spin turbines to generate electricity

Expensive and controversial (large dams)
Micro-dams are becoming popular at local levels
Supplies 1.4% of the UK’s energy production

Question 21

How does geothermal energy work and what is its importance in the UK

Answer 21

Water heated underground when in contact with hot rocks create steam that drives turbines to generate electricity

There are small geothermal projects in the UK, e.g. in Southampton’s city centre

Question 22

How does tidal energy work and what is its importance in the UK

Answer 22

Turbines with barrages (dams) constructed across river estuaries can use rising and falling tides to generate electricity

No in the UK due to high cost and environmental concerns
Could generate 10% of the UK’s energy generation
In the future, Swansea Bay and Bridgwater Bay might be developed for tidal power

Question 23

How does wave energy work and what is its importance in the UK

Answer 23

Waves force air into a chamber where it turns a turbine linked to a generator

There are some experimental farms in the UK but costs are high and there are environmental issues

Question 24

How does solar energy work and what is its importance in the UK

Answer 24

Photovoltaic cells are mounted on solar panels which convert light from the sun into electricity

Solar power almost doubled in 2014
There are an increasing amount of solar farms in the UK
Many homes have solar panels on the roof

Question 25

What are facts about non renewable resources

Answer 25

Coal:
Use to be the main energy source
In 2015, the last deep shaft pit closed. Coal is only extracted from open cast pits

Natural gas:
In the past, it mainly came from the North Sea but it is starting to become imported
By 2019, the UK is expected to import 60% of gas required for electricity generation

Nuclear:
Uses uranium as raw material
Located by the coast as they need huge quantities of water for cooling
Some are near ports where uranium is imported to

Question 26

What is the energy mix in the UK

Answer 26

47% - Gas
29% - Coal
16% - Nuclear
1% - Oil
6% - Renewable (excl. hydro)
1% - Hydroelectric

Coal is still important despite the closure of the last deep mine

Question 27

What are the changing patterns of energy supply since 1950

Answer 27

1950s:
Coal generated almost all of the UK’s electricity
Used in industry, heat homes and fuel steam trains

Since the 1950s:
Coal has declined as mines closed and employment fell
Oil increased from production from the North Sea
Natural gas and nuclear increased
Renewables increased very slightly due to high cost and abundance of non renewables

Question 28

What is the role of the government and international organisations in the UK’s changing energy patterns

Answer 28

1961 - Coal was the main energy source
1974 - OPEC quadrupled the price of oil on the world market. Fortunately, the Uk started to produce its own in the North Sea
1984-85 - Miners strike. Mines closed, jobs were lost. Expensive to mine coal and alternate energy sources were becoming available
1990s - EUs ‘Gas Burn’ was repealed so the gas industry was able to grow rapidly
2007 - the White Paper ‘Meeting the energy challenge’, the government recognised the need to build more electric power stations to replace those built in the 1960s and 70s

Question 29

Why has energy consumption in the UK risen since the 1950s

Answer 29

Growth in the UKs population
Increasing demands in the home , industry and transport

During 1970-2000, energy consumption increased by 15%
Since 1990, it has increased by 1% each year
After 2000, it has started to decline

Question 30

What is the reason for declining energy in the UK

Answer 30

The government insulation policy. Under CERT, 5.3 million homes received free loft insulation and 2.6 million got their cavity walls filled
Since 2007, homes in England and Wales had to undergo Energy Performance Certification before they were sold or let
Since 2005, all boilers must have a rating of at least B

Question 31

What is the role of the EU

Answer 31

The EU ‘energy level’ details the energy efficiency of products. From 2017, it will be A*** - D
In 2011, the EU adopted the ‘Energy Efficiency Plan’ which encourages the construction of more energy efficient homes

Question 32

What are the national strategies to sustainable energy solutions

Answer 32

ncrease contribution of renewable resources:
Target of 15% of the UK’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2020
Target of 500,000 jobs will be created

Encourage energy saving and conservation:
All homes need to have an energy efficient survey before being sold or rented
Technology is being encouraged to develop efficient appliances

Develop nuclear energy:
Not really renewable as it uses raw material (some can be reprocessed for future use)
Alternative that is relatively sustainable

Develop carbon capture and storage:
Capture carbon from power stations and store underground within rock and aquifers

Question 33

Case study : Biogen

What do they do

Answer 33

Powers 4,500 homes
Uses 45,000 tons of food waste each year
Produces biofertilisers and compost

Question 34

Case study : Biogen

How does it work

Answer 34

In the absence of oxygen, bacteria is used to break down the slurry and silage creating methane rich biogas
This methane is buried as fuel to generate electricity which is sold to the National grid to make a profit
The waste organic matter forms a valuable liquid fertiliser that farmers can use
The heat produced can be used locally

Question 35

What is the development of energy in the UK

Answer 35

1976 - First pumped storage HEP in Scotland began operations. Cruachan Loch is on of four pumped storage schemes in the UK
1970s - Oil prices suddenly rose and miners strike encouraged government to look into renewable energy
1986 - Southampton started using geothermal heat to pump hot water through a district heating system
Late 1800s - several wind turbines were constructed
1990 - Renewables produced 2% of the UK’s electricity generation (25% in 2015)

Question 36

What are the impact of wind farms on the people and the environment

Answer 36

Kirkby Moor Wind Farm, Cumbria:
In 2015, local councillors objects to plans to replace the twelve existing 42 m turbines with six 115 m turbines
Many people travel here for the view that inspired many artists and writers. This impact tourism which would affect many people’s livelihoods

Question 37

What is the role of natural gas in the UK’s energy future

Answer 37

Makes up 50% of the UK’s energy supply (45% is imported)
Gas burns cleanly so it is far less polluting
Reasonably secure as the UK can produce it from the North Sea

Question 38

What is the fracking debate

Answer 38

Used in the USA and other countries but is controversial
Concerns about minor earthquakes and pollution of groundwater
In 2016, fracking was given the go ahead in Lancashire

Question 39

What is the nuclear debate

Answer 39

Expensive to build
Relatively efficient and provide sustainable power
In 2015, China announced that they would invest in the UK’s nuclear programme

Question 40

What are the economic impacts affecting the UK’s future energy supply

Answer 40

High cost of building new nuclear power station as well as the decommissioning of old ones
New power stations may make electricity more expensive
Expensive to extract oil and gas from the North Sea

Question 41

What are the political impacts affecting the UK’s future energy supply

Answer 41

Fracking is a political issue with different parties having different stances
To what extent should foreign countries, operate or invest in Uk energy
Will the government continue to support and encourage the renewable sector with grants and subsidies

Question 42

What are the environmental impacts affecting the UK’s future energy supply

Answer 42

Committed to reducing carbon emissions
Fracking has environmental concerns
Nuclear power has some concerns
Construction of wind and solar farms