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Geography > Unit 2 - Section C: The challenge of resource management > Flashcards

Unit 2 - Section C: The challenge of resource management Flashcards

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1
Q

Define food security

A

When people are able to eat enough nutritious food to stay healthy and active

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2
Q

Define food insecurity

A

When people can’t get enough food to stay healthy and active

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3
Q

How much food do HICs consume and why?

A

.A lot
.Due to the fact that they can afford to import a larger variety of food and many people have a high income to buy more food

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4
Q

How much food do LICs consume and why?

A

.Less food
.Due to the fact less is available and people can’t afford as much

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5
Q

How much food do NEEs consume and why?

A

.More
.As their wealth increases

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6
Q

What are the factors that are causing global food consumption to increase?

A

.Rising population
.Economic development

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7
Q

How is a rising population causing global food consumption to increase?

A

The global population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2040 more people require more food

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8
Q

How is economic development leading to a larger food consumption?

A

1)If countries get wealthier then the people have a disposable income to spend on food meaning they buy more food than needed

2) Wealthy countries can afford to import food all year round so people no longer eat it when it is seasonally available

3) Industrialization of agriculture means that some countries are able to produce food at lower cost which means food becomes cheaper so people can afford to eat more

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9
Q

What are the two main causes of food insecurity?

A

-Not enough food being produced
-People being unable to access food supplies

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10
Q

What are the physical factors that affect food production and accessibility?

A

.Climate
.Water stress
.Pests and diseases

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11
Q

What are the human factors that affect food production and accessibility?

A

.Poverty
.Technology
.Conflict

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12
Q

How does climate affect food production and accessibility?

A

.Countries that have climates that are unsuitable for farming can’t grow much food
.Extreme weather and droughts also can affect food supply

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13
Q

How does water stress affect food production and accessibility?

A

.Areas with low rainfall or little water for irrigation struggle to grow food

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14
Q

How do pests and diseases affect food production and accessibility?

A

.Pests reduce yields by consuming crops
.Diseases can cause lots of damage if they spread through crops and livestock

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15
Q

How does poverty affect food production and accessibility?

A

.People living in poverty often don’t have their own land to grow food
.Also poverty affects people’s ability to farm effectively so they may not have fertilizers or the needed equipment
.Some countries may not be able to import food

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16
Q

How does technology affect food production and accessibility?

A

.Mechanisation of equipment increases productivity by making farming more efficient
.New technologies can increase yields and help protect plants from disease

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17
Q

How does conflict affect food production and accessibility?

A

.Fighting may damage agricultural land or make it unsafe
.Access to food becomes difficult to people who are forced to flee their homes
.In addition conflicts make it difficult to import food as trade routes are disrupted and political relationships with supply countries may break down.

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18
Q

What are the negative impacts of food insecurity?

A

.Famine
.Under nutrition
.Soil erosion
.Rising prices
.Social unrest

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19
Q

What is famine?

A

A serious lack of food across a large area. It can lead to starvation and death. Between 2010 and 2012 nearly 260000 people died in Somalia as a result of famine

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20
Q

What is undernutrition?

A

When people don’t get enough nutrients in their body to stay healthy. This causes problems like stunted growth which affects 40% of children under 5

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21
Q

What is soil erosion?

A

-Soil erosion is caused when people who are struggling to produce enough food may not use the best agricultural practices.

-They may over-cultivate or overgraze land which reduces plant cover and leaves the soil exposed to wind and rain which causes soil erosion

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22
Q

Why do prices rise when there is food insecurity?

A

When there isn’t enough food available food prices usually increase because demand exceeds supply

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23
Q

What is social unrest?

A

Food shortages and rising food prices causes riots and may contribute to civil wars. In Venezuela between 2016 and 2019 food shortages caused protesting, looting of supermarkets and riots

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24
Q

Define the term cash crop

A

A crop that is grown primarily for sale, export and generating income

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25
Q

What is irrigation?

A

It involves artificially watering the land. It can be used to make dry areas more productive or to increase number of harvests and the yield of crops

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26
Q

What are the types of irrigation?

A

-Gravity flow
-Sprinklers
-Drip systems

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27
Q

What is gravity flow irrigation?

A

-Digging ditches and channels to transport ground or surface water to fields

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28
Q

What is sprinklers irrigation?

A

-Spraying water across fields

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29
Q

What is drip systems irrigation?

A

-Dripping water from small holes in pipes directly onto the soil around the roots of crop plants

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30
Q

What is aeroponics?

A

-A method of growing plants without soil
-Plants are suspended in the air
-Water containing the necessary nutrients is sprayed onto the roots
-The water drips off and is used again

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31
Q

What are the advantages of irrigation?

A

-It can create job opportunities
-They can help provide a water supply all year round
-There is a much higher yield and harvest

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32
Q

What are the disadvantages of irrigation?

A

-It can lead to soil erosion
-It can lead to water logging
-It can cause severe flooding
-If not well maintained then it can lead to water loss

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33
Q

What are the advantages to aeroponics and hydroponics?

A

-Less water is required than plants grown in soil
-Plants are monitored closely in order to maximise the yield
-Reduced risk of disease and pests which means less risk of pesticides

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34
Q

What are the disadvantages of aeroponics and hydroponics?

A

-It is very expensive therefore they are only used on high value crops

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35
Q

What is hydroponics?

A

-A method of growing plants without soil
-Where plants are grown in a nutrient solution supported by materials like clay balls, gravel and rockwool

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36
Q

What are the aims of the New Green revolution?

A

-To increase yield
-Using sustainable methods

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37
Q

What are the 2 strategies of the New Green Revolution?

A

1) GM (genetically modified) crops including varieties with pest and disease resistance. These need fewer resources (pesticides) and so can be grown cheaply and with less environmental damage

2) Traditional and organic farming methods including soil nutrient recycling, crop rotation and using natural predators to control pests. This helps limit the environmental impact of food production

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38
Q

What does GM stand for?

A

Genetically modified

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39
Q

What does HYV stand for?

A

High yield variety

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40
Q

What are the reasons for using biotechnology to genetically modify crops?

A

-To increase the yield
-To have resistance to disease and pests
-To give higher nutritional values

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41
Q

What are the concerns with biotechnology (GM crops) in farming?

A

-Genetically modified crops may reduce biodiversity because fewer varieties are planted

-Genetically modified plants may interbreed with wild plants and pass on their genes or disrupt ecosystems

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42
Q

What is meant by appropriate technology in food production?

A

It involves choosing methods of increasing food production that are suited to the local environments and the needs, skills, knowledge and wealth of the people in those areas

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43
Q

How does appropriate technology help in food production for LICs?

A

-Individual wells with easy to maintain mechanical pumps are more suitable than larger diesel powered pumps

-A drip irrigation system constructed from local materials is more appropriate than an imported high tech sprinkler system

-Planting a variety of local species that can cope with the local environmental conditions and have seeds that can be collected and re-planted is more appropriate than planting a single GM variety that would have to be re-purchased each year

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44
Q

What is meant by sustainable food production?

A

Growing enough food to feed a rising population whilst still making sure the environment isn’t damaged so food can still be grown in future generations

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45
Q

What is permaculture?

A

A method of farming that aims to produce food in ways that recreate the natural ecosystem in an effort to protect soil, insects and wildlife

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46
Q

What are the two methods of permaculture?

A

-Mixed cropping
- Plants of different heights and
different types are grown in one area.
This means that available space and
light are used better, there are fewer
pests and diseases

-Natural predators
-Introducing natural predators reduces
the need for pesticides (frogs can be
used to control slugs)

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47
Q

What is organic farming?

A

-A method of farming that uses natural processes to return nutrients to the soil so that crops can continue to be grown. This is less damaging to the environment

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48
Q

What are the methods used in organic farming?

A

-Natural fertilisers like cow manure are used
-Artificial herbicides and pesticides are restricted
-Animals aren’t given any extra supplements or vaccinations to protect biodiversity and reduce reliance on unsustainable resources
-They sell produce close to reduce the road and air transport required

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49
Q

Why don’t people buy organic food?

A

-It is more expensive
-It goes off quicker
-And there isn’t much variety

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50
Q

What is urban farming?

A

Urban farming initiatives use empty land, rooftops and balconies to grow food and raise animals in towns

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51
Q

Why is urban farming becoming popular?

A

-It makes food locally available reducing the need to transport it long distances

-This means food is often cheaper improving food security of local residents

-Food is also often fresher and more nutritious

-It adds greenery to sites making them more attractive and healthier places

-Also makes urban areas less dependent on industrial agriculture

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52
Q

How can you make fish farming more suitable?

A

-Include catch quotas to limit the amount of fish taken and to limit the harmful methods used
-Spread out fish farms to reduce disease
-Monitoring fish breeding practices

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53
Q

Why is intensive fish farming unsuitable?

A

-It uses chemicals which can harm ecosystems
-Sometimes fishing nets are used which damage marine ecosystems
-Fishing nets can damage fish breeding grounds

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54
Q

Why is intensive meat farming unsuitable?

A

-Chemicals are used to maximise production

-Large amounts of energy are used for indoor rearing

-High concentrations of animals can damage the soil

-Large volumes of waste needs to be disposed safely without damaging the environment

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55
Q

Why is importing food bad for the environment?

A

As it adds to food miles and increases the foods carbon footprint adding to global warming

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56
Q

Why is eating seasonally better for the environment?

A

As you’re eating food that is grown locally reducing the amount of food that is imported

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57
Q

How can food waste be reduced?

A

Different schemes like ‘Think.Eat.Save’ and ‘Love Food Hate Waste’ encourage individuals, businesses and governments to waste less food by helping them plan their meals better and sharing recipe ideas for using up leftovers

Many supermarkets in the UK also work with charities to distribute food waste to those in need

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58
Q

What are the economic impacts of large scale agricultural development in Almeria?

A

-Almeria makes around £1 billion a year from cash crops
-It provides many people with job opportunities and the people then spend the money made in local businesses - this is called the multiplier effect

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59
Q

What are the social impacts (negative) of large scale agricultural development in Almeria?

A

-There have been reports of poor working conditions meaning people won’t be as motivated to work and giving them a worse QOL and SOL

-Many workers become poorly due to a lack of drinking and toilet facilities combined with the hot temperatures (45 degrees c) and the chemicals they’re breathing in from the pesticides

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60
Q

What are the environmental impacts of large scale agricultural development in Almeria?

A

-If soil becomes unusable then the greenhouses are often abandoned and the plastic sheets often end up in the Mediterranean sea around 30,000 tonnes each year

-The greenhouses reflect the sunlight back to the sun rather than absorb it which increases the climate - this is called the albedo effect

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61
Q

What is being done in Jamalpur to increase food supplies?

A

-A charity called Practical action has helped support
farmers in growing rice and wheat called rice-fish culture

-It is where fish are added into the paddy fields

-A dyke is built around the farm to keep the fish trapped into the farm

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62
Q

What are the advantages of rice-fish culture in Jamalpur?

A

-They provide a natural source of pesticides by eating any pests and provide natural fertilisers with their droppings

-Keeping fish can increase yields by 10% as well as providing extra protein in the farmer’s diet. Fish is an excellent source of protein, bringing giving health benefits to people in the area

-Due to the extra yield farmers have extra rice to sell at a market

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63
Q

What is the importance of having access to food?

A

-When people don’t have access to safe and nutritious food they can’t eat the right balance of nutrients

-This causes malnourishment which includes undernourishment where people don’t get enough food of any kind

-Malnourishment can limit childrens development and increases likelihood of getting ill

-Globally 1 third of all under 5s die from diseases linked to malnourishment

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64
Q

What is the importance of having access to water?

A

-People need clean, sfae water for drinking, cooking and washing

-Without proper sanitation water sources get polluted by raw sewage

-Water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid kill many people each year

-Water is needed to produce food, clothes and many other resources so it has a big impact on people’s lifestyles

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65
Q

Why is having access to energy so important?

A

-Countries need energy for industry and transport as well as for use in homes

-Electricity can allow countries to develop industry creating jobs and wealth

-Lifestyles in HICs depend on a large stable supply of energy

-Without electricity people in LICs and NEEs may use other resources like burning wood which leads to deforestation and kerosene stoves which release harmful chemicals

-electricity also powers pumps for well and provides more safe water for communities

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66
Q

What is the consumption of resources like in HICs?

A

-It is greater as they can afford to buy the resources they need and expect a higher SOL

-They can also afford to import resources

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67
Q

What is the consumption of resources like in NEEs?

A

-Consumption is increasing rapidly in NEEs such as China

-Industry is developing quickly and population and wealth are also increasing rapidly

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68
Q

What is consumption of resources like in LICs?

A

-It is lower

-As they can’t afford to exploit available resources or import lacking resources

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69
Q

What are the three types of food?

A

-High value products
-Seasonal products
-Organic produce

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70
Q

What is a high value product?

A

-As people’s incomes have increased exotic fruits and vegetables, coffee and spices have become more popular

-These are often grown in LICs and then exported to the UK

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71
Q

What is a seasonal product?

A

-Seasonal food s only available during the months that it grows

-Fruit and vegetables are imported to meet the demand for seasonal produce all year round for example strawberries from Mexico

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72
Q

What is organic produce?

A

-People are becoming more concerned about the environmental impacts of food production and how chemicals can affect their health

-As organic food production is strictly regulated demand is growing

-Some organic food is produced in the U.K but lots is imported

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73
Q

Define food miles

A

The distance the food is transported to the market

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74
Q

Define carbon footprint

A

The amount of greenhouse gas produced whilst growing, packing and transporting food

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75
Q

What is the problem with growing food?

A

-Growing, processing and packaging of food produces CO2 and other greenhouse gases

-Up to 10% of the UKs total greenhouse emissions in 2017 came from agriculture

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76
Q

What is the problem with importing/transporting food from long distances?

A

-Transporting food from where it is grown to where it is sold produces CO2

-More food miles means more CO2 produced

-This adds to the carbon footprint and means more global warming

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77
Q

Why are people buying food more locally?

A

-As the longer the food miles the more carbon footprint there is meaning there is a higher contribution to global warming

-Therefore people look for local sources of food such as farmers markets as it is much better environmentally

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78
Q

What is an agribusiness?

A

A large scale industrial farming where all processes from the production of seeds and fertillisers to the processing and packaging of food are controlled by large firms

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79
Q

How are farms in the UK changing?

A

-Farm sizes have increased and many small farms have been taken over and field sizes have increased so food can be produced cheaper

-The amount of chemicals used has increased for example a larger number of fertillisers and pesticised are applied to crops

-The number of workers in agriculture have decreased due to a greater use of machinery in planting and harvesting

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80
Q

What is a water surplus?

A

When there is a greater supply than demand

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81
Q

What is a water deficit?

A

When there is a greater demand than supply

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82
Q

Which parts of the UK have high rainfall?

A

The north and west of the U.K have high rainfall and these are the areas with a water surplus

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83
Q

Which parts of the UK have high population densities?

A

The south east and midlands have high population densities so there is a high demand for water and there is a water deficit

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84
Q

How is the demand for water changing in the UK?

A

-Since 1975 the amount of water used by UK households in the UK has gone up to about 70%

-This is partly because people have more appliances that use water

-The Uk population is predicted to increase by over 6 million people by 2040 meaning there wlll be a higher demand

-Population densities are changing and there are plans to build new homes in the south east where there is already a water deficit

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85
Q

What are the main causes of water pollution?

A

-Nitrates and phosphates from crop fertillisers are washed into rives and groundwater

-Pollutants from vehicles are washed into water sources through runoff when it rains

-Chemical and oil spills from factories can pollute local water sources and groundwater

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86
Q

What are some strategies to improve water quality?

A

-Improving drainage systems and imposing regulations on the amount and types of fertillisers and pesticides used

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87
Q

What is the solution to the supply and demand water problem in Birmingham?

A

-One solution is to transfer water from Wales an area of surplus to Birmingham which is an area of water deficit

88
Q

What are the problems with transferring water from Wales to Brimingham?

A

-The necessary dams and aqueducts that are needed are really expensive to build for example the Birmingham resilience project will supply extra water to Birmingham has estimated costs of £300 million

-It can affect wildlife that lives in rivers and fish migration can be disrupted by dams

-There might be political issues for example people may not want their water supplied from another area

89
Q

Why have there been less use of coal oil and gas in the UK?

A

-North sea oil and gas reserves are being swiftly used up and production has been declining since 2000

-The UK still has coal reserves but production has significantly decreased since the mid 20th century

-There has also been less demand due to an effort to reduce CO2 emissions

-In the UK the use of shale gas from underground is being considered and it’s extracted by a process called fracking

89
Q

How has the energy mix in the UK changed?

A

-In the 1970s traditionally the UK relied on fossil fuels and 91% of our energy came from coal and coil

-When gas reserves were discovered under the sea by 1980 22% of the UKs energy was supplied by gas

-Recently there has been a shift away from burning fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources

-All coal powered stations are due to close by 2025 in the UK

-Wind and bioenergy are the biggest sources of renewable energy however the use of solar and hydroelectric power have increased

90
Q

What are the economic issues of producing and extracting fossil fuels?

A

-Extracting fossil fuels is expensive

-North sea oil is expensive to produce and it may cost more to produce than it can be sold for

-The cost to the consumer of electricity from nuclear and renewable sources is high

-Money is needed for research into alternative energy sources and for initial investment for example the nuclear power station at Hinkely point is going to cost £20.3 billion

-Domestic sources don’t provide enough energy to meet the demand so the UK has to pay to import energy from other countries

91
Q

What are the environmental issues of the production and extraction of fossil fuels?

A

-The burning of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases like CO2

-Fracking may pollute groundwater and cause mini earthquakes (Which is why it was halted in the UK in 2019)

-Accidents such as oil spills or nuclear disasters can leak toxic chemicals into water sources or the atmosphere

-Natural ecosystems can be damaged by renewable energy generators like large wind farms or the tidal power project planned for Fleetwood

-Power stations and windfarms can be considered eyesores

92
Q

Define energy mix

A

The range and proportions of different energy uses within a country

93
Q

Define energy security

A

The ability of a nation to secure sufficient, affordable and consistent energy supplies

94
Q

Define water insecurity

A

Not having enough clean water to meet everyone’s needs

95
Q

Define water security

A

When there is enough clean water to meet everyone’s needs

96
Q

Define water surplus

A

Having excess water

97
Q

Define water deficit

A

Having too little water

98
Q

What are the factors that water security depends on?

A

-Amount of water available (From rainfall, rivers, groundwater)

-The number of people using the water

-Access to water

99
Q

What are the reasons for the increase in global demand for water?

A

-Rising population
-Economic development

100
Q

How does a rising population lead to an increase in global demand for water?

A

1) Global population is increasing and each person needs water for drinking, cooking and washing

2) More people require more food and irrigation for agriculture uses 70% of the world’s freshwater sources

101
Q

How does economic development lead to an increase in the global demand for water?

A

1) Inudstrialisation - as countries become more developed they produce more goods and manufacturing uses a lot of water

2) Energy production - Developed countries require more energy. Some estimate that over 50 billion m3 of fresh water is used annually to produce energy

3) Rising living standards - As countries develop people become wealthier and are able to afford a higher standard of living which increases water use as more people can afford flushing toilets, showers and dishwashers

102
Q

What are the physical factors that affect water availability?

A

1) Climate
2) Geology

103
Q

What is an aquifer

A

An underground water store

104
Q

What are the social factors to water availability?

A

1) Over abstraction
2) Polluted water sources
3) Limited infrastructure

105
Q

What are the economic factors to water availability?

A

-Poverty - water providers charge a fee for supplying water to homes and people who are too poor have to find other sources which may not be safe to drink

106
Q

How does climate affect water availability?

A

Most places rely on rainfall to feed lakes and rivers for their water supply.

-In hotter climates more water evaporates from these stores

-Climate change is altering the total amount of rainfall places receive as well as causing global temperatures to rise

-Therefore areas are getting drier which increases the risk of droughts

107
Q

How does geology affect water availability?

A

-When rain falls on impermeable rock it runs off into lakes and rivers which is easier to get water from

-However when it falls on permeable rock it infiltrates and can form underground water stores which are harder to get water from

-However groundwater can make water available in very dry places

108
Q

How does over abstraction affect water availailability?

A

This is when more water from natural sources (rivers and lakes etc) is used than it is replaced. this is caused by:

109
Q

What is over abstraction caused by?

A

A) Population growth and economic
development
B) Improvements in sanitation and hygiene as people shower more often
C) High demands from businesses -
Tourism and recreation can cause water stress during peak holiday seasons for example keeping golf courses green

110
Q

What causes polluted water sources?

A

-Water pollution is a major problem in rapidly industrialising countries where industrial waste is dumped into rivers without being treated

-Animal waste can be hazardous where people share water sources with animals and lack access to sanitation

111
Q

How does limited infrastructure affect water availaility?

A

-Rapid urbanisation means that more pipes and pumps are needed to ensure safe and reliable access to water

-If water pumps aren’t built quickly enough then sewage can contaminate the water supply

112
Q

What are the problems with water insecurity?

A

1) Pollution and disease
2) Reduced food production
3) Reduced industrial output
4) Conflict

113
Q

Why is there pollution and disease when there is water insecurity?

A

-Water that is polluted by sewage or industrial chemicals can be more dangerous in areas where water is scare

-This is because people may not have any other alternative but to drink the polluted water

-Some waterborne diseases like cholera are caused by bacteria in sewage contaminated water

114
Q

Why is there reduced food production when there is water insecurity?

A

-Agricultural irrigation uses a lot of water so when there is a water shortage crop growth is limited which can lead to starvation

115
Q

Why is there reduced industrial output when there is water insecurity?

A

Manufacturing industries are hugely water intensive so can’t produce as many products during water shortages

This reduces workers incomes and affects the economy

116
Q

Why is there conflict when there is water insecurity?

A

-When countries with water insecurity share the same water sources such as rivers or aquifers water shortages can cause conflict

-One country may try to improve its own water security by taking more water from a river which can reduce the water security of countries downstream

117
Q

What are the methods of increasing water supply?

A

1) Dams and reservoirs
2) Water diversion
3) Water transfer
4) Desalination

118
Q

How do dams and reservoirs increase water supply?

A

-Building a storage dam across a river traps water behind the dam creating a reservoir

-During times of water surplus the reservoir will be filled and this water can be released when there is a water deficit ensuring there is a consistent flow of water in the river all year round

119
Q

What are the advantages of dams and reservoirs when increasing water supply?

A

They can help regulate water levels and ensure there is a consistent flow of water all year round

120
Q

What are the disadvantages to dams and reservoirs when increasing water supply?

A

-Dams are expensive to build and maintain
-They can cause conflict as they flood agricultural land and may drown settlements causing people to relocated

121
Q

How does water diversion increase water supply?

A

-Water diversion is when a dam is built to raise a river’s water level and redirect water to a chosen location

122
Q

What are the advantages to water diversion when increasing water supply?

A

-They’re less disruptive than a storage dam as it redirects water instead of storing it in a reservoir

-Diversion dams can be used to irrigate farmland or produce hydroelectric power

123
Q

How does water transfer increase water supply?

A

-Water transfer schemes are large scale engineering projects that move water from an area of surplus to an area of deficit

-Water is usually transferred in canals and pipes however aqueducts and artificial channels are sometimes used

124
Q

What are the advantages to water transfer schemes in order to increase water supply?

A

-It should prevent over abstraction
-The scheme provides water that can be used to irrigate farmland so crops can be grown
-Water is important for industry so an increased water supply means that industrial development can continue

125
Q

What are the disadvantages to water transfer schemes in order to increase water supply?

A

-Large areas could be flooded which would destroy natural habitats
-Diverting water may increase water stress in the area that the water is being transferred from
-The water may be expensive due to the high cost of transferring water

126
Q

How does desalination increase water supply?

A

-Desalination removes salt from seawater so it can be used

-There are 2 main processes - seawater is either heated until it evaporates or it is passed through a membrane leaving the salt behind

-Wealthy desert countries often use desalination as the main source of clean drinking water

127
Q

What are the disadvantages of desalination?

A

-It is really expensive because energy is needed to heat the water or pass it through membranes

-Most desalination plants are powered by fossil fuels which is really bad for the environment

128
Q

What are the advantages of desalination?

A

In wealthy countries it is the main source of a clean water supply (98.8% of Dubai’s water is from desalination)

129
Q

Why is China having a water transfer project?

A

-Due to high population densities there is a high demand for water
-In the past groundwater was used to help meet the demand however this had led to water shortages
-To combat water insecurity in the north there is a South-north water transfer project to reroute water across the country

130
Q

What is the water transfer project in China?

A

-The $62 billion project will transfer 44.8 billion m3 of water from the south to the north every year
-Work began in 2002 and since then the central and eastern routes have been completed
-The western route’s completion is planned for 2050

-The project will transfer water along 3 routes from China’s main rivers to areas of water deficit
-The eastern route alone has nearly 9km of tunnels and 23 pumping stations

131
Q

What are the advantages to the water transfer project in China?

A

-The project provides clean water to over 20 cities

-The Chinese government estimates that up to 100 million people have been benefited from the project

-Water is important for industry so an increased supply means that industrial development can continue in the north

-The scheme provides water that can be used to irrigate farmland meaning crops can be grown

-It should prevent over abstraction to stop land subsidence

132
Q

What are the disadvantages to the water transfer project in China?

A

-Large areas have been flooded which destroys natural habitats - the huge construction works are damaging fragile ecosystems

-Diverting so much water may increase water stress in the south and in the event of a drought the yield of crops may decrease in the south

-Raising the dam of the Danjiangkou reservoir flooded productive farmland forcing 345000 people to move and many of them have less land, poorly built housing and are now unemployed

  • The water supplied to Beijing is very expensive meaning it is only available in urban areas - therefore the urban poor and many people in rural areas have NO access to the diverted water
133
Q

What are the methods to keeping the water supply sustainable?

A

-Water conservation
-Grey water
-Groundwater management
-Recycling
-Sand dams

134
Q

What is water conservation?

A

-Water conservation is about using less water by:

1) Fixing leaks in reservoirs, pipes and taps to stop water wastage (20% of water was lost to leaks)

2) Fitting dual flush toilets or devices in the toilet cistern which can save up to 3.5 litres of water with every flush

3) Buying efficient washing machines and dishwasher and only running them with full loads

4) Fitting homes and businesses with water metres which makes awareness of water usage and makes people more likely to reduce their water usage (homes with water metres tend to use 10-15% less water)

5) Irrigating farmland using drip pipes or sprays which direct water to where it is needed

6) Educating people to have shorter showers and turn off taps when they aren’t in use

135
Q

What is groundwater management?

A

-Groundwater needs to be managed to prevent over abstraction and pollution

-The amount of groundwater being extracted can be monitored to ensure it is not removed faster than replaced. In the UK you need a license to extract more than 20m3 of water a day

-to prevent polluting groundwater and making it unusable farmers are encouraged to use less artificial fertillisers and pesticides and copanies which leak toxic waste will be fined

-When groundwater is shared between countries international agreements are needed to prevent one country from taking an unsustainable amount of water leaving the other countries unable to take some

136
Q

What is recycling in terms of water sustainability?

A

-Recycling water involves taking water that has already been used and using it again

-Water from homes and industries can be piped to water treatment plants to make is safe enough to reuse

-Recycling water is more sustainable because less water needs extracting to meet demands - recycling water increases water supplies by 27% in some US cities

-Most recycled water is used for irrigation, industry, power plants and toilet flushing

137
Q

What is grey water?

A

-Grey water is a type of recycled water that is usually reused immediately without being treated

-It is mostly waste from peoples’ homes

-Because it is relatively clean it can safely be used for irrigation or farmland, washing cars and flushing toilets however not safe for drinking

-Grey water helps conserve energy as less energy is used treating water

-However it can be expensive to install grey water systems in houses and water must be used quickly before bacteria can grow

138
Q

What are the sand dams in Kenya used to keep water supply sustainable?

A

-An organisation called the UDO (Utooni Development organisation) have worked to reduce water insecurity

-The dams are about 1m high built across the river

-During the rainy season when water is flowing sand is trapped behind the dam

-Water gets trapped and the sand prevents the water from evaporating in the hot sun during the dry season

-When the river stops flowing water can be extracted from the sand by digging a well, by piping water through the dam to a tap or by digging holes

139
Q

What are the advantages to the sand dams in Kenya?

A

-The dams are quite cheap to build as they use local materials and don’t require much maintenance

-The height of the dam can be raised each year to trap more sand and more water

-The water can be used for irrigation to grow crops

-Members of the local community do not have to walk as far to get water and has helped reduce the distance walked by people each day by 9km

140
Q

Define energy security

A

Having a reliable, affordable and uninterrupted supply of energy

141
Q

Define energy surplus

A

When a country produces more energy than its population requires

-That extra energy can be exported and an energy surplus gives a country energy security

142
Q

Define energy deficit

A

Having less energy than required

143
Q

What are the factors that a country’s energy security depends on?

A

-The supplies of energy available
-The population size
-The amount of energy that a typical person uses

144
Q

Define energy insecurity

A

When a country’s energy supply is only from other countries and there isn’t enough energy to supply the country with

145
Q

Which countries produce lots of energy?

A

-UK, Russia (Who have large oil and gas reserves)

-China, Australia (who have large coal reserves)

-Iran, Saudi Arabia (Who have large oil reserves)

146
Q

Which countries produce little amounts of energy and can’t exploit the resources?

A

-Ireland - has few resources to exploit
-Sudan - politically unstable and has little money

147
Q

How much energy do people in wealthy countries consume and why?

A

-Wealthy and developed countries consume a lot of energy

-This is because people expect a higher standard of living and they can afford it

-Most people also have access to electricity and heating ad use energy intensive products

148
Q

How much energy do people in poorer countries consume and why?

A

-Poorer and less developed countries tend to consume less energy

-This is because less people can afford it

-And less energy is available and lifestyles are less dependent on high energy consumption

149
Q

What are the reasons for the global demand for energy increasing?

A

-Rising population
-Economic development
-Technological advances

150
Q

How does a rising population increase the demand for energy?

A

-The global population is expected to increase to 9 billion by 2040

-More people means more energy is needed for example to heat homes

151
Q

How does economic development lead to an increase in the global demand for energy?

A

-Recent economic development has increased the wealth of poorer countries

-Peoeple use this wealth to by more material possessions which use energy for example televisions and cars

-In addition as countries develop their industry expands which uses alot of energy

152
Q

How does technological advances lead to an increase in the global demand for energy?

A

-Technological advances have created many devices which need energy (Computers, phones, tablets)

-As these become popular more energy is needed to power them

-In addition some advances have made energy more affordable (for example wind farms) which prevents consumers’ energy costs from rising

-Therefore people can afford to use more energy

153
Q

What are the factors that affect energy supply?

A

-Physical factors
-Economic factors
-Technological factors
-Political factors

154
Q

What are the physical factors that affect energy supply?

A

-Global distribution of fossil fuels
-Fossil fuels are non renewable
-Location of fossil fuel supplies
-Climate
-Natural disasters

155
Q

How does the distribution of fossil fuels affect energy supply?

A

The global distribution of fossil fuels is unequal meaning some countries have few resources and others have inaccessible resources

156
Q

How do fossil fuels being non renewable affect energy supply?

A

Fossil fuels are non renewable so supplies will run out eventually

157
Q

How does the location of fossil fuel reserves affect energy supply?

A

The location of fossil fuel reserves affects the cost and ease of extraction - some oils in the USA are trapped in rocks so do not flow freely

158
Q

How does an areas climate affect energy supply?

A

-An area’s climate or geography can affect its potential to generate renewable energy like solar and wind power

159
Q

How do natural disasters affect energy supply?

A

The likelihood of natural disasters can damage energy infrastructure which affects the types of energy that can be used and generated

160
Q

What are the technological factors that affect energy supply?

A

-Technological advances
-Exploiting technology
-Cost of technology

161
Q

How do technological advances affect energy supply?

A

Technological advances mean it is possible to exploit new resources like inaccessible gas reserves which can now be accessed by fracking

162
Q

How does new technology that makes exploiting easier affect energy supply?

A

Some technology makes it easier to exploit existing resources meaning autonomous machines don’t need people to operate them so can be used in hard to reach or risky areas

163
Q

How does cost in terms of technology affect energy supply?

A

Some countries still can’t exploit their energy resource as the technology required is too expensive or in early stages of testing

164
Q

What are the economic factors that affect energy supply?

A

-Remaining non renewable energy sources
-Prices of fossil fuels
-LICs
-Building new infrastructure

165
Q

How do non renewable energy resources affect energy supply?

A

Remaining non renewable energy sources are becoming harder to reach and more costly to extract

166
Q

How are the prices of fossil fuels affecting energy supply

A

The price of fossil fuels such as oul and gas are volatile meaning they vary due to economic and political factors

therefore countries that rely on imports may not always be able to afford them

167
Q

How is energy supply in LICs affected by economic factors?

A

-Some LICs may have potential energy sources however can’t afford to exploit them

168
Q

How is the building of new energy infrastructure affecting energy supply?

A

Building new energy infrastructure like nuclear power plants can be very expensive meaning some places may not be able to afford generating energy by nuclear power plants as they lack the money

169
Q

What are the political factors that affect energy supply?

A

-Political instability
-Climate change
-Concerns over safety

170
Q

How does political instability affect energy supply?

A

Political instability in countries with large energy reserves can affect their ability to export resources

for example the Middle East struggled to export oil during the Gulf war

171
Q

How does climate change (politically) affect energy supply?

A

Climate change linked to burning fossil fuels has resulted in international agreements to reduce the concentration o greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

172
Q

How do concerns over safety affect the energy supply?

A

Concerns over safety of nuclear power and nuclear waste disposal have resulted in stricter regulations which means it has now become harder to build nuclear power stations

173
Q

What are the impacts of energy insecurity?

A

-Environmental and economic costs
-Impact on food production
-Potential conflict
-Industrial output

174
Q

What is the impact on environmental and economic costs because of energy insecurity?

A

1) As fossil fuels are used up reserves are less accessible and more environmentally sensitive areas are exploited

2) This increases the cost of producing energy and risks environmental damage

175
Q

What is the impact on food production because of energy insecurity?

A

1) Energy insecurity can limit how many agricultural machines can be used

2) Demand for cleaner and cheaper energy sources increases demand for biofuels

3)Growing biofuel crops takes up land that could be used for growing food which could lead to food shortages and increase the price of food

176
Q

What is the impact on industrial output because of energy insecurity?

A

1) Energy shortages and higher energy costs reduce industrial output - factories have to produce less or relocate somewhere else with better energy

-This leads to many people losing their jobs and may cause factories to shut down

2) Higher costs are often passed on to the consumer as producers are often forced to raise their prices

177
Q

Why is there potential conflict when there is energy insecurity?

A

1) There is potential for political instability when energy demand exceeds energy supply

2) This can cause conflict between countries with an energy surplus and those with an energy deficit

178
Q

What are the benefits to renewable energy sources?

A

-They won’t run out
-They produce few or no waste products
-And require less maintenance then non-renewable power stations

179
Q

What are the renewable ways of generating energy?

A

-Solar
-Hydroelectric
-Geothermal
-Tidal
-Wave
-Wind
-Biomass

180
Q

How does energy get generated from solar panels?

A

-Energy from the sun is used to heat water or to generate electricity using photovoltaic cells

181
Q

What are the advantages to generating energy using the sun?

A

-Solar cookers and water heaters are cheap
-Excess energy can be sold making extra money
-Little to no waste products formed

182
Q

What are the disadvantages to generating energy from the sun?

A

-Photovoltaic cells are expensive
-They are unreliable as they depend on the sun

183
Q

How is hydroelectric energy generated?

A

-Hydroelectric power is created form falling water
-Water trapped by a dam is allowed to fall through tunnels
-The force of the falling water drives a turbine and generates electricity

184
Q

What are the advantages to hydroelectric power?

A

-It is flexible and efficient
-Water flow and electrical output can be adjusted to match the demand and limit waste

185
Q

What are the disadvantages to hydroelectric power?

A

-Building dams can destroy habitats and communities
-It is expensive to build the dams and turbines

186
Q

How is energy generated by geothermal?

A

-Water is pumped into the ground and turned into steam by heat from the earth’s crust
-The steam then turns a turbine which generates electricity
-The steam can also be piped to houses for heating

187
Q

What are the advantages to geothermal?

A

-It is s cheap and reliable way to generate electricity
-It generally requires little construction to harness the energy

188
Q

What are the disadvantages to geothermal energy?

A

-It only really works in tectonically active areas which aren’t found everywhere

189
Q

How is energy generated by tidal energy?

A

Currents or changes in water level caused by tides are used to turn turbines to generate electricity

190
Q

What are the advantages to generating energy by tidal?

A

-It can be reliably predicted as tidal cycles are very regular

191
Q

What are the disadvantages to generating energy by tidal?

A

-It can’t generate energy constantly
-The turbines are expensive

192
Q

How can energy be generated by waves?

A

-Wind blowing across the water makes waves
-The changing water level drives air through turbines to generate electricity

193
Q

What are the advantages to generating energy by waves?

A

-It is usable in the winter so it works well with solar power

194
Q

What are the disadvantages to generating energy by waves?

A

-It is expensive to build and install the turbines

195
Q

How do you generate energy by wind?

A

-Wind turbines use wind energy to generate electricity
-They can be built on land or on sea
-Often in large wind farms

196
Q

What are the advantages to wind energy?

A

There are no greenhouse gas emissions once the turbines have been built

197
Q

What are the disadvantages to wind energy?

A

Wind is variable so wind farms can’t generate electricity all the time

198
Q

How can you generate electricity by biomass?

A

-Biomass is wood, plants or animal waste that’s burnt for power or used to produce biofuels

199
Q

What are the advantages to biomass?

A

-It doesn’t require much technology so it’s a good choice for LICs

200
Q

What are the disadvantages to biomass?

A

Biomass is only renewable if managed sustainably

201
Q

How can the supply of fossil fuels be increased?

A

-The supply of fossil fuels can be increased by searching new reserves or exploring reserves that haven’t been used

-As technology develops it has become possible to extract resources that used to be too costly or too difficult to access like FRACKING

202
Q

How can the supply of nuclear energy be increased?

A

1) Nuclear technology can be used to generate a large amount of energy from a small amount of fuel

2) However nuclear power stations are expensive to build and to decommission as nuclear waste must be safely stored for 1000s of years

3) More energy can be extracted by developing new technology to improve the efficiency of nuclear reactors

4) New breeder reactors can generate more fuel as they operate making nuclear energy more renewable

203
Q

What is the process of fracking?

A

-Fracking is a way of extracting shale gas
-Shale gas is natural gas trapped underground in shale rock
-Liquid is pumped into the shale rock at high pressure which causes the rock to crack
-This releases the gas which is collected as it comes back out of the well

204
Q

What are the advantages to fracking?

A

1) Lots of shale gas is available in the UK (There is at least 5 trillion m3 of gas at fracking sites in Lancashire)

2) Fracking increases the UK’s energy security as the supply of fossil fuels starts to decline

3) Gas is less polluting than other fossil fuels (it releases half the CO2 of coal when burned)

4) Fracking is cheaper than some renewable energy sources

5) The technology has been tested and proven to work in the USA

205
Q

What are the disadvantages to fracking?

A

1) Gas is not a sustainable energy source it’s non renewable and releases CO2 when it’s burned which contributes to global warming

2) Fracking risks polluting groundwater, drinking water and air

3) It uses a lot of water which is a limited resource

4) It is known to cause earthquakes a (2.9 magnitude earthquake was triggered by fracking in Lancashire)

5) It causes social unrest and several people were arrested after protesting against it

6) Investment in fracking may slow down the investment in renewable energy

206
Q

Define carbon footprint

A

A measure of the amount of greenhouse gases an individual’s activities produce

207
Q

What is a direct emission?

A

Direct emissions are those produced from things that use energy like having the heating on, using electrical appliances, commuting or air travel

208
Q

What is indirect emission?

A

Indirect emissions are those produced when making things that we buy like food and clothing

209
Q

What are the ways that energy can be conserved?

A

-Sustainable design
-Transport
-Demand reduction
-Using technology to increase efficiency

210
Q

How can sustainable design help reduce energy use?

A

1) Insulation - less energy is needed to heat homes and workplaces that are well insulated

2) Modern boilers - New boilers are more efficient than older ones which means less energy is used

3) Solar panes - These are fitted to roofs to provide renewable energy with a low carbon footprint

211
Q

How can transport be designed to use less energy?

A

1) Switching to electric - Electric vehicles are more efficient than petrol and diesel versions

2) Biofuel - Waste products can be converted into biofuel and re-used
(Buses in London have been using biofuel made from coffee beans since 2017)

212
Q

How can we reduce the demand for energy?

A

1) Demand can be reduced by giving people incentives to lower their energy use - for example the government can offer tax relief and exemptions to businesses that use efficient energy

2) Improving public transport and encouraging walking or cycling reduces the demand for energy used to power transport
-For example congestion charges encourage people to reduce how frequently they drive to certain areas

3) Fitting smart energy metres in people’s homes to help them be aware of how much energy they use and encourage them to reduce it

213
Q

How does using technology to increase efficiency reduce energy use?

A

1) Energy saving light bulbs - CFL bulbs can last up to ten times longer and are four times more more efficient than incandescent bulbs

2) Hybrid cars, vans and trains combine diesel and electric power to increase efficiency

3) Regenerative braking - Road vehicles and trains can be fitted with devices to store the energy lost when breaking so it can be used later or returned to the national grid

4) Manufactures are making more efficient engines in response to new laws and rising fuel costs

5) Power stations are switching to gas and using Combined Cycle Gas Turbine technology - energy that used to be lost as heat is now recovered and used to create steam which can then be used to generate 50% more electricity from the same amount of fuel

214
Q

Why was there a biomass scheme implemented in Bihar?

A

As around 85% of people who live in Bihar aren’t connected to the electricity grid and people that are connected have an unreliable supply

215
Q

What is the biomass scheme in Bihar?

A
  • Rice husks are collected and used to generate electricity in small, local power plants
  • Each power plant has a simple design and contains a rice husk gasifier filters to clean the gas, a gas turbine, a generator and s distribution system
  • This can supply electricity to homes within a 1.5km radius
  • producing electricity locally is very efficient as rice husks don;t need to travel long distances and the electricity doesn’t need to be transferred far
216
Q

How and why was the rice husk energy generation scheme succesful in Bihu?

A

-By 2015 84 rice husk power plants were operating which supplied over 200,000 people with electricity

  • Generating electricity from biomass reduced the need for diesel generators and kerosene lamps reducing fossil fuel use
  • As well as supplying electricity the power plant also provided people with jobs. For example, Maintenance jobs or management jobs

-This scheme is sustainable as it helps reduce reliance on external organisations and expertise

-The government now offers financial support to help set up further biomass plants

Geography (8 decks)

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