Water and Energy Flashcards
What is water security?
Water security refers to having reliable access to sufficient, safe, and clean water
How does water scarcity contribute to water insecurity?
Water scarcity occurs when demand exceeds supply, often due to overuse, climate change, or drought, leading to water insecurity in affected regions.
What is water insecurity?
Water insecurity occurs when there is not enough clean, accessible water to meet the needs of a population
How does pollution affect water security?
Pollution from industrial waste, agriculture, and untreated sewage can contaminate water sources, reducing access to safe drinking water and affecting health.
How does climate change impact water security?
Climate change leads to unpredictable weather patterns, with areas experiencing more frequent droughts or intense rainfall, disrupting water availability.
How does population growth affect water security?
Increasing populations raise the demand for water, putting pressure on existing resources and infrastructure, leading to water shortages.
How do geographical factors influence water security?
Regions with limited freshwater sources or uneven rainfall distribution face greater challenges in ensuring water security.
Why is water demand rising globally?
Water demand is increasing due to population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and changing dietary habits, particularly in developing countries.
How do changing diets contribute to higher water demand?
As people consume more water-intensive foods (e.g., meat and dairy), water usage increases for agriculture and food production.
How does industrialization drive up water demand?
Industrial activities require large amounts of water for manufacturing, energy production, and cooling processes, contributing to higher overall demand.
Why is agriculture a major driver of rising water demand?
Agriculture uses about 70% of global freshwater for irrigation, and as food production grows to meet the needs of a larger population, so does water use.
What are the health impacts of water insecurity?
Water insecurity can lead to dehydration, poor sanitation, and the spread of waterborne diseases
How does water insecurity affect economic development?
Water shortages can slow industrial production, reduce agricultural output, and hinder economic growth, particularly in water-dependent sectors.
How do dams increase water supply?
Dams store water in reservoirs, allowing for controlled release during dry periods, providing a reliable water source for drinking, irrigation, and energy production.
What is the role of reservoirs in managing water supply?
Reservoirs, created by dams, store large amounts of water, which can be used during times of drought, ensuring a steady supply for agricultural, industrial, and domestic use.
What is water transfer?
Water transfer involves moving water from areas of surplus to areas facing water shortages, typically through pipelines, canals, or aqueducts.
What are the environmental impacts of building dams?
While dams increase water supply, they can disrupt ecosystems, displace communities, and reduce the flow of water downstream, affecting biodiversity.
How do dams and reservoirs support hydroelectric power generation?
Dams store water that can be released to generate hydroelectric power, providing renewable energy, but also creating potential conflicts over water use.
How does water transfer help increase water supply?
By diverting water from regions with abundant rainfall to areas experiencing water scarcity, water transfer can ensure more consistent access to water across different regions.
What are the challenges associated with water transfer?
Water transfer can be expensive, involve long-distance infrastructure, and cause environmental impacts such as disrupting natural watercourses or ecosystems.
What is desalination?
Desalination is the process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to make it safe for drinking and irrigation.
How does desalination increase water supply?
Desalination provides a source of fresh water by converting seawater into potable water, especially useful in coastal regions with limited freshwater resources.
What are the advantages of desalination?
Desalination offers a virtually unlimited supply of water, particularly for water-scarce regions, and can be an important backup during droughts or reduced freshwater availability.
What are the disadvantages of desalination?
Desalination is energy-intensive and expensive, making it less feasible for many countries. Additionally, it can have environmental impacts, such as discharging brine back into the ocean.
How does Kielder Water contribute to water supply?
It stores water and supplies it for domestic use, agriculture, and industry, especially during times of drought or low rainfall.
Why do high-income countries (HICs) consume more energy?
HICs consume more energy because of industrialisation, higher living standards, more transport use, and greater reliance on technology.
How does climate influence energy consumption?
Cold climates require more energy for heating, while hot climates require energy for air conditioning, increasing overall demand.
What are the main energy sources used globally?
The main energy sources are fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), nuclear power, and renewable energy (solar, wind, hydroelectric).
Why is energy production unevenly distributed across the world?
It depends on access to resources, such as coal, oil, and gas, as well as a country’s ability to develop renewable energy infrastructure.
How do physical factors affect energy production?
Physical factors like geology (coal, oil reserves), climate (solar/wind energy), and topography (hydroelectric power) determine energy production.
What happens if a country’s energy consumption is higher than its production?
The country becomes energy insecure and must import energy, making it vulnerable to price changes and supply disruptions.
Why do LICs have lower energy consumption?
LICs have less industry, fewer transport networks, lower incomes, and often limited access to energy infrastructure.
What are the environmental impacts of fossil fuel production?
Fossil fuel production causes air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, habitat destruction, and contributes to global warming.
Why does population growth in developing countries put extra pressure on energy supplies?
Rapid population growth in developing countries increases demand for energy infrastructure, which may already be limited.
How does the global population trend impact energy use?
As the global population grows, energy consumption increases to meet rising demands for housing, food production, and services.
How does economic development cause energy demand to increase?
Economic growth leads to industrialisation, higher incomes, and increased use of energy for transport, manufacturing, and technology.
How does economic development impact energy use in households?
higher incomes allow people to use more energy for heating, air conditioning, appliances, and electronics, increasing demand.
How do technological advancements increase global energy demand?
New technologies, like electronic devices, transport systems, and industries, require more energy to produce and operate.
How can new technology both increase and reduce energy use?
While technology like renewable energy reduces reliance on fossil fuels, energy-intensive advancements like servers and electronics increase energy demand.
How does a country’s climate and geography affect its energy supply?
Certain climates and landscapes allow for renewable energy production, such as solar energy in sunny regions or hydroelectric power in mountainous areas.
Why is energy production sometimes limited by natural disasters?
Events like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes can damage energy infrastructure like power plants and pipelines, disrupting supply.
How does the cost of production affect energy supply?
Extracting and processing energy resources, like drilling for oil or mining coal, can be expensive and limit supply in poorer countries.
How does technology improve energy supply?
Advanced technology allows countries to access energy resources (e.g., deep-sea drilling) and invest in renewables like wind, solar, and tidal power.
Why do some countries struggle to use renewable energy sources?
Developing renewables requires expensive infrastructure, technology, and skills, which some LICs lack.
How do political conflicts affect energy supply?
Wars and disputes can disrupt energy production and trade, especially in resource-rich regions like the Middle East.
Why can international agreements affect energy supply?
Agreements like climate policies may limit the use of fossil fuels, encouraging countries to reduce energy production or switch to renewables.
How does climate change impact energy supply?
Changing weather patterns can affect renewable sources like wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, making supply less predictable.
How does energy insecurity affect the cost of energy?
Limited supply increases demand, which raises energy prices, making it more expensive for industries and households.
How can energy insecurity disrupt economic development?
Energy shortages can reduce industrial output, increase production costs, and discourage investment in affected regions.
How can energy insecurity lead to environmental damage?
Countries may exploit fragile ecosystems (e.g., deforestation for fuelwood or drilling in sensitive areas) to meet energy demands.
Why can energy insecurity increase greenhouse gas emissions?
Countries may rely on more polluting sources like coal or biomass when cleaner energy options are unavailable.
How does energy insecurity lead to the overuse of natural resources?
Scarcity of energy pushes countries to exploit fossil fuels and other resources unsustainably, causing long-term environmental harm.
How does energy insecurity affect quality of life?
Lack of reliable energy impacts access to heating, cooking, lighting, and clean water, particularly in poorer communities.
How can energy insecurity lead to reliance on imports?
Countries with low energy production may depend on expensive energy imports, making them vulnerable to political and price changes.
How can energy insecurity impact food production?
energy shortages affect irrigation, machinery, and transport, reducing food production and increasing food insecurity.
Why can energy insecurity cause global conflict?
Competition over scarce resources like oil and gas can escalate into international disputes or wars, particularly in resource-rich areas
What is solar energy?
Solar energy uses sunlight, captured by solar panels, to generate electricity or heat.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy?
Advantages: Renewable, no emissions, low operating costs.
Disadvantages: Expensive installation, weather-dependent, requires large areas.
What is geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy uses heat from the Earth’s core to generate electricity or provide heating.
What is hydroelectric power (HEP)?
HEP uses flowing or falling water to turn turbines and generate electricity.
What is tidal energy?
Tidal energy uses the movement of tides to turn turbines and generate electricity.
What is wave energy?
Wave energy captures the energy from surface waves in oceans and seas to generate electricity.
