Unit 2 ♡ IGCSE Environmental Management

fossil fuels

fossil fuels

carbon-based fuels, formed over many millions of years ago from the decay of living matter.

Coal

Formed from plants

oil and national gas

Formed by sea creatures

Increase in population, industrialisation and urbanisation and standards of living

The demand for energy is increasing worldwide due to:

geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal, wave, wind, solar and biofuels

Renewable energies:

Fossil fuels and nuclear power

Non-renewable Energies:

Nuclear fuels

last for centuries and are a good replacement for fossil fuels, but the source material (uranium) is limited.

Biofuels

may become limited, but it can be renewed by replacing the cut-down trees with new ones to obtain bioethanol and wood.

Turbine

a machine, often containing fins, that is made to revolve by gas, steam or air (it is connected to a generator).

Generator

machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

fossil fuels and biofuels

These produce a massive amount of energy during combustion that is used to heat water and convert it into steam, which thereby drives the turbines.

Nuclear power

Uranium, a radioactive element, releases huge amounts of energy when nuclear fission (splitting of the atom) occurs.

This energy is used to heat the water, produce steam, and rotate the turbines

geothermal power

Cold water is pumped under pressure into a layer of hot rocks.

- The rocks heat the water.

- The hot water returns to the surface under pressure and heats
the second supply of water using a heat exchanger.

- The steam produced in the second supply moves the turbine,
generating electricity.

Wind power

have shafts (blades) that rotate due to wind.
Gearbox maximises the rotation of the shaft.
Brakes slow down or stop the rotor in very windy conditions, preventing damage to the blade.
As the turbine rotates, the generator produces electricity.p

solar power

Uses photovoltaic cells that produce a small electric charge when exposed to light.
A bank of cells organised into solar panels produce a significant amount of electricity.

tidal power

Uses the natural rise and fall in the level of water in an area.
When the levels drop, water is held back by a tidal barrage (a small dam that releases water back through a turbine).
Wave power:
Also uses turbine and generator.
Uses the smaller differences in water levels that are caused by wind.

hydro-electric power

Uses a dam on a river to store water in a reservoir.
Water is released from the reservoir that flows through the turbine, rotating it.
The turbine then activates a generator that generates electricity.

Domestic Demand

Created by affordability, availability and social status.
Most of the purchases that are considered as necessities now increase the demand for energy supplies, notably electricity

Industrial Demand

Manufacturing requires the use of large amounts of energy throughout the production e.g. iron and steel production.
Advanced manufacturing techniques made the products, that were once luxury items, cheaper.

transport

Manufacturers supply customers across the globe.
This decreases production costs in countries that import, but increases the transport costs as they require large amounts of fossil fuels to operate.

More employment, more money, more demand for product and energy

If economic conditions are good:

less money, need to make savings, less fuels, less purchases, less demand for energy

If economic conditions are poor:

Less steal, goods and lower oil prices

Reduction in the economy of China meant a worldwide:

climate change

(excessive heat or cold) increased the energy consumption (particularly in urban areas).

Insulation

constructing using material with good insulation properties prevents loss of heat.

Loft insulation

adding an insulation layer into the roof space.

Underfloor Insulation

adding an insulation layer on the floor e.g. carpet.

Cavity wall insulation

a gap between inside and outside walls is filled with an insulating material, causing the heat to pass through more slowly.

Double glazing

two panes of glass with a gap in the middle to act as an insulator.

Scrappage schemes

remove inefficient machines from use (electrical appliances or vehicles).

Anaerobic digestion

: breaking down of organic matter (waste food and vegetation) using bacteria.

Fracking

obtaining oil or gas from shale rock by splitting them open using water, sand and chemicals.

Phytoplankton

Oil floats on the surface of the water and blocks the sunlight from entering. The phytoplankton can't photosynthesise, so they die.

fish

Shortage of food; reduction in phytoplankton.

Oil floating on the surface prevents gas exchange. Fish become short of oxygen and die; Direct contact of the fish with oil affects their gills.

Birds

Shortage of food as fish and other creatures die;

May consume oil when eating fish (toxic);

When hunting for food, feathers get covered with oil, affecting their ability to fly.

mammals

Food sources are depleted;

Mammals may also swallow oil while feeding (toxic);

Coating of oil will affect their skin.

reefs

Complete devastation of the reef due to lack of oxygen (species die);

Beaches

Oil (washed by tides) coats rocks;

Organisms in shallow water and rock pools may die due to toxic effects of the oil;

Animal food sources and tourism are affected.

MARPOL

International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.