Environmental Management Definitions

Non-Renewable Energy Resources

Non-renewable energy resources have been built up over a very long period of time and they cannot be used without reducing the amount available. They are mostly fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) but they also include uranium, which is the main resource for producing nuclear energy.

aka: finite, stock or capital energy resources

Renewable Energy Resources

Renewable energy resources have unlimited availability (solar power) or can be replenished relatively quickly (wood). They are also known as flow or income resources - they yield a continuous flow of energy.

They can be classified into two groups: critical and non-critical.

Non-Critical

Non-critical renewable energy resources have unlimited availability. They are ‘everlasting’ and we do not need to worry about the rate at which they are being used (solar, tidal, wind power).

Critical

Critical renewable energy resources require careful management as they can be used up at a faster rate than they are being replaced (wood, biomass, animal waste)

Energy Mix

Energy mix describes the sources of energy a country uses (oil, coal, HEP, nuclear)

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of today without compromising the needs of future generations. (UN)

Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of substances into the natural environment that can cause adverse change and which damage the natural environment.

Pollutants can be introduced into the environment by human activity or natural processes.

Environmental Degradation

The deterioration of the environment through the depletion of resources, such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wild life.

Point Source Pollution

Point source pollution occurs when the pollution is issued at one particular point (waste dumped at landfill).

Non-Point Source Pollution

Non-point source pollution comes from an area (nitrate pollution from fields causing eutrophication).

Incidental Pollution

Incidental pollution is a one-off event (oil spill from broken BP line in Gulf of Mexico).

Sustained Pollution

Sustained pollution is long-term pollution (release of CO2 into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels in a thermal power station).

The impacts of sustained pollution are much worse than incidental in the long run.

Causes of Water Pollution

• Radioactive waste

• Water and chemical waste

• Sedimentation

• Alien Species

• Agricultural nitrates and phosphates

• Thermal pollution

• Sewage

• Acidifications of the oceans

• Oil pollution

• Plastics

What happens when phosphates and nitrates get into bodies of water, via surface run-off or leaching, with sewage?

Eutrophication

What does eutrophication do?

Algal blooms remove oxygen from the water, killing other life forms. This creates a “dead zone”

“Dead Zone” example

The Gulf of Mexico has a dead zone, which grows to an area of around 5500-6000 square miles each Summer

What percentage of nitrates in surface water and groundwater are farmers responsible for?

70% - through the use of excessive chemical fertilisers

Nitrate Directive

1991, introduced by the EU

To prevent and reduce nitrate pollution of water by agriculture.

Nitrate Sensitive Areas (NSAs)

The UK’s response to the EU’s Nitrate Directive

Farmers applied smaller amounts of amounts of nitrate and received financial compensations for lower yields and incomes.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs)

In 2002, to replace NSAs

These were more extensive, covering 55% of England. Farmers in NVZs were compelled to follow an action programme to reduce the leaching of nitrates.

What did the farmers in NVZs have to do?

• Limit nitrate applications to crop requirements

• Limit organic manure applications to a maximum of 210kg/ha/year

• Keep records on their use of nitrates and make them available for inspection

What percentage of sewage is water?

90%

Sewage contributing to eutrophication example

20th/21st Century, Flyde Coast, NW England

Pollution caused considerable concern, especially in Blackpool.

Significant improvements made recently, getting the Blue Flag Award in 2016

Thermal Pollution

Thermal pollution is the unnatural heating of water which changes its ambient temperature

Effects of Thermal Pollution

• Thermal shock - the aquatic life adapted to a certain water temperature can go into shock even with 1-2C temperature changes

• As the temperature of the water increases, the solubility of dissolved gases (oxygen) decreases

• A lower concentration of dissolves water can kill fish

• Higher water temperature increases photosynthesis and algal blooms

• Water becomes stagnant, stale and filled with decomposing bacteria

Solutions

• Cooling pond

• Cooling tower

• Developing alternative forms of energy

• Recirculating systems in thermal power stations that reuse the warm water

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Alaska

24th March 1989

After departing the Valdez Marine Terminal full of crude oil, the ship struck a reef, tearing open the hull and spilling 11 million gallons of oil. Initial responses by Exxon and the Alaska Pipeline Company were insufficient in containing much of the spill. A storm blew in, which spread the oil widely, leading to 1000 miles of coastline fouled, leading to the death of 100000s animals.

Management of Exxon Valdez Oil Spill

• Exxon paying billions in clean-up costs and fines, still in court over it

• Joseph Hazelwood (the captain) fined $50000 and sentenced to 1000 hours of community service

• Oil has mostly disappeared now but Alaskan beaches still heavily polluted

Fresh Water Store

2.5% of water store is potentially available as fresh water.

Almost 80% of that is trapped in ice, snow and permafrost

Most of the remaining 20% is groundwater

Only 1% is easily accessible via lakes, ecosystems, the atmosphere and rivers

Green Water

Absorbed by soils and plants, then released back into the air (unavailable for withdrawal)

61.1% of total precipitation

Blue Water

Collected in rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater (available for withdrawal before evaporation or it reaches the ocean)

38.8% of total precipitation

Surface Water

Water detained from rivers and lakes, can also be stored in a reservoir by building a dam across a river

Lesotho

Three Gorges, China

Ground Water

Water held in porous rocks in aquifers. Wells and boreholes are used to access the aquifer and pumps can be used to raise water to the surface

London Basin