AQA Geography A Level: Resource Security

Natural Resource

Any naturally occurring parts of the environment that can be used by people to meet their needs.

Stock Resource

A resource that can run out and can't be replaced in the foreseeable future.

Flow Resource

Resources that can be replenished. They will never run out and don't rely on human input to manage them.

Critical Flow Resource

Resources that may require careful management by humans to ensure that they are replenished.

Resource

Entire supply of a material, including the bits that haven't been found yet or aren't economically viable to extract.

Reserve

Amount of the resource that is economically viable to extract.

Possible Resource

Resources that are thought to exist, but haven't been sampled.

Inferred Resource

Resources that have been identified but haven't been measured.

Indicated Reserve

A size of the reserve that has been partly measured, and has been used to estimate the actual extent.

Measured Reserve

Size of the reserve that has been measured and is known accurately.

Exploration

Locating a potential new resource and evaluating whether it is viable to extract.

Exploitation

Extracting the resource, preparing it for use and transporting it to where it will be used.

Depletion

When a resource begins to run out.

Development

Method used to prolong the life of the resource as yields decrease.

Exhaustion

When a resource becomes so limited that it is not physically possible or economically viable to extract any more.

Resource Frontier

Place with abundant natural resources that are being exploited for the first time.

Resource Peak

Point at which the maximum amount of the resource is being extracted each day.

Sustainable Resource Use

Ensuring that resources are not extracted so quickly that they leave future generations without sufficient supplies.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Programme undertaken before a new development is started. It is used to assess the potential environmental, social, economic and cultural effects of the development.

Water Abstraction

Process of removing water from water sources.

Desalination

Removing the salt from the sea water.

Aquifer

Areas of porous rock below the Earth's surface which are full of small holes and saturated with water.