What is a resource?
A stock or supply of something of value/purpose
What is malnourishment?
A lack of one or more essential nutrients in the diet
What is undernourishment?
The result of a diet that consistently supplies less chemical energy than the body requires
why do people in different countries suffer from water shortages?
variations in climate and rainfall
capturing the water is expensive requiring lots of investment
key points on food
unbalanced diets lead to malnourishment including undernourishment
malnourishment limits children's development, increases illness
WHO says we need 2000-2400 calories p/d to be healthy
1b+ people in world are malnourished
2b people are suffering undernutrition resulting in illness and economic impacts
key points on water
vital for crops + food supply + power
imbalance of water is due to rainfall + climate
UN predicts that by 2025 there will be 50 countries facing water scarcity
water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid kill many each year
key points on energy
energy for industry, transport and domestics
develops industry, jobs and wealth
HICs consume more energy than LICs in Africa and the Middle East
as NEEs become more industrialised, energy demand increases and energy patterns change
by 2037 the population of the UK is expected to rise to...
73 million from 64 million in 2015
Why does the UK import so much food?
unsuitable climate
demand for seasonal produce
choice/exotic foods
availability of cheaper foods abroad
more expensive to make on UK
How can we respond to limiting emissions through food?
eat seasonally
organic produce at home
eat local produce
limit imports
What are high-value foods?
exotic fruits, veg, spices and coffee grown in LIC's have became popular as higher incomes result in varied foods
What are seasonal products?
seasonal food is only available during the months that it grows
What is organic produce?
The product of a farming system avoiding use of man-made fertilisers, pesticides; growth regulators and livestock feed additives
How have the different type of food demands changed in the UK?
it has changes from locally produced fruit and veg to demanded seasonal and organic produce and H.V.F
Why is there larger carbon footprints from the increasing number of 'food miles' travelled?
growing, processing/packaging of food produces CO2 and other greenhouse gases
transporting goods
imported foods
People are becoming more aware of the environmental issues of the carbon footprint, so what are they doing about it?
people are looking for local sources of food like farmers' markets, farm shops and locally produced vegetable boxes.
What is agribusiness?
Agribusiness is a large-scale, industrial farming controlled by large firms.
How have farms in the UK been changing?
larger farms
increased use of chemicals to encourage growth
low no. of agricultural employment from automation
What is water stress?
demand for water exceeds supply in a certain period of time
what is water deficit?
demand for water exceeds supply
what is water surplus?
water supply exceeds demand
why is the demand for water increasing?
increased domestic appliances
increasing population
building homes in areas of water deficit
Why does water pollution need to be managed?
river water in the UK is affected, affected water sources
80% of water in Southern England comes from groundwater, pollution affects water quality of 50% of groundwater used for public supply in the UK, expensive treatment
explain and describe the distribution of water deficit and water surplus across the UK
North/West UK have high rainfall -> areas of surplus
South-East/Midlands have high population densities, high demand for water having areas of water deficit
How can water transfers help maintain supplies?
transferring water from areas of surplus to deficit reduces water limitations
What are the issues of water transfers?
dams/aqueducts are expensive to build -> affect wildlife in rivers
political issues, people may not want their water transferred to somewhere else
How has the UK's energy mix been changed?
shift from fossil fuels (91% of energy in 1970) to renewable sources
wind/bioenergy are the biggest sources of renewable energy but the use of solar and HEP has also increased
evidence on how the UK's supplies of coal, oil and gas is running out
coal production decreased since mid-20th century from decreased demand due to an effort to reduce CO2 emissions + cost of mining the remaining reserves is increasing
use of Shale gas from underground is being considered as a way of adding to resources which is extracted using a process called fracking
what are the economic issues of the extraction of fossil fuels and product of electricity?
extracting fossil fuels can be expensive
cost to the consumer of electricity from nuclear/renewable energy sources is high
money for research into alternative energy sources
domestic sources don't meet energy demand, so the UK has to pay to import energy from other countries
what are the environmental issues of the extraction of fossil fuels and product of electricity?
burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 and other greenhouse gases
fracking pollutes groundwater and causes mini-earthquakes
natural ecosystems damaged by renewable energy generators
power stations/wind farms are eyesores
advantages and general info on Lynford House Farm agribusiness mini case study
East Anglia, large arable farm of 570 hectares
farm invested in 54m litre reservoir to tackle frequent water shortages in this dry area
flat, fertile land is intensively farmed maximising productivity + profitability
advantages and general info on Riverford Organic Farm mini case study
delivers boxes of vegetables around UK + regional farms in Devon, Yorkshire, Peterborough & Hampshire
reduces food miles
supports local farmers
strong link between grower + consumer
how can the demand of water in the UK be met in a more sustainable way?
recycling water within the house
water buts for using grey water in the garden
use of domestic appliances reduced
transferring water from surplus areas to water stress areas
what is an example of a water transfer scheme?
Kielder resevoir to London resevoirs via Nework
what are the problems to large-scale water transfers?
effect on land + wildlife
high costs
greenhouse gases released in the process of pumping water over long distances
how can you manage the water quality?
monitoring the quality of river waters
filtering water to remove sediment
purifying water by adding chlorine
groundwater pollution is caused by...
discharge from industrial sites
runoff from chemical fertilisers used on farmland
despite increasing the demand for electricity in the UK, why has energy consumption fallen in recent years?
decline of heavy industry
improved energy conversation { low energy appliances, efficient cars, better building insulation }
how has energy changed from 1990-2014?
1990, 3/4 of UK energy came from coal and oil which are non-renewable sources
by 2007, there was an equal mix of coal, gas and nuclear, all non-renewable except nuclear
by 2014, renewable sources like wind+solar energy have become more important
what is energy mix?
the range and proportions of different energy sources
what is energy security?
how safe and secure supplies of energy are to meet the needs of the country
why is the UK's energy security become insecure?
dependant on imported energy because approx 75% of the UK's known natural gas reserves have been exhausted, by 2020 the UK will be importing 75% of its energy.
why will the UK need to continue to use fossil fuels?
UK's remaining fossil fuel reserves will provide energy for several years
coal imports are cheap, 3/4+ of UKs coal comes from Russia, Colombia and USA
what is the economic advantage of nuclear energy as an alternative to non-renewable sources?
construction of new plants provides job opportunities and boosts the local enconomy
what are the economic disadvantages of nuclear energy as an alternative to non-renewable sources?
high costs for producing electricity
decommissioning old nuclear power plants is expensive
what are the environmental disadvantages of nuclear energy as an alternative to non-renewable sources?
storage of highly toxic and radioactive waste
warm waste water can harm local ecosystems
risk of harmful radioactive leaks
what are the economic advantages of wind energy as an alternative to non-renewable sources?
tourist attractions
what are the economic disadvantages of wind energy as an alternative to non-renewable sources?
high construction costs
what are the environmental disadvantages of wind energy as an alternative to non-renewable sources?
noise from turbines
visual impact on the landscape
what countries produce lots of energy + has money to exploit them?
Iran, Saudi Arabia: large oil reserves China, Australia: large coal reserves UK, Russia: large oil and gas reserves
what countries have little energy consumption?
Ireland: little resources to exploit Sudan: politically unstable + little money Africa and South-east Asia: undeveloped, little money
explain the relationship between wealth and energy consumption
wealthy = higher energy consumption = higher standard of living = can afford it
why is energy consumption increasing? {economical factors}
materialistic possessions which use energy e.g. cars
all countries develop, industry expands
why is energy consumption increasing? {rising population}
global population is projected to increase to 9+ billion by 2040
more people = more energy
why is energy consumption increasing? {technological advances}
new devices = needs energy as they become more popular
some advances has made energy more affordable
what physical factors affect energy supply?
global distribution of fossil fuels is unequal
fossil fuels are non-renewable e.g. South Africa's Mossel Bay plant could run out of gas by 2020
an area's climate or geology could affect it's potential to generate renewable energy e.g. geothermal, solar, wind
what technological factors affect energy supply?
some technology makes it easier to exploit existing resources
some countries are unable to exploit their energy sources as the tech is too expensive or being tested
what economical factors affect energy supply?
prices of fossil fuels are volatile, they can vary due to complex economic and political factors
energy infrastructure can be expensive
what are political factors affect energy supply?
political instability, countries with large energy reserves have control
climate change resulted in international agreements pledging to reduce CO2 emissions
what is fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing is using water and solvents under pressure to break shale underground and release natural gas
how does fracking work?
liquid is pumped into shale rock at high pressure causing the rock to fracture, releasing the gas to be collected
advantages of fracking
available in large quantities in the UK, 5 trillion m^3 of gas in Lancashire
less polluting, half the CO2 of coal when burned
cheaper than alternatives
successfully tested technology
disadvantages of fracking
non-renewable + emits emissions
risks polluting groundwater, drinking water and the air
causes small earthquakes
investment in fracking could slow down investment in renewable sources
uses lots of limited resources water
why does energy security have an impact of environmental and economic costs?
as fossils fuels are used up, reserves in less accessible and more environmentally sensitive areas are exploited
this increases the cost of producing energy and risks environmental damage
why does energy security have an impact on food production?
demand for cleaner/cheaper energy sources increase demand for biofuels
growing biofuel crops takes up land that could be used to grow food leading to food shortages + may increase food prices
why does energy security have an impact on industrial output?
factories may be shut/relocated from energy shortages and higher energy costs, affects industrial output
higher costs passed onto consumer as producers are forced to raise prices
why does energy security have an impact on potential for conflict?
political instability where energy demand exceeds energy supply
conflict between countries with energy surplus and energy deficit
what are the pros of drilling in the arctic?
1/4 of the world's undiscovered oil
improves local economy
improves country's energy security
what are the cons of drilling in the arctic?
disrupts fragile ecosystems
undiscovered organisms destroyed
ice damages oil rigs
remote
huge costs
what is biofuel?
using crops + plant products to create fuel for energy
what are the advantages of biofuel {social/economic/environmental}?
energy used to power farm machinery/store farm produce {social/economic}
release less CO2 than fossil fuels {environmental}
manufactures fertilisers/chemicals {economic}
increase an areas energy security {social/economic}
what are the disadvantages of biofuel {social/economic/environmental}?
use of biofuels like maize/sugar contributed to increased food prices {economic}
in LICS, firewood is the energy source, people spend hours collecting wood reducing food production {economic}
expensive production {economic}
large amounts of water required {social}
how does potential for conflict affect energy insecurity?
Russia control 25% of worlds natural energy supplies
Russia could pressure customers, in Western Europe, by raising prices/cutting supplies off (Ukraine conflict when pipeline was shut)
how does energy secure have an impact on food production?
biofuel uses crops + plants to increase energu security affecting food production
what is a choke point?
areas where large volumes of energy pass through that could be at risk of disruption
what types of choke points could an area be at risk of disruption?
political conflicts
terrorism
hijack
natural hazard
collision
what are global choke point examples?
Panama Canal (terrorism, collision + hazards)
Ukraine pipelines
Samalian Pirates (hijacks)
solar description, advantages, disadvantages + example
energy from sun heats water/generates electricity using photovoltaic cells
adv: excess energy can be sold, making extra money
dis: photovoltaic cells are expensive + weather dependent
Morocco, Noor Complex; provides electricity for 1+ million people
HEP description, advantages, disadvantages + example
Created from falling water, trapped by dam which passes through tunnels; force of water turns turbines + generates electricity
adv: flexible and efficient + water flow/electrical output can be adjusted to match demand/limit waste
dis: construction of dams ruins habitats and communities + expensive to build the dams and turbines
Three Gorges Dam, China, largest HEP station
geothermal description, advantages, disadvantages + example
Water pumped into ground + turned into steam by heat and Earth's crust. Steam turns turbine generating electricity
adv: cheap and reliable + little construction needed
dis: only works in tectonically active areas
87% of Iceland's heating/hot water for homes comes from geothermal energy
tidal description, advantages, disadvantages + example
currents/changes in water level caused by tides are used to turn turbines + generate electricity
adv: regular tidal cycles
dis: cannot generate constant energy + expensive
Cornwall and Wales
wind description, advantages, disadvantages + example
wind turbines use wind energy generating electricity
adv: no greenhouse gas emissions once turbines are built
dis: weather dependent
2017, Denmark wind power produced energy for 10m homes
biomass description, advantages, disadvantages + example
wood, plants/animals waste burnt for power used to produce biofuels
adv: doesn't require much technology (good for LICs)
dis: only renewable is managed sustainably
USA produced 1m+ barrels of biofuel a day in 2015
what is natural gas?
A hydrocarbon forming the decomposition of organisms deposited on the sea bed millions of year ago; made of methane, propane and butane {formed by heat & pressure}
where is the most natural gas produced?
60% of known natural gas reserves in Russia/Iran/Qatar, the Reserves are sufficient to last 54 years at current rate of production
what are the advantages of natural gas extraction?
cleanest of the fossil fuels with 45% less CO2
less environmental accidents than oil
it provides employment opportunities[1.2M people] and helps boost local economies
can be transported in a variety of ways i.e. through pipelines or by tankers over land and sea
what are the disadvantages of natural gas extraction?
pipelines are expensive to build/maintain
deforestation associated with pipeline or other development affects natural habitats
dangerous if handled carelessly
some gas reserves are politically unstable countries or prepared to use gas supply as political weapons
what is a sustainable energy supply?
balancing supply and demand
reducing waste + inefficiency
not affecting the future population negatively
what does carbon neutral mean?
no release of carbon into atmosphere from an activity
what are sustainable features for energy conserving buildings?
solar panels
wind turbines
energy efficiency lighting
double glazing
energy efficient appliances
how can technology increase efficiency of fossil fuels in cars?
improved engines
electric + hybrid cars
bio-fuel in car engines reduces oil consumption
what are the advantages of large scale HEP?
powers large areas/homes
creates lots of electricity increasing efficiency
what are the disadvantages of large scale HEP?
expensive
visually polluting/unnatural
wildlife disruption
what are the advantages of small scale HEP (microhydro)?
cheaper
more local
doesn't disrupt natural flow of river
what is the disadvantages of small scale HEP (microhydro)?
less energy generated