Edexcel B Geography Topic 9

Define the term fossil fuel (1 Mark)

Fuel source derived from fossilised remains of plants carbon-rich rocks/liquids/gases (1 Mark)

Explain what is meant by recyclable energy resources (2 Marks)

(What they are) Sources such as plant remains used to grow more biofuels/uranium for nuclear energy (1 Mark) (the explanation) because the waste can be used again (1 Mark)

Explain why biofuels are classified as a recyclable form of energy (2 Marks)

(The reason) Biofuels can be used again, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so unused parts of biofuel crop can serve as nutrients to grow more crops (1 Mark)

Explain two negative impacts on the environment of mining non-renewable energy resources (4 Marks)

(The negative impact) Large areas of soil, rock and vegetation are stripped away permanently scars the landscape, (1 Mark) (the explanation) because miners remove it to reach the materials they want (1 Mark)

(The negative impact) Habitats are destroyed and biodiversity it lost, (1 Mark) because miners remove them to reach the materials that they want

Explain two negative impacts on the environment of drilling non-renewable energy resources (4 Marks)

(The negative impact) Oil coats the feathers and fur of animals, which reduces their ability to move freely or feed, (1 Mark) (the explanation) because when oil is drilled there can be large spills (1 Mark)

(The negative impact) Methane is leaked into the atmosphere making the greenhouse effect stronger and contributing to global warming, (1 Mark) (the explanation) because natural gas is extracted from underground reserves and some escapes (1 Mark)

Explain two negative impacts on the environment of developing renewable energy resources (4 Marks)

(The negative impact) Renewables such as wind power/solar arrays can have a detrimental impact on the landscape, (1 Mark) by creating ugly/unsightly installations (1 Mark)

(The negative impact) Wind farms have been linked to disruption of wildlife, (1 Mark) such as impacts on birds/bats hitting the blades (1 Mark

Explain two reasons for the rise in global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use since the year 2000 (4 Marks)

(The reason) More fossil fuels are being used overall, (1 Mark) (the explanation) because of world population growth over time (1 Mark)

(The reason) New technologies require more energy, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so this means there is more fossil fuel use and more carbon dioxide emissions (1 Mark)

(The reason) Rising affluence among consumers) for example China / India / emerging countries (1 Mark) (the explanation) thus more energy consumed and more carbon dioxide emissions (1 Mark

Explain how access to technology can affect access to energy resources (2 Marks)

(The reason) Some countries are not able to exploit their energy resources as the technology required is unavailable or too expensive, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so for example, Niger has large uranium reserves but does not have the technology to develop nuclear power plants (1 Mark

Explain one way the geology can affect access to energy resources (2 Marks)

(The way) Oil and gas are accessible when trapped between impermeable rocks, (1 Mark)

(the explanation) because of the presence of sedimentary rocks e.g. shale (1 Mark)

State two ways that climate can affect access to energy resources (2 Marks

Solar power requires large amounts of sunlight (1 Mark)

HEP requires there to be a flowing river (1 Mark)

Wind power requires there to be a lot of wind (1 Mark)

Suggest two ways in which the natural environment of these countries could affect the cost of developing their oil and gas resources (4 Marks)

(The way) Tropical rainforest in some countries could make access difficult, (1 Mark) (the explanation) because it could be costly to strip the forest (1 Mark)

(The way) Sparsely populated desert areas may lack infrastructure, (1 Mark) (the explanation) thus making accessibility more costly for energy TNCs (1 Mark)

Explain one way in which the level of economic development of a country affects the energy use per capita (2 Marks)

(One way) Developed countries, e.g. USA have lots of energy-intensive devices like cars and electronic equipment, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so they consume lots of energy per person (1 Mark)

(One way) Emerging countries e.g. China have more people getting a higher disposable income and they more energy using devices like cars, fridges and televisions, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so they are using more energy per person (1 Mark)

Explain one reason why people in developing countries use traditional fuel sources (2 Marks)

(The reason) Countries like Tanzania, in sub-Saharan Africa have very little development, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so they can't afford to exploit their own energy reserves which means people have to rely on biomass such as wood for cooking and heating (1

Using your own knowledge, explain one physical and one economic reason why oil resources can only be developed in certain places (4 Marks)

(The reason) Oil is only found in some locations / places, (1 Mark) (the explanation) because of geological conditions / the location of sedimentary rocks (1 Mark)

(The reason) Oil development can be very expensive, for example

specialist drilling equipment, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so some countries can't afford it (1 Mark)

State one reason why international relations may affect the price of crude oil (1 Mark

Conflicts (e.g. those in the Middle East in the 1970s) can disrupt oil production (1 Mark)

Oil prices may increase because of diplomatic tensions between oil-producing countries (1 Mark

Explain one economic reason why the price of a barrel of crude oil can vary over time (3 Marks)

(The economic reason) In times of recession, (1 Mark) (the explanation) there is less is less demand, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so the price of a barrel falls (1 Mark)

(The economic reason) Emerging economies such as China, (1 Mark), (the explanation) have huge demands for oil, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so this creates shortages and push up prices (1 Mark)

(The economic reason) Discovery of new reserves, (1 Mark) (the explanation) leads to more supplies coming on stream, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so this might lower the price (1 Mark

Explain one economic benefit for a country of developing new conventional fossil fuel sources (2 Marks)

(One economic benefit) Countries with oil and gas reserves will reduce energy imports, (1 Mark) (the explanation) thus saving the country billions of dollars (1 Mark)

(One economic benefit) Countries with oil and gas reserves will be able to export energy to other countries, (1 Mark) (the explanation) thus making the country millions of dollars (1 Mark

Explain one environmental cost of developing new conventional fossil fuel sources (4 Marks)

(The environmental cost) Land is cleared in the tropical rainforest to make way for pipelines and roads, (1 Mark) (the explanation) this will disrupt fragile ecosystems, (the explanation) therefore impacting on complex food webs, (the explanation) causing a loss of biodiversity (1 Mark

Define the term 'unconventional oil source' (2 Marks)

'Unconventional sources' (e.g. tar sands and oil shales) are obtained through techniques other than the traditional well extraction/drilling (1 Mark). Alternative way of removing oil from rock and not the use of oil wells/oil platforms/oil drilling (1 Mark

Explain one way that the of development new unconventional energy sources in ecologically-sensitive and isolated areas has environmental costs (4 Marks)

(The development) The development of tar sands by surface mining, (1 Mark) (the explanation) causes a reduction in biodiversity, (1 Mark) (the explanation) because large amounts of space are needed, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so there is less habitats for organisms to live and find food (1 Mark)

Explain two energy efficiency strategies that can help fossil fuel supplies last longer (4 Marks

(The energy efficient strategy) Insulation/double-glazing, (1 Mark) (the explanation) because it traps heat from central heating and less gas is needed (1 Mark)

(The energy efficient strategy) Low-energy lightbulbs, (1 Mark) (the explanation) because they reduce the amount of electricity produced by power stations from fossil fuels (1 Mark)

Explain one way in which biofuel use can improve the energy security of a country (2 Marks)

(One way) Biofuels can be grown locally instead of importing energy, (1 Mark) which protects a country from external shocks/prices rises/international tensions (1 Mark)

(One way) Biofuels are cheap/practical/easy way to increase energy supply, (1 Mark) which offers future protection against rising energy demand / prevents shortages (1 Mark)

(One way) Biofuel use diversifies the energy mix (1 Mark), (the explanation) so the more energy secure a population/country can be against possible future events/risks (1 Mark)

Explain how education is changing attitudes in developed countries to unsustainable energy consumption (2 Marks)

(How education is changing attitudes) People in developed countries have better access to education through school and the media, (1 Mark) (the explanation) so this means they have a better understanding of the consequences of unsustainable energy use and increasing emissions (1 Mark)

Explain one reason why the rising affluence of a country can lead to a reduction in its carbon footprint (2 Marks)

(The reason) Higher income countries may invest more in renewable energy / solar power / wind turbines / nuclear, (1 Mark) (The explanation) because they have signed international agreements to reduce fossil fuel use (1 Mark