ESS Topic 7: Climate change and energy production

Top energy sources

Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas

Energy consumption is higher in

Rich countries

When poor countries industrialise

Newly industrialising countries (NICs)

Example of a renewable resource

Timber

Definition of renewable

Natural resources with a sustainable yield or harvest equal to or less than their natural productivity

example of a non-renewable resource

fossil fuels

example of fossil fuels

oil, coal, natural gas, shale gas

Pros of oil

cheap, versatile, easy to transport, enough to be consumed for another 40 years, 2/3 found in the middle east

Cons of oil

damage to coastlines / fish stocks / communities dependent on sea, water pollution, will eventually run out, burning it releases co2

Pros of hydroelectric power (HEP)

renewable, clean form of energy that doesn’t emit greenhouse gases

Cons of hydroelectric power (HEP)

very costly to build, need a lot of water but not many places have that much water, affects routes of migratory fish, increased evaporation behind the dam

Pros of nuclear power

received support form the environmental movement, does not emit greenhouse gases

Cons of nuclear power

very expensive, risks of radiation, chernobyl and fukushima, led japan to turn back on nuclear power

Pros of coal

fostered the development of Western industrial growth, produces electricity, used in smelting industry, important in producing aspirin, steam coal is used to generate electricity

Cons of coal

coal is dirty, bulky, costly, difficult to transport

definition of energy security

availability of energy sources at an affordable price

three factors of energy security

affordable supply, accessible supply, reliable supply

example of greenhouse gases

carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, nitrogen oxide

sources of GFGs

energy, industrial processes, land use, agriculture, waste

impacts of CLIMATE CHANGE

biomes shifting, change in crop-growing locations, change in weather patterns, human health, spread of tropical diseases, loss of species diversity, increased primary productivity

Impacts of global warming

coastal inundation, impact on human health, changes in weather patterns.

coastal inundation

flooding; intrusion of salty water on land / freshwater, coral reefs unable to sustain sufficient light, contamination of soils that decline agricultural production

global warming impact on human health

more mosquitos that carry diseases, people forced to leave homes, saltwater intrudes agricultural land causing hunger / malnutrition

global warming impact on changing weather patterns

increase of temperatures, changes in winds, changes in precipitation, continental areas become drier.

positive impacts of climate change in the UK

increase in timber yields because more primary productivity, agriculture shifts to the north, increased potential for tourism because increased temperature

negative impacts of climate change in the UK

increase in drought / soil erosion, increase of invasive species, increased demand for water, damage from flooding and erosion, increased infection from diseases

positive feedback in global warming

increased temperature in polar areas causes increased melting of polar glaciers causes less albedo causes more solar energy absorbed by Earth’s surface causes increased temperature

negative feedback in global warming

increased atmospheric energy causes increased evaporation from tropical areas causes increased precipitation in polar areas causes increased albedo causes cooling causes change in global temperature

what is global dimming

a reduction in global temperatures as a result of pollution

what causes global dimming

chemtrails reflect solar energy, has cooling effect

mitigation techniques generally try to

reduction and / or stabilization of GHG emission and their removal from the atmospherer

reduction techniques to reduce greenhouse gases

reduction of energy consumption (ex. public transport, energy conservation), reduction of nitrogen oxide / methane oxide in agriculture (ex. less chemical fertilizers), alternatives to fossil fuels (ex. more HEP, wind / solar energy), geo-engineering (ex. co2 capture from air, ocean fertilization)

reduction techniques to reduce carbon emissions

carbon taxes (makes using Co2 more expensive), carbon cap & trading

adaptation strategies generally consist of;

reducing adverse effects, maximizing positive effects

examples of adaptation techniques

flood defense, vaccination programmes, planting crops in previously unsustainable climates