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Resource Security Flashcards

1
Q

What is a resource?

A

A stock or supply of something that has a value or purpose.

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2
Q

What is a stock resource and a flow resource?

A

Stock resource - finite number of it - takes millions of years to form.

Flow resource - Infinite - can be replenished renewed.

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3
Q

What are the 4 types of resources?

A

Inferred - Economic viability uncertain
Possible - Expected that inferred resource could become indicated with exploration

Indicated - Conditions and location of resource predicted to allow initial planning

Measured - Detailed mine planning possible.

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4
Q

What is exploration?

A

Searching an area for available resource, then upgrading resource from inferred to measured if appropriate.

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5
Q

How is economic viability of resource determined?

A

Grade of deposit - High grade more valuable, Quantity and how difficult current deposits are to exploit.

Geological structure of ground - Close to surface easier to extract
- Resistant rock more expensive to extract

Proximity to markets
- Often bulky, costs in transportation.
- More expensive materials this is less important.

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6
Q

What is a resource frontier?

A

an area where resources are brought into production for the first time.

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7
Q

What is a resource peak?

A

Time when the maximum production rate of a resource occurs - production declining in subsequent years.

Usually shows bell shape on graph, some exceptions - US Crude Oil.

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8
Q

What influences the peak production?

A
  • Availability & discovery of reserves
  • Development of new tech
  • Demand for resource
  • Grade of available resource.
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9
Q

What is sustainable resource development?

A

Long term planning ensuring extraction does not increase too quickly.

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10
Q

What is the Environmental Impact Assessment?

A

Assess possible environmental impacts of resource development project - Completed before project is approved.

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11
Q

What is the purpose of an EIA?

A

To suggest ways to mitigate / reduce impacts of a project.
- Project declined if environmental impact considered too high.

Create EIS (Environmental Impacts Statement)

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12
Q

What is included in EIA’s?

A
  • Project Descriptions
  • Alternatives
  • Description of environment
  • Environmental Impacts and mitigations
  • Non-technical summary for public
  • Research into potential impacts.
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13
Q

What is an SEIA and state a company as an example.

A

Social and Environmental Impact Assessments
Further improves upon EIA involving cost-benefit ratios.

TNC Rio Tinto

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14
Q

What is a mineral?

A

Naturally, non-organic, occurring compound formed by chemical processes (Copper, iron, diamonds)

Normally found in veins within igneous rock - sometimes requiring heat and pressure.

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15
Q

What effects has advances in tech had upon mineral demand?

A

Increased global demand
Change in trading patterns.

Global trading network formed - Tech made in Asia, sold in Europe / States.

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16
Q

How is the effects of mineral extraction being managed?

A
  • Water sprayed in mines to reduce dust pollution
  • Choosing where to and where not to mine
  • On-site processing to reduce emissions of transportation.
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17
Q

How is the effects of mineral transportation being managed?

A

Driverless trains and trucks in Rio Tinto - More efficient than humans, reduce carbon emissions.

Increasing ship capacity and using more efficient fuels.

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18
Q

How is the effect of Processing minerals being managed?

A

Rio Tinto - New process for creating aluminium - Oxygen only bi-product

Powering via solar energy

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19
Q

How has global freshwater resources changed?

How are they predicted to change in the future?

A

Freshwater resources per capita decreased from 13,200 to 6,000 cubic meters.
- 60% decrease.

Increase in water demand by up to 55% by 2050

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20
Q

What is water stress?

A

Demand for water exceeds amount of clean, non-polluted available during a period.

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21
Q

How is water stress enhanced?

A
  • Pollution from manufacturing
  • Stress from increased abstraction
  • Quality decrease through eutrophication.
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22
Q

What is water scarcity?

A

When annual renewable water supplies drop below 1000 cubic metres per capita.

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23
Q

What are the 3 types of water scarcity?

A

Economic:
- Enough water available, though un-exploitable due to economics.

Physical:
- Demand of population exceeds available water

Absolute:
- Less than 500 cubic metres per person in country.

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24
Q

Explain the spatial distribution of the 3 water scarcity types.

A

Little / no water scarcity - central/ Western Europe, North America + Canada, Russia.

Physical - North China, Southern India, Turkey and surrounding.

Economic - Southern Africa, North india.

25
How is water distributed unevenly?
66% worlds population has access to 25% worlds annual rainfall. Conflict limits accessibility to water sources.
26
Why has water demand increased?
- Population Growth - Socio-economic - Development
27
Why are water supplies not meeting demand?
- Aquifers over-exploited - Water is utilised in long-term stores quicker than it can be replenished. - Climate change - longer drought periods - Water tables decreasing
28
How is the climate reducing water supply?
- Seasonal variations - Monsoon season, spring snowmelt - Replenish water stores. El Nino events reduce water supply in some areas Storm events less effective at recharging underground water stores.
29
How does the geology impact the water suppy?
Impermeable surfaces - No groundwater storage - Increases risk of drought. Mountainous regions promote relief rainfall - Rain shadow can reduce water supply in some areas.
30
How does drainage of an area impact water supply?
Greater drainage density - ensures consistent water supply. Droughts upstream can reduce flow downstream.
31
How can water supply be increased?
Storage, Diversion, Water transfer, Desalination, Catchment. Storage - Dams, reservoirs, coffer dams Diversion - Provide for cities & irrigation, Significant environmental impacts - Colorado river never reaching sea. Desalination - Expensive and high energy demand, provide water for dry areas near the coast. Catchment - Wetland restoration, Afforestation, Most sustainable way of increasing water supply.
32
What are the environmental impacts of major water supply schemes? [CASE STUDY]
33
How can sustainable water management be met?
- More efficient use of water - Recycling wastewater - GM crops - Plasticulture - Plastics used to reduce water usage by 50 - 70% - Catchment - Restore damaged lakes / wetlands - Reduce Leakages - 10 - 20% waste in UK - More efficient Appliances - Water meter - Reduce water use by 10 - 15%
34
How much water is used per day per person?
141 litres Increased to 4500+ including virtual water (water footprint)
35
What is virtual water?
Like a water footprint Includes how many litres of water it took to create something E.g. 1 car takes 120000 litres of water to make
36
How can someone reduce their water footprint?
- Shorter showers - by less clothing - Reuse water where possible. Water gardens early morning / late evening - reduce water loss by evaporation.
37
What is greywater recycling?
Process of reusing water from washing machines, showers and sinks - Clean enough for watering plants, can be cleaned for use in toilets.
38
What is virtual water trade?
Process of trading items which have a water footprint - Western countries import cotton - stresses water resources in LIC counties. - LIC's suffer water shortages - though are exporting large amounts of water intensive products.
39
What does IWRM stand for and what is it?
integrated Water Resources Management Uses river basin to holistically plan water management strategies - protect environment and ensure fair distribution of water.
40
What is water conflict and how does it occur?
Any disagreement between countries / different groups over water resources - Lead to protests or war. Occurs as result of diminishing water supplies - make resource move valuable.
41
What can arise from water conflict?
Terrorism Development Water shortages Political unrest.
42
What is energy mix?
Range and proportion of energy produced by methods of production. Global: Dominated by fossil fuels
43
What are primary energy sources and name some.
Production of energy from raw material. Mainly stock resources: - Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Uranium Sometimes flow resources: - Biomass, HEP
44
What are secondary energy sources and name some.
Energy generated from modified primary energy sources Flow resources: Solar, Wind, Wave, Tidal, Geothermal
45
Describe the global energy consumption.
Varies by year and time or year Generally higher in Northern Hemisphere - More developed.
46
What physical geography factors will impact a countries energy mix?
Geology, climate, drainage. Larger countries - More diverse physical environment. USA - Potential for large energy mix - Alaska oil, Arizona solar, Washington HEP
47
What is considered a good energy supply?
Consistent and secure Reliable year on year Unlikely to be affected by geopolitical problems Little risk of changing from climatic conditions / natural hazards. Different sources - Large energy mix.
48
Why are countries becoming more interconnected for energy sources?
More counties interdependent for energy sources - import from other countries - Geopolitical implications: Production - Produced where physical geography allows Processing - Processed on site / no need for processing. Distribution - Pipeline, transportation, crossing borders.
49
How can TNC's help with geopolitical problems?
- TNC strong links may be able to compensate - Force governments with their economic power
50
[CASE STUDY]
51
Name some environmental impacts of energy sources.
- HEP floods land and habitats - CO2 Emissions - Pipelines laid across sensitive areas.
52
How is energy supply and demand expected to change over the future?
- Energy will rise until peak expected between 2035 and 2050. Then expected to decrease - More efficient appliances, developing LICs - New energy reserves discovered over increased exploration and technology. - Renewable energy will double by 2035, Nuclear increase.
53
What is Fracking? What are some positives and negatives of it?
Exploiting natural gas found in shale reserves. Adv: - Less polluting, boost economy. DissAdv: - Uses a lot of water - Wastewater needs treating. - May pollute groundwater aquifers - Possible low-magnitude earthquakes.
54
What are some positives and negatives of Nuclear power.
Positives: - 1 tone uranium == 25,000 tonnes of coal. - Risks only of nuclear disaster, coal risks everyone with pollutants - Tech becoming more affordable for NIC's Negatives - Large-scale disasters - Reactive waste - difficult to dispose of - High cost, low support from public
55
Name some developments of renewables.
- More efficient technology - Solar panels more efficient - Wave power becoming more viable - Wind - More efficient and larger blades
56
How can energy consumption be managed?
Energy Demand Management - Reducing overall consumption of energy, moving away from inefficient sources (coal) to more efficient (nuclear). - Subsidies from governments. UK climate Levy (2002) - Mandatory tax on businesses' - Incentives to improve environmental credibility.
57
What is Decentralised Energy (DE) Production?
DE produced away from national grid, closer to where used - Reduce energy loss during transmission. - Maximise efficiency. - Combined Heating and Power (CHP), provide hot water to for radiators and energy at same time.
58
What is Carbon Trading?
Carbon emission caps introduced - If country risks breaking, they trade with another to stay below. Introduced in the Kyoto protocol as a method to reduce GHG emissions by 5% by 2012 - Successful.
59

Human Geography (3 decks)

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