Topic 9 - Consuming Energy Resources Flashcards

Question

What factors effect access to energy?

Answer 1

* Technology * Geology * Accessibility * Climate * Landscape

Answer 2

* Accessibility declined as more accessible coal is mined * Decline in coal volumes * Lower demand for coal due to a switch to green energy as coal is extremely damaging to the environment * Cheaper to import from abroad than to mine

Answer 3

* Geology - fossil fuels are found in sedimentary rocks, where impermeable rocks have trapped the oil and gas in the permeable rocks below. Countries located on plate boundaries may be able to access geothermal energy * Accessibility - An area might have large energy resources but be unable to access them. For example, permafrost makes it very difficult to access fossil fuels. Some resources are also found in protected areas, e.g. Antarctica and can't be exploited

Answer 4

The Antarctic ice cover is, on average, 2.5km thick and this means very little of the land is accessible for exploration, so work would have to take place under the ice sheet. The difficult Antarctic conditions, even when technology works elsewhere, make exploration unlikely. once minerals are mined, Antarctica is a long way from world markets, and materials would have to be transported over the treacherous (extremely stormy) Southern Sea. Antarctica is also international land and is a protected area meaning countries are not allowed to exploit the materials.

Answer 5

Areas which receive more sunlight are more likely to be able to use solar power as a large energy source. This is because they receive higher levels of sunlight. However, these areas are often extremely inhospitable and may face many challenges, for example: The Sahara desert receives extremely high levels of sunlight, but it is a desert and is therefore a difficult place to live and the sand may blow on top of and block the sunlight from reaching the solar panels. furthermore, the Sahara desert is in the middle of nowhere and the energy is therefore difficult to transport and reach required areas

Answer 6

* Wind turbines are most efficient in areas with a steady and reliable source of wind, e.g. on high ground or along the coast. * Hydroelectric power usually requires lots of water to generate energy, and steep-sided valleys to use as reservoirs

Answer 7

* Development varies throughout the world. Developed countries consume much more energy as people living there have a higher disposable income and can afford the energy. Many people in these countries have access the electricity, heating, and energy-intensive devices such as cars. Developing countries consume less energy as the people living there have a lower disposable income and are less able to afford the energy. Also, less energy is available and lifestyles are less dependent on high energy consumption * Fuel resources are also unevenly distributed across the globe, this means that some regions have lower access the fuel resources, therefore decreasing their energy consumption. Some countries are also poorly connected. * Countries may also not be able to afford to exploit their own energy resources

Answer 8

As countries develop, the increased infrastructure and technology allows the extraction and use of other technology (such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy) to become much easier and accessible. Furthermore, other energy sources release much more energy per kg than biofuels, making biofuels relatively inefficient compared to other energy sources

Answer 9

Lacking electricity or the income to pay for it

Answer 10

* If people cannot afford the pay for electricity or do no have access to it, they must collect it themselves in the form of biofuels such as fuelwood. This can keep women poor as their chances of attending school and then earning an independent income are limited as they must collect firewood * 2.4 billion people rely on biomass for cooking and heating. This causes healthy people to suffer from lung conditions caused by smoke from traditional cooking stoves

Answer 11

Some countries are not able to exploit their energy as the technology required is unavailable or too expensive. Developed countries can exploit more expensive renewable energy supplies, e.g. solar and wind power, but developing countries often have to rely more on fossil fuels

Answer 12

The amount of recoverable oil - the amount of oil that can be extracted using todays technology

Answer 13

The process of extracting and refining crude oil

Answer 14

* Large loss of rainforests and wildlife. Habitats and biodiversity will be destroyed. * Very warm and humid climate - making working conditions difficult

Answer 15

* Oil reserves located in the area * Infrastructure - in order to produce oil, a country requires the correct equipment and technology * Domestic Demand - Countries may rely on oil to meet their own energy needs * Shrinking reserves - oil production may decline in areas as reserves are used up

Answer 16

A group of oil producing countries whose aim is to maintain high oil prices by limiting oil supply

Answer 17

* As GDP per capita increases, so does oil consumption. People in wealthier countries have more energy-intensive goods * rapid industrialisation in emerging countries also increases oil consumption. The combination of growing population a boom in the industry and the expansion of cities leads to a higher consumption of oil

Answer 18

Prices to decrease

Answer 19

Prices to increase

Answer 20

* Conflicts * Diplomatic relations * Recessions * Economic booms

Answer 21

Conflicts can disrupt oil production, which leads to a decrease in oil supply. Shortages of oil cause prices to increase

Answer 22

* Oil prices may increase because of tensions between oil-producing countries. For example, relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have led to uncertainty about oil production in the region, causing prices to increase due to potential undersupply. * However, poor diplomatic relations between oil-producing countries may also cause oil prices to decrease as countries compete to sell oil at lower prices

Answer 23

Recessions lower the demand for oil as industrial activities and economic growth slow down. This causes prices to fall as there is an oversupply of oil

Answer 24

Oil prices may increase during periods of rapid economic growth due to increased consumption and demand (undersupply)

Answer 25

An area that is extremely vulnerable to change due to its climate

Answer 26

By the end of the 20th century, many of the most accessible oil and gas fields had already been discovered and exploited. Demand in the 21st century has meant there is an increased demand for oil, this forces exploration in more ecologically fragile locations, such as the Arctic. There is an estimated 90 billion barrels of undiscovered oil deposits within the arctic circle and the region is largely unexplored.

Answer 27

Economic benefits at the cost of environmental problems

Answer 28

* Oil rigs and extraction sites bring investment into an area, and provide hundreds of jobs * There are up to 90 billion tonnes of undiscovered oil reserves in the Arctic circle. This can help meet the growing energy demands of the 21st century and reduce spending on energy imports * The countries may sell the oil, making money from exporting energy to other countries. They also reduce costs by reducing energy imports * Oil rigs may contribute extremely large sums of money in the form of taxes to the government

Answer 29

* Fragile ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to an oil spill and the consequences of an accident would have a profound effect on the environment and local fisheries due to the low temperatures with lack of decay and small food webs present. (oil would last in region for extremely long time) * Exploring in the arctic ocean can have a big impact on marine life through noise and vibrations which might confuse whales and other marine mammals that use sound to navigate * Land may have to be cleared to make way for pipelines and roads. This can disrupt fragile ecosystems and cause a loss of biodiversity * Opening up isolated areas with roads and industry increases air pollution and can pollute soils and water

Answer 30

Unconventional energy reserves are exploited using more expensive methods that require specialist technology. Extraction takes longer than from conventional reserves

Answer 31

Shale gas is trapped in impermeable shale rock. This means the gas inside cannot be reached or extracted by conventional methods. Instead fracking is required. Liquid is pumped into the shale rock at high pressure. This causes the rock to fracture, releasing the gas, which is collected as it comes out of the well

Answer 32

* The chemicals used in fracking liquid, as well as the shale gas itself, can pollute groundwater and drinking water. This has become a large issue in the USA where people have been able to set light to their tap water * Land has been cleared to build drilling pads for fracking - this destroys animal habitats and disrupts ecosystems * The fracturing of the rocks over many fracking sites can cause minor seismic activity

Answer 33

Tar sands contain bitumen, which can be refined to produce oil. It is mainly extracted by open cast mining. Surface mines collect tar sands and transport it to processing plants which use water and chemicals to separate the bitumen from the sands

Answer 34

* Vast amounts of space are needed, this devastates habitats. This can cause a reduction in the biodiversity of the area as organisms have less space to live and find food * Processing tar sands creates huge amounts of liquid waste full of harmful chemicals. These can pollute water supplies if they aren't managed properly

Answer 35

To reduce the amount of energy required to power products (reducing the amount of wasted energy)

Answer 36

Changing our behaviour as consumers in order to use less energy

Answer 37

* Home | * Transport

Answer 38

* Insulation - insulating walls and roofs using cavity wall insulation, double glazed windows, and loft/roof insulation means less energy is required to heat homes * Modern boilers - modern boilers are more efficient than older models, so will use less energy in homes * Solar panels - solar panels can be fitted to the roofs of homes providing renewable, low-carbon energy * lighting - use energy efficient light bulbs and turn off appliances and lights when not in use

Answer 39

* Hybrid vehicles - hybrid vehicles combine oil and electric power to increase efficiency. They use electricity when possible, and recharge their batteries using oil power * Regenerative braking - road vehicles and trains can be fitted with devices to store the energy lost under braking, wither to be used later or returned to the national grid. * Engine manufacturers are making more energy efficient engines in response to laws and rising fuel costs * Improving public transport and encouraging walking or cycling reduces demand for energy used for transport

Answer 40

Having access to reliable and affordable energy sources

Answer 41

Not having access to reliable and affordable energy sources

Answer 42

Fossil fuels are a non-renewable and finite energy source, this means that they are being used up at a much greater rathe than they are being naturally replenished. This means they will eventually run out. This could cause an issue with global energy security as 80% of the worlds energy supplies are sourced from fossil fuels.

Answer 43

* Reducing carbon footprints | * Diversifying the energy mix

Answer 44

* Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming * The greenhouse gas emissions are measured as peoples carbon footprint * Carbon footprints include direct emissions (those produced form things that use energy) as well as indirect emission (those produced by making things we buy) * By reducing their use of energy generated by using fossil fuels, people can shrink their carbon footprint

Answer 45

* Reducing reliance on finite fossil fuels and increasing the amount of energy generated by alternative methods will diversify the energy mix * Having a diverse mix reduces a countries reliance on a single source of energy * This increases energy security because countries are less affected by shortages of one energy source, reducing risk of energy defecits - where the amount of energy production isnt enough the meet a populations need * Using renewable resources instead of fossil fuels will allow non-renewable energy sources (such as fossil fuels) last longer

Answer 46

Reducing reliance on finite fossil fuels and increasing the amount of energy generated by alternative methods will diversify the energy mix

Answer 47

* Biofuels * HEP * Solar Energy * Wind Energy

Answer 48

Hydrogen Power

Answer 49

* Burning biofuels releases less pollution and carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels * Biofuels can be manufactured from crop waste, manure, and other by-products, reusing and reducing the total amount of waste produced

Answer 50

°Large quantities of water are required to grow biofuel crops, which can compete with other users, including farming and homes. °Sources of Biomass have to be managed sustainably to make sure that they do not run out °Growing crops for biofuels reduces the amount of food crops that can be grown and lots of water is needed °Growing crops for biofuels is leading to deforestation in some areas.

Answer 51

°No emissions are produced when hydroelectric power plants are used to generate electricity °The flow of water through the turbines can be controlled, so the supply of energy is reliable, this can help to change energy supply with consumption patterns. Few fluctuations in energy produced.

Answer 52

°Hydroelectric power plants are expensive to build and require lots of water and land. °They ruin the natural landscape °Methane may be released from rotting organic matter in the reservoirs behind the dams °Hydroelectric power plants flood large areas of land, displacing farmland and villages, and destroying the natural landscape °HEP power plants can cause changes in river flows, leading to impacts on fish and other wildlife that rely on the sources of water.

Answer 53

* Solar energy is a growing industry, creating many hundreds of thousands of jobs around the world * Solar energy requires little maintenance once the solar panels are installed and working at maximum efficiency * No noise is created by the solar panels * There are no emissions from the solar panels * The technology is widely available

Answer 54

* Large solar farms can take up land that could be used for growing crops, although the land can often be used for grazing * Manufacturing photovoltaic panels can be harmful to the environment because the panels are made of silicon and other toxic metals such as mercury and lead * Desert habitats are fragile and easily damaged during farm construction * Sunny climates are needed to produce large amounts of electricity, so it is not reliable in places where there is little sun

Answer 55

* Wind energy is a clean fuel source. It does not pollute or emit greenhouse gases. * Large offshore find farms can create a generating capacity of hundreds of megawatts of electricity * Onshore wind is one of the cheapest renewable energy sources for the consumer

Answer 56

* Many local residents find wind turbines / farms noisy and that they spoil their view of the landscape * Offshore wind farms are built far away from where the source is needed, requiring expensive transmission lines to use the power produced * Turbine blades cause on average about 4 deaths per year per turbine * Wind is unpredictable so the amount of energy produced varies

Answer 57

* Burning hydrogen doesn't release any harmful emissions - the only by-product is water * Hydrogen is usually extracted from water, so it is not limited to any particular areas with any fuel reserves that may be in ecologically sensitive areas

Answer 58

* hydrogen rarely exists by itself on Earth - energy is required to extract it from water. The energy often comes from burning fossil fuels - releasing greenhouse gases * The technology is expensive and not widely available, meaning that it is currently unlikely to be able to increase energy security * Storing hydrogen is dangerous - it is extremely flammable and difficult to contain

Answer 59

An energy future where everything carries on as normal, using fossil fuels as the main source of energy and don't increase the use of renewable energy sources

Answer 60

An energy future where we reduce the amount of fossil fuels we use and increase or use of renewable energy sources

Answer 61

A plan to limit greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to 450 parts per million in order to limit global temperature increase to 2*C

Answer 62

Implement carbon taxes

Answer 63

Imposing taxes on fossil fuels, making them more expensive in order to discourage their use

Answer 64

* TNC's * Climate Scientists * Governments * Consumers * Environmentalist Groups

Answer 65

The main aim of TNC's is to maintain a profitable business that meets the challenging targets set by their shareholders. They appreciate sustainability is important but do not believe that their operations alone have a direct impact on the planet. Many TNC's are largely involved with extracting and refining fossil fuels, so a switch to sustainable energy may lost them money. Sustainable energy also requires more investment than fossil fuels, so they may have larger costs and lower gains.

Answer 66

Climate Scientists study the climate and how human actions are effecting it. They believe it is incredibly important to look at energy alternatives as trends show that if nothing changes there will be a considerable impact on the ability of our planet to support humanity. They want to reduce reliance on fossil fuels in order to lessen the consequences of climate change

Answer 67

Governments appreciate the importance of investing in renewable energy resources, however they believe that in the short term obtaining and maintaining energy security as cheaply as possible is the most important factor as it is vital for economic growth and for the improvement of living standards. However, they still believe that cutting greenhouse emissions should be the approach in the long term. Sustainable energy sources are more expensive and therefore may not be used in developing countries

Answer 68

Consumers want to be able to use energy resources that are cheap (sustainable energy requires investment which can increase the price of energy) and reliable. Therefore, many consumers favour "business as usual" as it provides a cheap, secure supply of energy. However, as supplies of fossil fuels run out, they are becoming increasingly aware of the contributions they can make to reduce carbon emissions, but are sceptical that individual changes can actually make a difference on a global scale

Answer 69

They want world leaders to invest time and money into the use of renewable energy as there is increasing concern over the impact of the use of fossil fuels on our planet. They want to phase out fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy.

Answer 70

A measure of the amount of greenhouse gases generated by the activities of an individual or organisation, or by a product over its lifetime

Answer 71

A measure of how much land is needed to support an individuals lifestyle. It can also be used on a larger scale to calculate impacts of cities, countries, or world population

Answer 72

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Answer 73

As a country develops economically and begins to move from a pre-industrial stage to an industrial stage, their impact on the environment and carbon emissions will increase. This is because as countries move into the industrial era, energy use increases and their main energy source switches from carbon neutral biofuels to fossil fuels. However, as countries develop further, despite their energy use increasing, their use on renewable and recyclable energy sources will increase over use of fossil fuels. This means despite total energy use increasing, the impact on the environment will decrease

Answer 74

Rising affluence means that people will have a greater disposable income, which affects their resource consumption and environmental damage. With a larger disposable income people will have more money to spend on products such as cars, fridges, and televisions which use high amounts of energy both being manufactured and in use. This can have large environmental impacts.

Answer 75

Rising affluence means that people will have a greater disposable income, this means people can afford to make choices about energy use and invest into research into the environmental impacts of energy sources. People can choose to but more fuel-efficient cars or solar panels. Governments are also able to invest into public transport and renewable energy

Answer 76

A graph showing how environmental degradation tend to get worse as modern economic growth occurs until average income reaches a certain point over the course of development and then environmental degradation decreases

Answer 77

People in developed countries have better access to education through school and the media - this means they have a better understanding of the consequences of unsustainable energy and increasing emissions. People can learn to reduce their carbon footprints, which means there is more interest in using cleaner energy sources and reducing energy consumption

Answer 78

In developing countries, economic development can overshadow environmental concerns. As a country develops, the environment can become a much higher priority

Answer 79

* Food - how much meat you eat (the process of meat production produces large amounts of greenhouse gases and requires a lot of land) * Home - the size of your house and how many people live in it. The type of energy your house has and whether your home has energy saving features * Travel - What type of transport you use (e.g air travel or public transport) * Lifestyle - How much you spend of clothes and electronics, and how much recycling you do

Answer 80

* Food - how much meat you eat (the process of meat production produces large amounts of greenhouse gases and requires a lot of land) * Home - the size of your house and how many people live in it. The type of energy your house has and whether your home has energy saving features * Travel - What type of transport you use (e.g air travel or public transport) * Lifestyle - How much you spend of clothes and electronics, and how much recycling you do

Answer 81

* Conflicts * Diplomatic Relations * Recessions * Economic booms

Answer 82

* Local people benefit from growth of support services for oil industry * However, local fishing employment may be greatly threatened, i.e. oil spills * Additionally, oil extraction may scar the landscape irreversibly and prove costly for tourism in the short- and long-term * Perhaps, most importantly, tourism and fishing offer long-term benefits if managed sustainably while oil only last a while longer

Topic 9 - Consuming Energy Resources Flashcards

(107 cards)