This is a summary of the entire A Level Advanced Human Geogeaphy year that got me an 8 at A level. It contains statistics and case studies while leaving space for geographical drawings to facilitate revision. it contains ction, location and change 2. environmental managment 3. global interdependenc...
Human Geography U6th
Environmental management
Global energy demand:
170million gigawatts produced to meet global populations
1.2billion people have no access to electricity
Reasons for increasing demand for energy…
- Ppl. using more energy
- Interconnection trade + travel requires energy
- Increase in pop.
80% of energy from fossil fuels finite amounts of them + produce greenhouse gases
20% of energy from renewable
UK
Reasons for differences between UK vs world energy usage:
Been through industrial rev. more imports = exports
Energy used for bettering QOL
More emphasis on commercial sectors
Less industry
How is energy used?
Transport = electric cars, transport of petrol and oils
Domestic use = boiling kettles, lights, electronics
Industry = transport, production machines
Commerce and technology
Energy production UK Energy Consumption UK
Gas – 40 % Gas – 39%
Wind + solar – 24 % Renewables – 21.6%
Nuclear – 17%
Coal – 2% Coal – 3.2 %
Hydro – 1.8%
Oil + other fuels – 3% Oil – 36%
Energy type
Non- renewable Renewable
Oil Geothermal
Coal Hydro
Timber
Gas Solar
Nuclear
Wind
Biomass
Renewable energy
critical = must be carefully managed because may be overused eg. wood
non critical = won’t ever run out (cant effect it)
Reserve = the holding of resources until needed or profitable
Recoverable reserves = reserves that are economically technically feasible to extract + sell + use
Speculative reserves = estimates of resources which have not been positively identified.
Sustainable development = development that is done with depletion of resources and can be used for
future generations.
,Non-renewable energy:
- Oil
Found in oil reserves. Saudi, Russia
Traditionally extracted through drilling + pumping
Flows through pipes to storage
US produce 20% of world oil
High energy density
Used in many industries
Very accessible
Greenhouse gases emitted
Non-renewable
Transportation requires more energy
- Coal
Takes millions of years to form, made of compressed plants
Extracted using mining
Used directly for mining
China produces 3.5 billion tons a year
High availability affordable
Converted into different fuels
Mining = damaging to environment + dangerous
Burning coal emits harmful substances
Generates carbon emissions
- Natural gas
Remains of plants and animals built up into layers on earths surface + oceans.
Extracted through drilling
Used to produce plastics + commercial sectors for water, fridges…
Abundant + a major source of energy
Easily transported via ships/tankers 45% less CO2 than coal
Non-renewable/emits CO2
Difficult to harness + extraction results in by-products
Costs more to store.
Renewable energy:
- Solar
Converting energy from sun into power
Converted into electricity through photovoltaic panels + that concentrate solar radiation.
Relatively cheap
Environmentally friendly
Won’t run out
High initial cost
Uses space
Only works in specific environments.
- Hydroelectric power (HEP)
Generated using flowing water to spin a turbine connected to a generator.
Mostly produced at large dams
China has highest HEP usage
Can meet energy demands
, Low emissions
Reliable
Expensive
Suitability only certain locations
Damaging to ecosystems
- Wind
The uneven heating of the atmosphere, extracted with turbine motor. Kinetic mechanical energy
2030 all houses run on wind
Cost effective
Clean fuel source
Creates jobs
Intermittent
Adverse environmental impact
Eye sore
- Geothermal
Found deep inside earth along plate boundaries where earthquakes + volcanoes are concentrated.
Water is pumped out of deep subsoil + heat is extracted using a heat exchanger. Cool water pumped in
again that then heats up from the earth again.
Stable energy supply
Not fossil fuel dependent
Location specific
Gases released during digging
High investment costs
Possibility of depletion
- Biofuel
Derived from biomass materials
Usually produced from plant material
Biodiesel is produced by combusting alcohol. Most biofuels are blended with petroleum fuels (eg. gasoline)
Tech. + industry already built/established
Easy to source
Lots of raw materials used
Large initial costs
Greenhouse gas emissions
High water consumption.
- Nuclear fusion
Neutrons forced together used with v. high temperatures + magnets.
No dangerous by-products
Only use water
Very difficult to do
More energy to create than can be harnessed
Not viable until tech. increases.
Largest producer = USA largest consumer = France
- Nuclear fission
Splitting nucleus apart. Thermal energy released + chain reaction caused. Stored in reactor + can be
controlled. Water heated turns turbines. Uranium is used.
Effective
Dangerous waste products
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