Entire Carbon Notes

• What is energy security?

  Access to reliable and affordable energy sources
• Which country is considered energy secure?

  Russia
• What does energy insecurity refer to?

  Having an energy deficit
• What is meant by energy mix?

  The combination of different energy sources used
• What factors affect a country's energy mix?

  Reserves, dependency, surplus, demand, energy poverty
• What is a key factor regarding reserves in energy mix?

  Developing reserves in sensitive areas
• How does dependency affect energy security?

  It can lead to wastefulness and insecurity
• What does a huge surplus in energy imply?

  Inefficient use and potential political leverage
• What is energy poverty?

  Dependence on foreign TNCs for supply
• Who are considered players in energy security?

  Those making decisions about energy use
• What are TNCs in the context of energy security?

  Companies involved in energy exploration and production
• What does OPEC stand for?

  Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries
• What is the primary aim of OPEC?

  To stabilize oil prices and protect member interests
• How many members does OPEC currently have?

  12 members
• Why is OPEC considered a powerful player in energy security?

  It controls a significant portion of oil reserves
• What was the impact of the 1973 Oil Crisis?

  Oil prices rose significantly due to an embargo
• What is a key issue with oil supply and demand?

  Mismatch between supply locations and demand regions
• What percentage of the world's oil reserves is in Venezuela?

  18%
• What is the extraction process for natural oil and gas?

  Marine plants and animals compress into oil
• How is coal formed?

  From compressed vegetation over millions of years
• What are energy pathways?

  Flows of energy from producer to consumer
• What is the length of the East Siberian - Pacific Ocean Pipeline?

  4188 km
• What can disrupt energy pathways?

  Strikes, natural disasters, military action
• What happened to the Nord Stream pipeline?

  It was sabotaged by Russia
• What are the causes of instability near energy pathways?

  Nationalism, piracy, ethnic conflicts, terrorism
• How does the Russia-Ukraine conflict affect energy security?

  It causes gas shortages in importing countries
• What is a significant issue caused by piracy in energy pathways?

  Hijacking of fuel and armed militia attacks
• What are unconventional sources of energy?

  Energy sources like oil shale and shale gas
• Why are unconventional fuels considered 'unconventional'?

  They are expensive and environmentally damaging
• What extraction method is used for tar sands?

  Mined and injected with steam
• What is the extraction method for shale gas?

  Fracking with water and chemicals
• What is the smallest carbon store?

  Atmosphere
• What are the main components of the carbon cycle?

  Stores, flows, fluxes, processes
• What is the largest carbon store?

  Lithosphere
• What does 'flux' refer to in the carbon cycle?

  The rate of flow between carbon stores
• What is the significance of the carbon cycle?

  It regulates carbon movement in the environment
• What are the key factors affecting energy pathways?

  • Strikes by energy workers
  • Infrastructure disintegration
  • Disruption to choke points
  • Natural hazards/disasters
  • Military action/war
  • Terrorism
  • Piracy
  • Geopolitical conflict
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of unconventional energy sources?

  Strengths:

  • Potentially abundant
  • Reduces dependence on foreign supplies

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • High extraction costs
  • Significant environmental impacts
• What are the processes involved in the carbon cycle?

  • Stores: locations of carbon
  • Flows: movement of carbon between stores
  • Fluxes: measurement of flow rates
  • Processes: physical factors driving fluxes

  
• What are the ocean depths associated with?

  Drilling from ocean rigs