Module 3

• Wind power - positives

  • renewable
  • jobs in construction
  • self-sufficient
  • land underneath used for agriculture
  • doesn't produce CO2 while generating energy
• Wind power- Negatives

  • kills birds
  • decrease house value
  • visual / noise pollution
  • expensive to build
  • unreliable
  • CO2 released during construction
• Nuclear power - positives

  • only a small amount of uranium needed to produce lots of energy
  • in large supply
  • doesn't release CO2
• Nuclear power - negatives

  • expensive to build stations
  • non-renewable
  • life span of 30-40 years
  • risk of disaster
  • disposal of radio active waste
• energy changes

  • UK GOVERNMENT - closed goal mines in 1980s so there has been a decrease
  • UN - promoting the importance of using renewable energy
  • OPEC - quadrupled oil prices in 1974 so less oil was used - oil then increased as we used reserves from the north sea
  • EU - gas ban revoked in 1991 so gas was used more in homes
• National sustainable energy strategy - increase renewable resources

  • infinite
  • no greenhouse gas emisions
  • HOWEVER not always reliable
• National strategy - encourage energy saving

  • grants offered for home insulation
  • double glazed windows
  • encourage smart metres
• National strategy - develop nuclear

  • very low carbon emissions
  • a lot of energy from very small amounts of uranium
  • HOWEVER radioactive waste can be hard to dispose of / risk of disaster
• National Strategy - develop carbon capture

  • reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere
  • reduces the effects of global warming
  • HOWEVER can contaminate under ground water supplies as well as not a sustainable solution as space underground will run out
• Factors effecting energy supply - Economic

  • cost of nuclear power stations
  • North Sea oil reserves are dwindling so price will increase
  • high cost to build renewable energy sources such as wind farms
• Factors effecting energy supply - Environmental

  • visual pollution
  • fracking has environmental impacts - contaminate water supplies
  • dangers of disposing of radio active waste
  • wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions so low carbon fuels are used
• Factors effecting energy supply - Political

  • imports rely on us having stable connections with other countries
  • Fracking is a political issue - different parties have different opinions
• Air Masses

  • polar - cold
  • tropical - warm
  • continental - dry
  • maritime - wet
• Modern farming methods - use of machinery

  • burn fossil fuels which release CO2 - contributes to global warming
  • build storage for new machines - visual pollution
• Modern farming methods - Hedgerow removal

  • destroys animal habitats
  • no roots to bind soil - soil erosion - infertile
• Modern farming methods - use of agrochemicals

  • contaminate water supplies
  • eutrophication
• Modern farming methods - not leaving fields fallow

  • use fields all year round
  • over grazed
  • stripped of nutrients
  • infertile
• Commercial fishing

  • unwanted species such as dolphins are caught in nets (injured or killed)
  • trawler boats - release CO2 / oil spills
  • catch fish too early - cod breed aged 4 - reduction in fish numbers
• Water transfer scheme

  • move water from an area of surplus to an area of deficit
• Water transfer scheme - positives

  • reliable water source
  • reservoirs trap water and reduce flooding
  • attract tourists which generates income
• Water transfer scheme - negatives

  • CO2 from concrete during construction and transport of water
  • farmland destroyed during construction
  • deforestation
  • affect ecosystems
  • introduce new species to an area and effect food chain
• Fracking - positives

  • reduces price as there are no import costs for gas
  • provides jobs
  • gas is the cleanest of the fossil fuels
  • self-sufficient
• Fracking - negatives

  • can contaminate water supplies
  • minor earthquakes
  • visual / noise pollution
  • decrease in house value
  • non-renewable
  • Releases CO2 when burnt to produce energy
  • decrease in water supplies