AQA Geography - Energy Content

Fossil Fuels: are non renewable source of energy that formed millions of years ago. 

• Coal
• Oil
• Natrual Gas

Coal:

• During carboniferous period 
• Forest grew in peat bogs
• Tress died but did not rot (burried in the bogs) -> preserved
• Over time layers of rock on top compressed the material = moisture squeezed out

= Coal.

• Shaft mines: used to get coal deep underground.
• Opencast method: quarries used if coal is closed to surface

Example: Hilly areas thought the UK eg. Pennines, Wales, Highlands.

Example: New Zealand 2010 coal mine explosion.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11860173

Oil:

• Microscopic sea creatures died
• Buried by layers of sediment
• Sedminets are heavy and compress the remains of sea creatures
• Heat and pressure turn the organic material into oil
• This percolates through the rock in the ground towards the surface
• If trapped by a layer of impermeable rock above = oil reservoir

Example: North Sea, off the coast of Scotland

Example: BP oil spill, 2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill

http://www.marine-knowledge.com/general/marine-pipelines.html

Natural Gas:

• Forms at the same time as oil
• It is lighter = lies on top of oil
• Both Oil and natural gas extracted by drilling deep underground

Problems:

• Fossil Fuels are running out = 50 years left
• increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere = global warming
• Contains impurities = acid rain

Acid Rain:

• Sulphur Dioxide and nitrogen oxides produced by burning fossil fuels.
• Reacts with moisture in the air = acid rain
• sunlight increases the rate of these reactions

Problems:

• 1980s major crisis in Europe and North/East America = loss of forest/ decile of fish stock/ damaged buildings and health.
• Prevailing winds blow compounds for miles

Solutions:

• Catalytic converters reduce emissions from cars
• liming
• 1988 EU legislation called 'Large Combustion Plants Directive' 

• Wood
• Nuclear Power
• Biomass/ Biofuel
• Solar Power
• Wind Power
• Tidal Power
• Wave Power

Wood:

Burned for fuel/ heating/ cooking

Problems:

• Deforestation
• Reduced interception from rain
• Soil mouisture and nutrients washed way
• Carbon dioxide = Global Warming

Case Study: Burkind Faso, Sahel

• 90% energy for cooking = wood
• Consumption greater than growth of trees
• Alternative fuels expensive
• http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2011/07/2011713124523327727.html

Nuclear Power:

• Evenly distibuted - not politics.
• Fuel efficient 
• 20% of UK Energy
• no reactions since 1980

Problems:

• Waste disposal
• Vunerable to terrosist attacks 

Caste Study: Chernobyl, Ukraine 

• Nuclear disarster 1986
• 1500 deaths
• radiation poisioning = birth defects/ cancer 

Biomass:

• More variety of crops
• Carbon neutral
• Cheap
• idependant growing 

Problems:

• land lost -> biomass produce 
• Less food -> increase prices 
• monoculture 
• big impacts of fertiliser/ pesticides

Case Study: Brazil

• World leader
• Use equivalent of 7 million tonnes of oil/per year 

Solar Power:

• Solar voltaic (PV) cells 
• Daylight -> energy (no need for sunshine - although it increases energy)

Problems:

• Waste disposal
• Expensive
• Unsightly
• Hot countries = efficient

Case Study: California, USA

• Solar power since 1980s

Wind Power:

• 60% of worlds wind power in Europe (on shore/ off shore)

Problems:

• expensive
• Unreliable long-term
• Sporadic nature of wind
• Unsightly

Case Study: London Array Project

• 341 turbines over 4 years
• off shore and on shore
• power for 750,000 homes

Tidal Power:

• Still in experimentation in UK

Problems:

• Expensive

Case Study: Severn barrage, UK

• 15 billion
• 16km (10 miles) between Wales and Uk
• Acts as a bridge.

Wave Power:

• Floats in the sea
• More waves that go up and down (kenetic energy) = more efficient

Problems:

• Expensive

Case Study: Isle of Islay, UK

Oil:

Some countries have large supply of oil, others do not. Therefore they are reliant on importing from other countries.

• Demand for oil is increasing because of increasing pop./industrialistaion/ development
• 2/3 world's oil found in Middle East
• Conflicts within the Middle East (affect trade)
• Russia has a stock stock of oil.

http://www.bp.com/extendedsectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=5&contentId=7044157

Case Study: Russia and Ukraine:

• During the 1980s/90s there were many TNCs in Russia
• 2000 Putin took control of oil -> kicked out TNCs
• Oil development for 20% of Russias GDP
• 60+% of export profit 
• 30% of foreign investments in Russia
• Countries dependant for Oil and Gas -> Russia can have control and manipulat its power
• Power over pipelines/tanks -> can cut off to a country easily
• 2006 Ukriane voted a political party (Russia did not like) = Ukraines gas cut off.
• Supplies to Europe were affected also.