Flashcards · IB Diploma Programme Environmental Systems and Societies · Topic 7

Natural resources flashcards

15 cards on Topic 7, subtopics 7.1 to 7.3. Pick a subtopic or study them all.

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Renewable versus non-renewable natural capital: Renewable: regenerates within a human timescale if used at or below its growth rate (forests, fish stocks). Non-renewable: forms far more slowly than it is used, so any extraction depletes it (ores, fossil fuels).
What is sustainable yield and how is it found from data?: The rate of increase of natural capital: the amount that can be taken without reducing the stock. SY = stock at t + 1 − stock at t, with no harvest in between, in units per year. Harvest > SY means capital is being depleted.
What is the tragedy of the commons?: Overuse of a shared resource, because each user gains the full benefit of taking more but shares the cost with everyone. Commons can be managed well where boundaries are clear, rules are local and cheating is punished.
Why is the value of a natural resource dynamic?: It changes with technology (lithium for batteries), culture (sacred groves), price (low-grade ore becomes worth mining) and substitution.
How do you calculate the lifespan of a resource?: Lifespan = remaining stock ÷ net annual use, in years. State the assumption that the rate of use stays constant.

Is nuclear power renewable?: No. Nuclear fission is non-renewable because uranium is a finite ore, but it is not a fossil fuel. Non-renewable: coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear. Renewable: solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, tidal, wave, biomass.
Energy efficiency versus energy conservation: Efficiency: getting the same output from less energy input (technology). Conservation: using less energy by changing behaviour.
How is the intermittency of wind and solar managed?: By energy storage, a mixed grid, interconnection with other regions and demand management.
Percentage change versus percentage-point change: A renewable share rising from 17.9% to 30.6% is a rise of 12.7 percentage points. As a relative change it is 12.7 ÷ 17.9 × 100 = 70.9%. Say which you mean.
Why can energy security conflict with low-carbon goals?: Energy security is reliable, affordable access to enough energy. A domestic coal supply is secure but high-carbon, while imported or intermittent low-carbon sources can reduce security unless storage and diversity are added.

What is the waste hierarchy?: Reduce → reuse → recycle or compost → recover energy → dispose. Reduction prevents waste; recycling manages waste that already exists.
What does landfill release?: Methane, from organic waste breaking down without oxygen, and leachate, a liquid that can pollute groundwater.
Incineration: one advantage and two disadvantages: Advantage: cuts waste volume and can generate electricity (energy-from-waste). Disadvantages: air emissions and toxic ash.
Place waste strategies on the three levels of pollution management: Altering human activity: less packaging, repair, reuse, durable goods. Controlling release: recycling, composting, energy-from-waste, deposit-return, landfill tax. Clean-up and restoration: litter picks, beach clean-ups, reclaiming landfill sites.
How do you work out the lifespan of a landfill site?: Volume per year = mass ÷ density; lifespan = space left ÷ volume per year. Example: 12,000 t a year at 0.8 t/m³ = 15,000 m³; 150,000 m³ left → 10 years.