36 terms in 3.2.5
Case studies
A case study shows how a real place struggles with water, energy or mineral supply. You must explain what this means for
Resource security
Case studies
A place's physical geography — its climate, geology and landscape — directly shapes how easy and cheap it is to access w
Resource security
Case studies
Real-world case studies are where the concepts from across this section — resource security (having a reliable, affordab
Resource security
Energy security
Countries get energy from different sources, and the particular combination a country uses is called its energy mix. Som
Resource security
Energy security
A country's physical geography shapes which energy sources it can use. Climate, rock type, and river systems all determi
Resource security
Energy security
Countries compete to control energy supplies, and large global companies called TNCs shape who gets energy, from where,
Resource security
Energy security
Developing a major energy source — such as a dam, oil field, or wind farm — causes significant damage to the surrounding
Resource security
Energy security
Countries can boost their energy supply in three main ways. They can drill for more oil and gas, build nuclear power sta
Resource security
Energy security
Countries can improve energy security by using less energy, not just by producing more. Demand-reduction strategies cut
Resource security
Energy security
Every energy source creates environmental problems. Burning fossil fuels causes acid rain and climate change, nuclear po
Resource security
Energy security
Having reliable access to affordable energy is one of the defining challenges of the modern world, shaping everything fr
Resource security
Mineral security
Some metals are mined in only a few countries but used across the whole world. Copper is a good example — its reserves,
Resource security
Mineral security
Ores — rocks containing useful metals — only form under specific geological conditions. Those conditions determine where
Resource security
Mineral security
Mining for minerals damages the surrounding environment in multiple ways. A major extraction scheme can destroy habitats
Resource security
Mineral security
Mining, shipping and refining metal ores all create serious environmental and social problems. These sustainability cost
Resource security
Mineral security
Minerals such as iron ore and copper are stock resources — meaning they exist in finite quantities and cannot be repleni
Resource security
Natural resource issues
Some countries produce far more energy and minerals than they use. Others consume far more than they produce. Trade conn
Resource security
Natural resource issues
Fresh water is not spread evenly across the planet. Some regions have far more than they need, while others face serious
Resource security
Natural resource issues
Geopolitics means the way political power between countries is shaped by who controls vital resources. Nations with larg
Resource security
Natural resource issues
Energy, water, and ore minerals are not evenly distributed across the planet, meaning some countries produce far more th
Resource security
Resource development
A resource is anything humans extract value from to meet their needs. Resources split into two types: stock resources ru
Resource security
Resource development
Geographers classify stock resources by how confidently we can extract them. Categories range from fully proven reserves
Resource security
Resource development
Resources go through three stages before they reach full use. Humans first discover them, then extract them, then build
Resource security
Resource development
A resource frontier is a newly accessible area where humans begin extracting resources for the first time. A resource pe
Resource security
Resource development
Sustainable resource development means using resources in ways that meet today's needs without damaging future supply. A
Resource security
Resource development
Before geographers can assess whether a country has enough of a resource, they need to understand what resources actuall
Resource security
Resource futures
As traditional energy, water, and mineral supplies run low, new alternatives are emerging. Technology, money, environmen
Resource security
Resource futures
As finite stock resources — those that cannot be replenished on a human timescale — come under increasing pressure, the
Resource security
Water security
Freshwater comes from several sources, and people use it for different reasons. When demand for water exceeds available
Resource security
Water security
Where water is available depends on physical geography. Climate controls how much rain falls, geology controls where wat
Resource security
Water security
Countries use several engineering strategies to increase their water supply. These include collecting rainwater, redirec
Resource security
Water security
Building a large dam or barrage to store and supply water causes serious damage to the surrounding environment. It flood
Resource security
Water security
Governments and organisations can reduce how much water people use, rather than always finding new supplies. Demand-mana
Resource security
Water security
Countries can manage water more sustainably by trading goods that contain hidden water, reusing wastewater, and carefull
Resource security
Water security
Competition for scarce freshwater creates conflicts between users. These disputes range from local arguments over river
Resource security
Water security
Access to safe, reliable freshwater is unevenly distributed across the world, and where demand outstrips supply a region
Resource security