Energy Assignment Part 3

#3 Tidal Power

I ranked tidal power at #3 because I see no potential in it being implemented into the UAE. The UAE's economy relies heavily on crude oil so I just don't see them going in that direction. Tidal power relies a lot on location as well, and the location of the UAE does not correspond to work well with tidal power.

#2 Solar Energy

I ranked solar energy at #2 because potential in it being put into place is evident. The UAE plans to implement cleaner, more renewable forms of energy. They plan to start producing power from clean coal and solar energy by 2020.

#3 Nuclear Energy

I ranked nuclear energy at #1 because the UAE government is already working on it. The UAE plans to install nuclear power plants to meet its energy needs. It has signed an agreement with the U.S. on nuclear cooperation, and is also a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Energy Assignment Part 2

The UAE uses natural gas as a main fuel for power generation since they are a large oil exporter. They use the majority of their natural gas reserves to produce crude oil since that is the main source of income to their economy. Despite the income, the UAE's use of natural gas definetly takes its toll on the environment. The UAE was the 4th top carbon dioxide emitter per capita in the world in 2012. Despite being a large oil exporter, the UAE plans to install nuclear power plants to meet its energy needs. It has signed an agreement with the U.S. on nuclear cooperation, and is also a signatory to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. The UAE plans to start producing power from clean coal and solar energy by 2020 and from nuclear plants by 2030. 

Energy Assignment Part 1

Nuclear Energy

Pros: Lower carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, low operating costs, large power-generating capacity and nuclear waste can be reduced through waste recycling and reprocessing.

Cons: High construction costs, high-known risks in an accident, unknown risks, long construction time and nuclear energy is a target for terrorist organizations.

Tidal Power

Pros: Renewable (requires no fuel), emission-free, reliable (a plant can last 1000 years), high efficiency and environment impacts are local, not global. 

Cons: Expensive to build, very location specific, locations are remote, captures dirt, waste and pollution near the coast and tidal power impacts fish, marine mammals and birds. 

Solar Energy

Pros: Renewable, abundant, sustainable, environment friendly and it reduces electricity costs.

Cons: Expensive, requires space, intermittent, associated with pollution and solar energy requires exotic materials that are expensive and rare in nature.

Earthquake in Vancouver

Based off the geology of where Vancouver is, it is understandable why Vancouver is at such a high risk for an earthquake. There are plates that are subducting below us as we speak. Subduction occurs along the Cascadia subduction zone. This is the second largest tectonically active fault system in North America. The subduction zone has ruptured several times over history, causing great earthquakes. Much of the force that leads the oceanic plates to subduct beneath the North American plate is generated by a ridge system. The largest ridge in Vancouver is the Juan de Fuca ridge. Grinding of the plates as it moves along the aforementioned faults generates stress. Plate interaction along any of the convergent, divergent, or transform faults may cause the buildup of stress which will lead to an earthquake. With the evidence of past earthquakes we know a major one will occur in the area along the Cascadia subduction zone at any time. Vancouver has an increased risk of disastrous megathrust earthquakes, the region is surrounded by the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean making it isolated and vulnerable during a large earthquake.

A)

I) Liquefaction: Is a phenomenon in which the strength and stiffness of soil is reduced by earthquake shaking. This is a hazard because when it occurs, the strength of the soil decreases and the ability of soil deposit to support foundations for buildings and bridges is reduced. It can be responsible for a tremendous amount of damage and a hazard for many lives.

II) 

Landslides: Is the movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope. They result from the failure of the materials which make up the hill slope and are driven by the force of gravity. Sudden and rapid  events are most dangerous because of the lack of warning and the speed at which material can travel down the slope, also the force on the resulting impact. Extremely slow landslides may not be a threat to people but it can cause considerable damage to property. There are many resources that could be ruined, for example water supplies, fisheries, and roads. Landslides can cause massive destruction which will impact the economy as for all of the repair.

III) Tsunami: Are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. A the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as he depth of the ocean decreases. The speed of tsunmai waves depends on ocean depth rather than distance from the source of the wave. In some cases they can result in floods reaching up to 100 feet in height. They can cause a lot of property damage, environmental damage and leaving many lives at risk.

IV) 

Flooding: Is a natural event where an area that is dry land, suddenly gets submerged under water, Floods that happen in areas where people live in, the water carries along the objects such as houses, bridges, cars, furniture, and even people. It can wipe away farms and trees as well.

B)

I) Social Impacts

Earthquake hazards pose serious intermediate term risk to health and safety and economic viability. They demonstrate risks to industrial societies from the event, affecting everything from massive loss of life, infrastructure damage and financial instability. Earthquakes can have short term and long term impacts. Short terms would include people being injured, destroyed homes, disruption to transportation and communication. Long term impacts would include a disease being spread and peopling having to re-house.

II) Economic Impacts

Earthquakes can result in massive destruction of roads, bridges, farms, houses, automobiles and people become homeless. The government deploys fireman, police and other emergency apparatuses to help the affected. Everything comes at a heavy cost to the people and the government. It takes years for affected communities to be re-built and businesses to come back to normal.

III) Impacts on Infrastructure 

Earthquakes can effect availability of many services and elements of infrastructure. The large and violent movement of the ground caused by an earthquake will disrupt many services. Electric line poles are vulnerable to damage. No electricity results in no light, heat and no water. Land-line phones will not have service as the towers may be damaged. Natural gas pipelines could also be broken. Almost all stores rely on supplies being brought by trucks, so supply lines will be impacted. Local airports and train facilities can also be damaged. Bridges, buildings, and hospitals can be destroyed or damaged causing a great effect.

4) 

Communities in Metro Vancouver are preparing for the impending earthquake by making a significant investment to assess earthquake risk, upgrade infrastructure and develop emergency plans. The city has developed the Earthquake Preparedness Strategy to reduce the impact of an earthquake in Vancouver. The strategies fall under four categories; earthquake risk assessment, earthquake risk reduction, earthquake preparedness and earthquake response and recovery. Families have made small changes in there homes for their safety as well. For example storing food and water, having an identified family meeting location, have an emergency prepared plan and kit, buying self powered radios and flashlights, hanging pictures and home decor away from where people may sit, and by simply placing heavy objects on lower shelves.

Aquaculture

1) Aquaculture - farming of aquatic organism such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants.

2) Social

Pros: Aquaculture can create jobs within the community, can increase scientific knowledge and technology and can help feed a growing population.

Cons: Aquaculture can create conflict with other users of bodies of water such as fishermen, can threaten the livelihood of fishermen and can amplify and transfer diseases or parasites.

Environmental

Pros: Aquaculture can place more emphasis on protecting coastal waters from pollution and it may reduce fishing pressure on certain wild stocks.

Cons: Aquaculture can amplify and transfer disease and parasites to wild fish populations, can polute water systems with excess nutrients, and can compromise the aesthetic beauty of the coastline. 

Economical

Pros: Aquaculture can increase revenue on city, state and national level, can reduce seafood trade deficit and can encourage local trade. 

Cons: There aren't any significant economical cons associated with aquaculture.

3) In my opinion, aquaculture is a bad thing. Yes it can create huge amounts on profit but people fail to look at the negative impacts that come along with Aquaculture. It has a huge negative impact on the biosphere. It destroys the habitats of aquatic organisms and it also pollutes the water. It also has negative impacts on humans as is threatens the livelihood of fishermen. This has led aquaculture to create a huge conflict between them and fishermen. The way I see it, the only positive impact that comes along with aquaculture is its economical impacts. Although, I don't think the huge profit is worth destroying habitats and polluting the water for.

Earthquake in your Country

1) A massive earthquake hit Iran with tremors felt in the UAE on April 16, 2013.

2) The earthquake occurred at an intermediate depth in the Arabian Plate lithosphere at a depth of about 80 km.

3) The earthquake occurred within the subducting Arabian Plate below the overriding Eurasian Plate. 

4) The earthquake measured 7.7 on the Richter Scale.

5) The earthquake killed 35 people and left another 117 injured. It was the strongest earthquake to hit Iran within the last 40 years. The town of Mashkel was the closest to the earthquake's epicentre. Around 85% of the cities buildings and roads were demolished. 

Plate Tectonics in Your Country

1) The UAE is located on the Arabian Plate.

2) The Arabian Plate has been moving northward for millions of years converging with the Eurasian Plate.

3) As a result of converging with the Eurasian Plate, mountain ranges have been formed that extend west from the Pyrenees to the Himalayas and ranges of Southeast Asia. 

4) Due to the fact the Arabian Plate and Eurasia plate collide, many cities are in danger such as those in south eastern Turkey. These dangers include earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes.

5) I was not able to find any information on folds and faults within the UAE.

Mining

Part A

Shaft Mining

Shaft mining is the method of excavating a vertical or near-vertical tunnel from the top down, where there is initially no access to the bottom. 

Pros: Allows the land above the mining zone to be reclaimed for other uses, allows the mining operation to be hidden and you can mine deeper.

Cons: Pillars need to be left in place to safeguard, it is very expensive to conduct and it can only remove a portion of the mineral present.

Strip Mining

Surface mining technique of extracting rock or minerals from the Earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow.

Pros: Easier access to minerals, easier to transport minerals to the destination and there are less hazards compared to shaft mining. 

Cons: A lot more fuel is burned, blasting is required making it hazard and any open pit mining operation eliminates any biological life form at the surface.

Part B

Spouse of a miner: Strip mining as it is less dangerous than shaft mining. 

Owner of a mining company: Strip mining as it is less expensive than shaft mining.

Environmentalist: Shaft mining because strip mining is worse for the environment as any open pit mining operation eliminates any biological life form at the surface.

Owner of a nearby ski resorts: Shaft mining because it allows the land above the mining zone to be open and available for other use.

Politician: Shaft mining because it allows more minerals to be extracted in less amount time compared to that of strip mining.

Part C

Shaft mining is a major industry in the UAE as oil is the foundation of the UAE's economy. The discovery of oil reserves has transformed the UAE into a developed, high standard living country. The UAE is the eighth largest producer of crude oil in the world and the seventh largest producer of natural gas.

Biomes Project

The UAE is bordered by the Arabian Desert and is therefore found in a dominant arid desert biome.

Location

The desert biome covers up about 1/5 of the Earth's surface. Desert biomes are generally located at low latitudes and can be found in North America, South America, Africa and Southern Asia.

Climate

The arid desert biome has a subtropical climate. The climate is mainly hot and dry with little precipitation. Temperatures remain high all year round. Average temperatures in the summer reach upto 40 °C. The rainfall amount is generally around 100mm a year, and the driest areas can receive between as little as 30 and 40mm of annual rain.

Animals

Mamals: Cape hares, sand cats, striped hyenas, red foxes, caracals, two species of gazelle and Arabian wolves, camels and oryxes.

Invertebrates: Scorpions, spiders, ants, bees, wasps, moths and beetles.

Reptiles: Snakes, lizards and geckos.

Birds: Vultures, buzzards and falcons.

These animals have adapted to live in an arid, nearly water-free environment. Most of these animals avoid the extreme temperatures by staying out of it during the day, and then coming out at night when it is cooler. Since water is so scarce, most of these animals get their water from the food they eat: succulent plants, seeds, or the blood and body tissues of their prey.

Vegetation

Due to a lack of water, vegetation in the desert is scarce. Plants are almost all ground-hugging shrubs and short woody trees. These plants are able to survive despite extreme temperatures and lack of water due to their leaves being packed full of nutrients.

Soil

Wind has blown away fine dust and particles in this desert biome, leaving coarse-textured sand. Weaponry used by the United States during the Gulf War poses a huge risk to the stability of the soil. The movement of US tanks over the desert damaged the top protective layer of the desert soil. Also in 1991, the US and NATO dropped nearly 300 tons of depleted uranium on Iraqi targets. The splinters resulting from the explosion contaminated the surrounding soil.

Human Impacts

The status of this biome is critically endangered due to a number of oil spills. 

 

Impact of Climate Change

The UAE is a low lying coastal country with an arid climate and which already faces high temperatures. At the same time, the UAE plays a central role in the world’s energy economy as a supplier of fossil fuels. This is an issue as the UAE must find ways to cut emissions while still providing the world with the energy it needs.

Atmosphere - Since the UAE burns a lot of fossil fuels there is a huge build up of greenhouse gases in its atmosphere. The greenhouse gases then trap the heat from exiting the atmosphere causing it to be hotter. This could be the reason for the UAE's hot, arid climate.

Hydrosphere - Higher temperatures on the Earth cause sea water to expand, raising the sea level year after year. This is a huge issue as the UAE is a low lying coastal country. Cities near the coast will have to adapt to rising sea levels.

Biosphere - Climate change has a significant impact on plant, human and animal life. Climate change is causing plants and animals to shift their habitats to northern and mountainous areas. Many plants, the alpine flora for example, are endangered and are predicted to become extinct. Fruit cultivation and forestry are also seriously affected. Climate change results in food shortages for animals, causing the great diversity of wildlife in the UAE to decrease year by year. Climate change also has a small impact on human life as the number of diseases are increased as a direct result from the heat. 

Waste Management

1) Dubai disposes of waste through landfills. 

2) Dubai is running out of room to dump it's garbage. One of Dubai's 2 landfill sites is full will soon be closed. The other one will reach its capacity in less than 7 years, and they are yet to decide where to allocate a new landfill site. The biggest challenge they face is changing people's attitude and mentality towards it. People have to understand that a city cannot rely solely on landfills to manage its waste. Every Dubai resident sends 2.8 kg of waste to landfills every day, and many people don't think about where their garbage goes after it leaves their homes. As long as somebody collects it, they don't care.

3) There are a few ways in which Dubai could improve their waste management strategies. First, they could put more effort into implementing recycling. They should hand out recycling bins to every household and just in general have more recycling bins lying around. Another thing they could also do is start an environment campaign. This campaign could help raise awareness of waste management, encourage the people to recycle and care more about the issue. 

Climate and Climate Controls

1) The different climate controls that impact the UAE are: arid, desert, and hot arid. 

2) The UAE's has a dominant climate of arid. It has a dry, hot climate with very high temperatures and humidity.

3) 

Cyclone Gonu

Description:

Cyclone Gonu was the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit the Arabian Peninsula. It developed from a persistent area of convection in the eastern Arabian Sea on June 1, 2007, and dissipated on June 7, 2007. The cyclone dropped heavy rainfall which reaching upto 610mm, and winds reached upto 270km/h. This caused flooding and heavy damage. The cyclone was considered to be the UAE's worst natural disaster as it measured a category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

Impacts:

Cyclone Gonu had several impacts on the UAE. Strong winds knocked out power and telephone lines across the eastern region of the country, leaving thousands isolated. Fierce waves pushed large amounts of water to coastal areas in Fujairah forcing roads to be closed and traffic diverted. The waves along the coastline destroyed about a dozen fishing boats. The cyclone caused 28 deaths and resulted in $216 million in damage.

Air Masses, Global Winds and Types of Rain

1) The UAE features extreme heat because of its sandy landscape, and the weather is sunny all year round. Therefore, the UAE's dominant air mass is tropical continental.

2) The global wind that mainly impacts the UAE is westerly since the UAE is in the northern hemisphere.

3) The type of rain most commonly found in the UAE is convectional rainfall. Rainfall in the UAE is infrequent and does not last for a long period of time. When it does rain, it happens in the form of short downpours and an occasional thunderstorm. On average, rain falls only five days a year.

Introduction to Weather and Climate Questions

1) What warms the planet? - The sun heats the earth through radiation.

2) Referring to this diagram explain why the equatorial regions receive more radiation and therefore are warmer than polar regions. 

The low latitudes near the equator receive large amounts of radiation all year, and at high latitudes near the polar regions, the more oblique angle of the sun's rays together with long periods of darkness in the winter result in a low amount of received radiation.

3) Define Albedo. Which would absorb more radiation a snow covered mountain or a black roof?

Albedo - The proportion of the incident light or radiation that is reflected by a surface, typically that of s planet or moon. A black roof would absorb more radiation because black absorbs every colour except for itself.

4) Explain lapse rate.

The rate at which air temperature falls with increasing altitude.

5) Explain Aspect. In the Northern Hemisphere will plants grow better on the north or the south side facing side of a mountain?

Aspect - The compass direction that a slope faces. South facing slopes receive more sunlight which is much more proficient for plant growth and survival.

6) Why do we have seasons?

The earth is tilted as it makes its yearly journey around the sun.

7) Which heats up faster: Land or Water?

Land heats up faster because the Earth is at a constant temperature.  

8) Describe the impact that being far away from water has on the climate of the prairies.

The temperatures are extreme due to a lack of access to the ocean's buffering. 

9) Explain the impact of the Gulf Stream on Norway.

It influences the climate as it warms the country.

10) What current runs past BC?

Fraser River

11) Describe the impact of adding extra carbon dioxide to the atmosphere on the temperatures of Earth.

Extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causes the Earth to heat up. This has a negative impact on the Earth as it causes global warming.

12) Describe convection.  THIS IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE COURSE

The transfer of heat or other atmospheric properties by massive motion within the atmosphere, especially by such motion directed upward.

13) What is wind?

The perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction.

14) Explain urban heat islands, and explain why they occur.

They are metropolitan areas that are significantly warmer than their surrounding rural areas. They happen due to human activities, as urban areas develop, changes occur in their landscape. Buildings, roads, and other infrastructure replace open land and vegetation.

1. 1. • 14) Explain urban heat islands, and explain why they occur.

5 Themes of Geography Assignment

Part A:

This is a picture of a street address off Google Maps and it represents the theme of location. It represents absolute location as the map indicates the exact street address of the location.

This is a picture of the Western Cordillera and it represents the theme of region. The Western Cordillera is the region in Western North America which covers an extensive area mountain ranges, intermontane basins and plateaus.

This is a picture of a human planting a tree and it represents human/environment interaction. The human is interacting with the environment by planting a tree, creating a positive interaction with the environment.

Part B:

Location:

The longitude and latitude of the Burj Al Arab Luxury Hotel in Dubai is 25.1420° N, 55.1861° E.

Place: The Burj Al Arab Luxury Hotel is the world's only seven-star hotel. Standing at 1053 ft, it is the forth tallest hotel in the world. The hotel rests on an artificial island constructed 920 ft offshore, and is attached to the mainland by a private curving connection.

Human/Environment Interaction:

There are several oil rigs in the United Arab Emirates as the UAE produces about 2.9 million barrels of oil per day. The humans are interacting in a negative way with the environment by creating pollution.

Movement:

In order to get around and perform their duties, the police in Dubai drive luxury and high-performance vehicles.

Regions:

1. The United Arab Emirates is located in the oil-rich and strategic Persian Gulf region. It adjoins the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman.

 

4 Spheres of the Environment

                          Cyclone Gonu

a) Cyclone Gonu was the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit the Arabian Peninsula. It developed from a persistent area of convection in the eastern Arabian Sea on June 1, 2007, and dissipated on June 7, 2007 after creating a landfall in Southern Iran. Gonu dropped heavy rainfall reaching upto 610mm, which caused flooding and heavy damage. The cyclone was considered to be the nation's worst natural disaster as it caused 28 deaths and resulted in $216 million in damage.

b) Lithosphere - Landfall resulted as a cause of the cyclone.

Hydrosphere - Flooding resulted as a cause of the cyclone 

Biosphere - Caused 28 deaths, destroyed homes and forests. 

Atmosphere - Heavy rainfall

c) The atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere are all interacting as the cyclone was created by the atmosphere, which caused heavy rainfall. The hydrosphere became involved as the heavy rainfall caused flooding. The lithosphere became involved as the cyclone caused a landfall, and the biosphere was impacted as the cyclone resulted in 28 deaths, homes and forests destroyed, and $216 million in damage.

Blog #1

1)

2) Middle East, Asia

3) Abu Dhabi

4) 83,600 km²

5) 9,346,129

6)Federation of 7 hereditary monarchies