Brazil- Belo Monte Dam Exam

Figure P3 could be drawn in a... 

PIE CHART

• The numbers are already in percentages so you multiply the values by 3.6 to find out how many degrees each sector will be. (eg.) 
• It is easy and simple to construct, draw a circle and using a protracter draw the degrees of each angle/sector. 
• A key is used to identify each energy type.
• Easy to compare and contrast each type. 
• Easy to interpret and make comparasions. 
• In a pie chart its easy to see the proportion of each energy type, rather than a bar chart.
• Draw one with key. 
• Visually simple to understand.

• Most of Brazils energy consumption is from oil, nearly half
• 36% is from HEP 
• The least type is from renewables such as solar and wind
• However NOW..... oil is still highest but decreased by 10%
• Hep has also decreased, however other renewables increased by 20%, due to understanding and development into other energy supplies such as wind and solar

• 20% of Brazils energy consumption
• Most likely location:North east and South east
• have highland and coastal so produce contant winds, giving the area constand supply

Advantages:

• Clean, renewable, sustainable energy
• Least costly of all renewables
• Offers a stable, long term price for power production
• can supply on large scale
• Land surrounding the farms can be used for farming, which supports the economy of remote areas
• Smaller scale than HEP so less enviromental impact
• Steady winds, 11-13mph 
• Adds to Brazils energy mix making it more enviromentally friendly
• Brazil has.... of coastline with great wind energy potentiol
• Brazil has a constant wind circulation system at an appropriate intensity for wind generation
• Brazil has highland areas -ideal locations

Disadvantages:

• Noise pollution
• Large and unsightly
• The location would be on highland or in the North which means the energy would have be transported to the cities
• Wind power isnt stored, and not alll currents can be harnessed
• Good wind sites are in remote locations, away from towns to investment is required to supply energy
• Need certain wind speeds
• Can disrupt wildlife, esp birds
• In times of low wind, back up energy is needed from other sources
• Needs goverment backing
• Often located in rural areas, yet urban areas needs the energy
• Due to its smaller scale, it cant compete with sources such as HEP

Advantages

• Renewable, sustainable source
• No pollution
• Require little maintanance
• Brazil has a sunny climate so good solar potentiol
• Brazil consumes alot of energy and many consumers like that solar energy is ecofriendly and renewable, saving money in the long term
• Figure P7 shows that Brazil has a very warm climate all year round so great potential for solar

Disadvantages

• Initial cost is high
• Solar energy can't be created at night but can be collected in the day and stored to use later
• To provide large scale amounts of energy, hude areas of panels are needed
• However due to Brazil's low air pressure it is often cloudy therefore reducing amount of solar radiation

• The graph shows that between 1998 and 1998 gas production and consumption increased at the same level and in 10 years increased by 100%. 
• Between 1988 and 2008 production began to increase at a higher rate than consumption, 400% since 1988.
• Changes to production and consumption of gas has implications in the future.
• Before anything can happen, gas requires alot of infrastructure and upfront investment. 
• It is at a high selling price which is bad for Brazil's economy. 
• Demand for natural gas is rising in Brazil due to rising oil prices, and an increase of the use of 'flex-cars' in Brazil using gas as an alternative fuel. 
• Brazil Imports natural gas from Bolivia and Trinidad&Tobago.

• As production increases, so does consumption, until 1988 when Brazils production and consumption are the same, 100billioncubicfeet.
• Between 1988 and 1998 they both increase steadily at a similar rate and by 1998 there has been an 100% increase.
• However consumption begins to accelerate above production meaning that Brazil is using more gas than it is producing.
• In 2008 consumption increased by over 400% and is almost double production.

• Brazil has 12.6barrels of oil reserves located of the country;s south east coast. 
• Because of rising oil production and slow growth in consumption it is expected Brazilw ill become a net oil exporter in 2009.
• This prediction is true and is continued to export oil in 2010 and 2011. 
• It is predicted Brazil's oil consumption will be the same as production in 2012, but will continue to export in 2013. 

Advantages

• Is the cleanest burning fossil fuel 
• Brazil has a large reserves of oil so no need to import from other countries
• Can export oil from its reserves to increase revenue and therefore development and quality of life

Disadvantages

• Wars over who owns oil
• transport is dangerous-oil spills -enviromental and social impacts
• high oil prices
• Is difficult to access and therefore costly
• Not sustainable/renewable-will run out
• doesnt create a good energy mix
• global warming
• demand for oil has decreased as developed countries want to become more sustainable

• Brazil and US account for 90% of the worlds ethanol production
• Made from femented plants/crops containing starch/sugar, they are ground up and the sugar is dissolved from the material, microbes feed on the sugar producing ethanol which is then purified to increase concentration. 
• Becoming more in demand as an alternative energy

Advantages:

• Is a renewable source
• Cheaper than normal fuel
• ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline so less toxic fumes and pollution
• Doesnt contribrute to greenhouse gases
• Provides employment, infrastucture, leading to development in the country
• alternative to fossil fuels, oil
• tax benefit- flexfuel tax credit which replaced the clean fuel burning deduction, reducing the tax payyers tax obligation

Disadvantages

• crops used to produce ethanol cant be used again so could lead to higher animal food prices
• Engine damage-ethanol causes corrosion&damage to engines as it absorbs dirt easily
• Not many petrol stations sell flex-fuel, trouble buying it for consumer

Figure P6 could be displayed in a ... 

LINE GRAPH 

• You can see change over time 
• Easily compare and contrast the different kinds of energy
• Is fairly easy to consturct, using a key to identify different types
• Better than a bar chart as you can compare trends more acuratly and easily
• Creates precise readings 
• See correlations and easy to interpret
• Gain a better understanding than the table

• Aims to provide accurate and balanced information on development in South America
• Are sponsered by the US Southern Command which is a military organisation, may have their own agenda
• the site is easy to use with an interactive toolbar at the side 
• has a search bar- easy navigation 

relevance 

quality of info 

images

graphics

links for checking?

fair/biased? 

uptodate?

Brazil is a BRIC and a NIC Evidence Brazil is becoming an MEDC:

• Population growth rate is low, common charachteristic among MEDC's
• % of population living in urban areas is over 80%-associated with MEDC's
• As people move away from rural areas, employment becomes mainly tertiary and services which is Brazil's main employment sector

Evidence Brazil is still an LEDC:

• 20% are still working in primary industry, most LEDC's have around 6%
• GDP per capita is only $10,100, fairly low for a developing country 
• population below poverty line is 26%

However GDP is increasing and as is population below poverty line

$11,900                                                      21.4%

• Inefficent-low population density- needs to be transported, costs money and loses energy 
• In dry seasoon- economically inefficent-lease efficent dam in Brazil
• Displaces 20,000-40,000-destruction of culture and knoledge, many move to the cities-struggle for work
• Illnesses- first contact with outsiders-TB outbreak-85% of Kayapo died,
• Flooding of the river=stagmant water= increase in mosquitos, malaria and other water borne diseases
• Flooding rainforest= methane released from plant matter on river bed
• Distupt local wildlife and ecosystems
• Human rights- never consulted
• Cost of construction- belived to be ..... but actual costs could be as high as... 
• Diversion of 80% of the Xingu- extinction of fish 

The dam will displace thousands of people:

• could have better living standards
• compensate them, better housing, money, energy 
• move them to another part of the river
• force migration
• healthcare incentives

• will increase investemnet- more able to develop
• very efficent in rainy season
• the displacement numbers are less than the three gorges dam
• there is already a natural drop which isnt too wide
• renewable energy-there for future use
• won't need as much maintenance as coal fired power stations
• more enviromentally friendly than gas, oil and coal
• economically viable

• loose species: zebra pleca,xingu poisin dart frog will become extinct
• lead to deforestation
• displacement of tribes and indigenous people
• no rainfall for 4-5 months in the dry season-38% less capacity
• it will be located far away from populated areas-have to transport it which may cause loss of energy
• will affect the river upstream and downstream 
• loose rainforest
• rotting trees will release methane, more harmful(25%) than c02
• species are lost
• overcrowding could be a result of displacement into larger towns