Topic > New Zealand Natural Resources

IndexAgricultureForestryEffects of complete and incomplete combustionNew Zealand has produced minerals and coal since European settlement, and current production includes oil, coal, silver and gold, iron sand and a range of rocks and minerals for domestic use which are rudimentary to New Zealand's infrastructure and economy (manufacturing and road building). Carbon dioxide is undoubtedly the main source of greenhouse gases as it remains in the atmosphere for many thousands of years, continuing to increase temperatures. Coal is the fossil fuel that consumes the most carbon, so for the same energy, coal will release more carbon dioxide. 200 years ago, New Zealand did not have the technology or need to mass produce coal as this was ultimately dependent on population and demand. Given that there were an estimated 2,000 inhabitants spread across New Zealand, coal and oil production was ongoing, but at a sustainable and manageable rate. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay People living in 1818 didn't need to fuel their cars, heat their homes, charge their phones, or travel by plane, so their environment faced the positive consequences of small greenhouse gas emissions. The lack of exploitation of coal two centuries ago was partly due to the tools available at that time as the technology we have now is modernized such that it can reduce the time of coal production and increase the amount of coal produced. However, our consumerist nature has become normalized and we still continue to use coal which not only contributes to global warming through the amount of CO2 produced, but also contains sulfur and other dangerous elements, such as arsenic, mercury and lead, which escape into the environment. the air when coal is burned, causing numerous health problems. We can see that as the population has evolved, our technology and resources have also evolved, we have greater access to scientific knowledge and technologies that we can adapt to train other energy producers. However, we are still exploiting our ability to use coal and oil as a form of energy which ultimately contributes to the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Until we fully follow the alternative energy course of action, we can expect the effects to worsen. Agriculture According to the United Nations, agriculture is responsible for 18% of total CO2 emissions. New Zealand is well known worldwide for its dairy industry and represents the largest part of the trading economy, contributing approximately ⅔ of exported products. 200 years ago there was no active agricultural industry, although Maori had established themselves in New Zealand as expert horticulturists. Their Polynesian ancestors who arrived in 700-800 AD had skillfully adapted tropical cultigens, such as kumara (from South America), yam and squash, to New Zealand's temperate climate. 200 years ago there were thousands of hectares of land to farm and soon the Maori were feeding the European settlers. The Maori hunted and the Europeans relied on them to bring produce to feed the first city. The Maori were horticulturists as their only pets were dogs because when they arrived in New Zealand they could only bring what they could carry in a canoe. They hunted and gardened, however, they had no livestock, so they produced no greenhouse gas emissions. However, the Maori cleared large areas of forest to encourage the growth of fern roots and clear the landfor gardening and this contributed to CO2 emissions from the fires set to achieve this. This is in great contrast to our country today because in 1818 there were few to no cows, so the concern that they might contribute to climate change was non-existent, however now there are over 10.6 million cows and 6.7 million these cows are used in breeding. dairy industry. Forestry Before anyone inhabited New Zealand, 80% of the land was covered in dense forest. Today only 24% of our country is made up of native forests. Forests are rich habitats full of trees and are critical in the carbon cycle as they are carbon sinks that remove atmospheric carbon dioxide, as explained above. Forests are essential to our continued existence as humans and the natural systems that provide for us. Forests reduce flooding and protect the soil from erosion, as well as circulating water between the soil and the atmosphere to produce rain but also to produce oxygen for breathing. The contrast between the forests of today and those of 200 years ago is very different. Our vast jungles have turned into concrete jungles, resulting in the production of abundant fossil fuels. Initially, in 1818, Maori cleared forests to create gardens and encourage fern root growth, as well as to build homes for the growing Maori population. Furthermore, when Europeans arrived, they cleared more land for cattle and sheep farming but also for lumber. They wanted Kauri especially for houses and ship poles. Our population has grown significantly, so more space needs to be created to meet our needs. We have cut down trees to free up space for human growth, yet in doing so, we are limiting our ability to live well now and in the future. Complete combustion occurs when a lot of oxygen is present and carbon dioxide and water are produced, as well as a large amount of energy released as a result. Furthermore, complete combustion burns with an invisible flame and improves fuel efficiency and has a practical advantage over incomplete combustion. Fuel + oxygen = ENERGY + carbon dioxide + water Unlike complete combustion, incomplete combustion occurs when a limited amount of oxygen is present and carbon, carbon monoxide, and water are produced. Furthermore, little energy is released and incomplete combustion burns with a dirty, yellow flame and black residue remains from the flame. Fuel + oxygen = ENERGY + carbon + carbon monoxide + waterEffects of complete and incomplete combustionCarbon dioxide is produced by complete combustion and is also a greenhouse gas that causes heat energy to be trapped on the earth, resulting in climate change. The effect of this is an increase in temperatures which causes changing weather patterns and melting of the polar ice caps, as well as a rise in ocean levels, resulting in the sinking of islands. Agriculture is also affected, including agricultural production that many people rely on for both income and nutrition. It is also an acidic gas that increases the acidity of the oceans, resulting in damage to corals, particularly the Great Barrier Reef. Carbon monoxide, however, is a product of incomplete combustion and can have adverse effects on human health. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas that combines with hemoglobin in the blood, preventing oxygen from being transported around the body, resulting in death. From an environmental point of view, CO can be very easily and quickly converted into CO2 in the atmosphere, which.