Generating electricity using large-scale hydroelectric schemes has both benefits and problems for the environment.
Which row in the table correctly identifies an environmental benefit and an environmental problem associated with hydroelectric dams?
| Environmental Benefit | Environmental Problem | |
|---|---|---|
| Row A | Flooding of upstream valleys increases land area available for agriculture | Blocks fish migration routes and disrupts downstream aquatic ecosystems |
| Row B | Provides a renewable source of electricity with zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation | Flooding of reservoirs submerges vegetation, which decays anaerobically to release methane (CH4CH_4CH4) |
| Row C | Provides a renewable source of electricity with zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation | Reduces emissions of acid-rain-causing sulfur dioxide (SO2SO_2SO2) compared to fossil fuels |
| Row D | Blocks fish migration routes and disrupts downstream aquatic ecosystems | Provides a renewable source of electricity with zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation |
Row A
Row B
Row C
Row D
25 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Biology 6.1 Monitoring and maintaining the environment, covering 6.1.1 Field investigation of distribution and abundance, 6.1.2 Human interactions and biodiversity, 6.1.3 Maintaining biodiversity, and 6.1.4 Environmental change and distribution of organisms. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.