For this section I teach the Derrybrien Windfarm and Bog Burst Case Study. Information from this case study can be used to answer the Human Interaction question and also can be used to answer questions in the Economic Elective. You may also use your the Three Gorges Damn (HEP) case study to answer the Human Interaction Question for River Processes.
Embedded Files
Mass Movement Questions.pdfMass Movement Questions with marking-scheme.pdfThe first 3 videos below are from the Shass Mountain Bog Burst, and Drumkeeran Bog Burst and a Bog Burst near Ballybofey - I am posting to give you a visual idea of Bog Bursts. The Politics of Peat video is about Derrybrien.
Derrybrien Bog Burst (2003) – Social, Economic, and Environmental Impacts
Summary of What Happened
The Derrybrien bog burst occurred on October 16, 2003, in County Galway, Ireland. A nearby wind farm development disturbed the sensitive bog ecosystem, causing thousands of tonnes of peat to dislodge and flow down the hillside into nearby rivers and land. This event caused environmental damage, disrupted local communities, and led to financial penalties for failing to manage environmental risks effectively.
Geographic Questions
Who? The incident was caused by construction activity at a wind farm developed by a private energy company, with local communities and ecosystems impacted.
What? A bog burst occurred, releasing thousands of tonnes of peat into rivers and over land.
When? October 16, 2003.
Where? Derrybrien, County Galway, Ireland.
Why? Poor environmental management during wind farm construction destabilised the bog.
How? Excavation work altered the natural drainage of the bog, leading to its collapse after heavy rainfall.
Social Impacts
Disruption to Local Communities: The bog burst caused significant disruption in the Derrybrien area of County Galway, cutting off access roads and isolating some local residents.
This means that residents faced difficulties in travelling for work, school, and essential services.
This means that emergency services had to respond quickly to ensure the safety of those living near the affected areas.Health Concerns: The release of peat and sediment into nearby water supplies raised health concerns for residents relying on these sources for drinking water.
This means that people had to seek alternative water supplies until contamination was addressed.
This means that long-term confidence in the safety of water sources in the area was diminished.
Economic Impacts
Damage to Infrastructure: Roads, bridges, and other infrastructure were damaged as the bog burst released thousands of tonnes of peat over a wide area.
This means that the local government incurred significant costs to repair infrastructure and restore access to affected areas.
This means that businesses in the region experienced disruptions, particularly those reliant on transport networks.Fines and Financial Losses: The incident was linked to a nearby wind farm development, and a failure to manage the environmental risks led to fines from the European Union.
This means that the developer and Irish authorities faced legal and financial consequences, including significant penalties under EU environmental directives.
This means that public funds had to be used to address some of the environmental damages, diverting resources from other priorities.
Environmental Impacts
Damage to Water Systems: Peat and sediment were washed into rivers and lakes, including the Owendalulleegh River, causing extensive pollution.
This means that aquatic ecosystems were severely disrupted, with fish and other wildlife affected by sedimentation and reduced water quality.
This means that the environmental damage required costly and prolonged cleanup efforts to restore the health of affected waterways.Destruction of Habitats: Thousands of tonnes of peat displaced during the bog burst buried natural habitats, including forests and grasslands.
This means that local flora and fauna were destroyed, with long-term impacts on biodiversity in the area.
This means that the recovery of these ecosystems would take years, requiring active intervention to restore habitats.Increased Carbon Emissions: The release of peat from the bog caused a significant release of stored carbon into the atmosphere.
This means that the bog burst contributed to greenhouse gas emissions, counteracting efforts to reduce Ireland's carbon footprint.
This means that the event highlighted the importance of proper environmental management in preventing such disasters.
Summary
The Derrybrien bog burst is an example of how poorly managed development projects can lead to devastating social, economic, and environmental consequences. It emphasises the importance of environmental assessments and sustainable practices in areas with fragile ecosystems like raised bogs.
Q: Describe and explain the factors governing the operation of one mass movement process that you have studied.
Q: Describe and explain the factors governing the operation of one mass movement process that you have studied.
Mass Movement: Bog Burst
Case Study: Derrybrien, Co. Galway (2003)
1. (S) Human activity can trigger mass movement events.
(D) Construction work on slopes can destabilise land by disturbing soil or peat.
(SE) At Derrybrien, wind farm construction disturbed the bog and changed natural drainage.
2. (S) Heavy rainfall increases the risk of mass movement.
(D) Rainwater adds weight and reduces stability in loose materials like peat.
(SE) The Derrybrien bog burst occurred after a period of intense rainfall.
3. (S) The gradient of a slope affects how easily material can move.
(D) Steep slopes allow gravity to pull saturated material down more easily.
(SE) The wind farm at Derrybrien was built on upland terrain with a noticeable slope.
4. (S) The type of material involved influences the risk.
(D) Peat is light and absorbent, becoming unstable when waterlogged.
(SE) Thousands of tonnes of wet peat flowed downhill during the Derrybrien bog burst.
5. (S) Removing vegetation weakens slope stability.
(D) Plant roots help hold peat together and prevent movement.
(SE) At Derrybrien, vegetation was cleared to make way for turbines and roads.
6. (S) Poor planning and environmental assessment can cause disasters.
(D) Developments in fragile areas should include proper risk assessments.
(SE) No full Environmental Impact Assessment was done before building at Derrybrien.
7. (S) Altering drainage patterns increases instability.
(D) Blocked or redirected water builds up and adds pressure to the land.
(SE) At Derrybrien, construction disrupted drainage, leading to water build-up in the bog.
8. (S) A trigger event is often needed to start a mass movement.
(D) Even unstable land often needs one final event like rainfall to collapse.
(SE) At Derrybrien, the landslide happened just after a heavy rainstorm.
9. (S) Mass movement can cause environmental damage.
(D) Rivers and lakes can become polluted with displaced soil or peat.
(SE) Over 50,000 fish died in the Owendalulleegh River after the Derrybrien bog burst.
10. (S) Mass movement can destroy natural habitats.
(D) Large amounts of material can bury forests and grasslands.
(SE) The bog burst at Derrybrien buried habitats and caused loss of biodiversity.
11. (S) Events like these can have major financial consequences.
(D) Governments and developers often face fines or cleanup costs.
(SE) The EU fined Ireland €5 million after the Derrybrien incident.
12. (S) Peat movement releases stored carbon into the atmosphere.
(D) This contributes to climate change by increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
(SE) The peat released at Derrybrien added carbon to the air, harming Ireland’s climate goals.
Condensed Version for Timed Exam.
Human activity can trigger mass movement. Construction work weakens land stability. At Derrybrien, wind farm building disturbed the bog.
Heavy rainfall adds weight to the land. Saturated ground becomes unstable and prone to collapse. Intense rain fell before the Derrybrien bog burst.
Steep slopes increase the risk of movement. Gravity pulls loose material downhill more easily. The Derrybrien site was located on sloped upland terrain.
Peat is light and absorbent. When waterlogged, it becomes unstable and flows. Thousands of tonnes of peat moved during the Derrybrien slide.
Vegetation helps hold soil together. Removing it makes slopes weaker. Plants were cleared at Derrybrien for access roads and turbines.
Poor planning increases disaster risk. Fragile environments need proper assessment. No full environmental study was done before construction at Derrybrien.
Changing drainage patterns weakens land. Water builds up in soil or peat when it can’t drain. Drainage was disrupted during wind farm development at Derrybrien.
A trigger is often needed to start movement. Heavy rain or earthquakes can cause collapse. Rainfall directly triggered the Derrybrien bog burst.
Mass movement pollutes rivers and lakes. Sediment harms fish and reduces water quality. Over 50,000 fish died in the river at Derrybrien.
Natural habitats can be buried. This leads to long-term loss of biodiversity. The peat flow at Derrybrien destroyed forests and grasslands.
Mass movement causes financial damage. Governments face fines and cleanup costs. Ireland was fined €5 million by the EU after Derrybrien.
Peat stores carbon in the ground. When released, it adds greenhouse gases to the air. The bog burst at Derrybrien increased carbon emissions.
Diagram Bog Burst: Arrows show the direction of the flow
Q: Examine how economic activities can have an environmental impact with reference to examples on a local scale and a global scale.
Q: Examine how economic activities can have an environmental impact with reference to examples on a local scale and a global scale.
Local Example: Wind Farm Development – Derrybrien, Ireland
Global Example: Commercial Farming – Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
🟠 Local Environmental Impacts – Derrybrien Wind Farm, Ireland
🟠 Local Environmental Impacts – Derrybrien Wind Farm, Ireland
1. (S) Wind energy is renewable but can still harm the environment.
(D) Construction can damage sensitive ecosystems such as bogs.
(SE) At Derrybrien, a wind farm disturbed an upland peat bog during development.
2. (S) Poor planning increases the risk of environmental disasters.
(D) Failing to carry out proper assessments can overlook serious dangers.
(SE) No full Environmental Impact Assessment was done before construction at Derrybrien.
3. (S) Construction activity can lead to mass movement.
(D) Digging and drainage changes make slopes unstable.
(SE) At Derrybrien, this triggered a bog burst that released 450,000m³ of peat.
4. (S) Mass movement can pollute rivers and harm aquatic life.
(D) Peat and sediment lower water quality and kill fish.
(SE) Over 50,000 fish died in the Owendalulleegh River after the Derrybrien bog burst.
5. (S) Ecosystems and habitats are often destroyed by land disturbance.
(D) Buried land loses plant life and reduces biodiversity.
(SE) The Derrybrien slide buried forest and grassland habitats under peat.
6. (S) Peatland stores large amounts of carbon.
(D) When released, this carbon contributes to climate change.
(SE) The Derrybrien event released significant greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
7.
(S) Public money may be needed to fix environmental damage.
(D) When companies are fined or can't cover the cost, taxpayers often pay instead.
(SE) After the Derrybrien incident, the Irish state paid €5 million in EU fines due to poor planning.
🌍 Global Environmental Impacts – Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
🌍 Global Environmental Impacts – Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
8. (S) Farming is a major cause of deforestation in the Amazon.
(D) Land is cleared for cattle grazing and crops like soybeans.
(SE) In Brazil, millions of hectares of rainforest are cleared each year for agriculture.
9. (S) Deforestation leads to the loss of biodiversity.
(D) Many animals and plants lose their habitats and become endangered.
(SE) Species like the jaguar and the macaw are under threat in the Amazon.
10. (S) Trees act as carbon sinks that reduce climate change.
(D) Cutting them down increases the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere.
(SE) Amazon deforestation significantly contributes to global warming.
11. (S) Deforested land becomes vulnerable to soil erosion.
(D) Without tree roots, soil is washed away and loses nutrients.
(SE) Large areas of former forest in the Amazon suffer from poor soil quality after clearance.
12. (S) Fires are often used to clear land for farming.
(D) These fires release smoke and carbon into the air.
(SE) Amazon fires cause serious air pollution across South America each year.
13. (S) Indigenous communities are affected by commercial farming.
(D) They lose their land and access to natural resources.
(SE) Farming in the Amazon has displaced many native groups who depend on the forest.
14. (S) Farming leads to illegal land grabs in the Amazon.
(D) Large companies and ranchers sometimes clear protected forest areas without permission.
(SE) Satellite images show illegal clearing increasing in the Amazon, especially in Indigenous reserves.
CONDENSED Version
🟠 Local Environmental Impacts – Derrybrien Wind Farm, Ireland
Wind energy is renewable but can still cause damage. Construction affected a sensitive bog ecosystem. A peat bog was disturbed at Derrybrien during wind farm development.
Poor planning increases environmental risk. No full assessment was done before construction. This led to unforeseen impacts at Derrybrien.
Building on bogland can trigger mass movement. Excavation and drainage changes weakened the slope. A bog burst released 450,000m³ of peat in Derrybrien.
Peat movement can pollute rivers and kill wildlife. Sediment reduces oxygen and clogs rivers. Over 50,000 fish died in the Owendalulleegh River.
Mass movement destroys natural habitats. Peat buried grasslands and woodland areas. Local biodiversity was badly affected in Derrybrien.
Peat stores carbon that should remain in the ground. When disturbed, it releases CO₂ into the atmosphere. The Derrybrien event contributed to greenhouse gas emissions.
Environmental damage can cost the public money. If companies can’t pay fines, taxpayers may cover it. The Irish state paid €5 million after Derrybrien due to poor oversight.
🌍 Global Environmental Impacts – Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
Farming is a key driver of Amazon deforestation. Land is cleared for cattle and soybeans. Millions of hectares are lost each year.
Habitat loss causes species to decline. Plants and animals lose their homes. Jaguars and macaws are now under threat.
Forests store carbon and help slow climate change. Deforestation releases that carbon into the air. The Amazon's destruction increases global warming.
Clearing trees leads to poor soil. Without roots, the soil erodes and loses nutrients. Farming land becomes infertile in many Amazon areas.
Fires are used to clear large areas quickly. These fires produce harmful gases and smoke. Amazon fires cause serious air pollution across South America.
Indigenous people depend on forest land. Farming pushes them out and destroys their way of life. Many communities in the Amazon have been displaced.
Illegal farming drives further environmental loss. Protected forests are sometimes cleared without permission. Satellite images show land grabs increasing in Indigenous reserves.
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