1.3 Case studies Flashcards
1
Q
How has human activity polluted the Florida Everglades?
A
- algal blooms due to housing and agricultural development
- draining water ways and creating channels to divert water
- algal blooms mean lack of oxygen for life below water
2
Q
How has human activity polluted the Citarum River, Indonesia?
A
- domestic and industrial waste
- more than 35million people depend on river
- textile factories have polluted river with lead, mercury, and other toxic chemicals
- 60% of fish species have been wiped out
- one of the world’s ten most polluted rivers
3
Q
Sahel Drought 2012 - location
A
- Sahel region, South of the Sahara
- 12 countries
- e.g. Mali, Chas, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso
4
Q
Sahel Drought 2012 - Who was affected?
A
- 80% of Burkina Faso’s population relies on agriculture
- starvation of people and livestock
- farmers forced into different jobs
- increase in food prices
5
Q
Sahel Drought 2012 - Impacts
A
- 10-15% increase in child malnutrition
- poor quality harvest
- 26% reduction in food production compared to previous year
- drought resistant crops too expensive to switch to
6
Q
Sahel Drought 2012 - Responses
A
- food handouts
- use of drought resistant crops
- UN issued appeal for $1.6 billion but only half raised (people more likely to donate to short-term aid)
- charities checking for malnutrition
7
Q
UK flooding 2015-2016 - features
A
- caused by Storm Desmond, an extra tropical cyclone
- Towns on the Scottish border, Carlisle, Lancaster, Keswick, Braithwaite and Appleby amongst many other
8
Q
UK flooding 2015/16 - physical causes
A
- Desmond brought in moist air from the Caribbean to the British Isles so rainfall from Desmond was unusually heavy.
- The heavy rain and strong winds were caused by an area of low pressure which arrived from the Atlantic
- Honister in Cumbria received 341.4mm of rain in the 24-hour period
- winds up to 81mph
9
Q
UK flooding 2015/16 - human cause
A
- partly due to climate change meant wettest, warmest december on record
- some believe government ignored warnings than an increasing number of homes were at risk
10
Q
UK flooding 2015/16 - economic costs
A
- £500m of damage across Cumbria
- £1.3bn insurance bill
- Tadcaster bridge in North Yorkshire collapsed - would take over a year and £3mn for repairs
11
Q
UK flooding 2015/16 - environmental impacts
A
- sediment washed into river impacted water quality and aquatic wildlife
- sediment was transported and deposited on floodplains
- trees ripped from river banks
- landslides
12
Q
UK flooding 2015/16 - social impacts
A
- More than 1,000 people evacuated across Cumbria.
- 50,000 people were without power across Cumbria and Lancashire.
- About 40 schools in Cumbria were closed
- appointments and routine business across NHS hospitals were cancelled
- 2 deaths
13
Q
UK flooding 2015/16 - responses
A
- government emergency response: 200 military personnel, 50 high-volume pumps, temporary defences
- £400,000 donated by public in 48hrs
- 5,000 businesses and households given council tax and business rate relief
14
Q
Murray-Darling basin - location
A
- South-East Australia
- across 4 states
- Near major cities Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and has mouth in Adelaide
- combined river length of 3,780km
15
Q
Importance of the Murray-Darling Basin
A
- Approx 40% of Australian farm production originates from basin, this area called Australia’s food basket
- Provides more than 3million people with drinking water and 10% of Australia’s population live along it