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Geography Case Studies > 5. The Water Cycle and Water insecurity > Flashcards

5. The Water Cycle and Water insecurity Flashcards

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1
Q

What percentage of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed in the last 50 years?

A

20%

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2
Q

What 4 activities have most significantly contributed to deforestation in the Amazon?

A
  1. Cattle Ranching
  2. Large scale agribusiness
  3. Development of Towns + Roads
  4. Logging Practices
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3
Q

How much of the world’s greenhouse gases are stored by the Amazon?

A

60%

  • destruction reduces the capacity to remove CO2 and adds to greenhouse gas emission
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4
Q

What percentage of intercepted water returns to an atmosphere in a forest environment?

A

75% - through evapotranspiration

  • this reduces to just 25% when forest is cleared
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5
Q

What short term climate pattern contributes to droughts in the Amazon?

A

ENSO cycles

  • can exacerbate forest fire risk
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6
Q

What does a higher surface run off (due to deforestation) increase the risk of?

A

Severe flooding and mudslides

  • can also lead to aquifer depletion due to lower infiltration
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7
Q

What is the negative impact of more overland flow (due to deforestation)?

A

Soil erosion - where nutrients are washed away

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8
Q

What does ENSO stand for?

A

El Nino Southern Oscillation

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9
Q

What are the NORMAL conditions in the Pacific Basin?

(Trade winds)

A
  1. Trade winds blow East to West along the equator
  2. Air pushes warm water westward
  3. Upwelling/thermocline occurs
  4. Warm, moist air rises, cools and condenses, forming rain clouds
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10
Q

What are the conditions in the Pacific Basin during an El Nino event?

A
  1. Trade wind pattern disrupted
    - may slacken or even reverse
  2. Knock-on effects on ocean currents
  3. Air circulation loop is reversed
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11
Q

During an El Nino event, what are the temperatures of the pacific like in the East (Peru) and West (Australia)?

A

Cool water in Peru (east pacific) replaced by warmer water

Warmer water in Australia (west pacific) replaced by cooler water

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12
Q

How often does El Nino seem to occur and last?

A

Every 3-7 years, usually lasting 18 months

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13
Q

What conditions are commonly triggered by El Nino?

A

Very dry, especially in the 2nd year

(e.g monsoon rains in India often fail)

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14
Q

What event sometimes (but not always) follows an El Nino event?

A

La Nina

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15
Q

Which way do trade winds blow during La Nina?

A

East to West (Normal)

  • Very strong air circulation and very warm water BUT moving in normal direction
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16
Q

Where are particularly severe drought conditions usually experienced in La Nina?

A

Western Coast of South America

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17
Q

Where does the Sahel region encompass?

A

Mauritania all the way to Ethiopia (band across Africa)

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18
Q

Which are of the Sahel is experiencing a 30-40% decrease in normal rainfall?

A

The Northern Sahel

  • Central Sahel 25-30% less
  • Southern Sahel 20-25% less
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19
Q

In what season does 85% of annual rainfall fall in the Sahel and why?

A

Summer (though limited regardless)

  • occupies a transitional climate zone
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20
Q

What is the range of rainfall in the Sahel?

A

100m on the edge of the Sahara (very arid)

800m on Southern Margins

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21
Q

What 5 human factors have created a positive feedback loop in enhancing drought in the Sahel?

A
  1. Overgrazing (Nomadic Tribes)
  2. Deforestation (for Fuelwood)
  3. 2x Rural Population density increase
  4. All agriculture is rainfed (no irrigation)
  5. War between Ethiopia + Eritrea (blocked supply chains)
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22
Q

What % of Australia is affected by severe rainfall deficiencies?

A

30%

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23
Q

What has been the worst drought event so far in Australia?

A

The ‘Big Dry’ of 2006

  • estimated 1/1000 years
  • assosciated with long term climate change
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24
Q

What was the name of the river basin heavily affected, which produced 50% of national agricultural output?

A

Murray-Darling Basin?

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25
Q

Which city was most vulnerable and why?

A

Adelaide - drew 40% of drinking water from River Murrary

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26
Q

What 2 methods were used to conserve water in Australia, but not in the Sahel?

A
  • recycling of grey water
  • desalination plants

As they are a developed nation, unlike Sahel

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27
Q

What % of global flood deaths, and % economic damage occurs in Asia?

A

90% of all Flood Deaths
50% of all economic damage

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28
Q

What % of land in Bangladesh is a Floodplain/Delta

A

80%

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29
Q

What 3 causes of flooding occur in Bangladesh?

A

1.Ganges, Padma and Meghna Rivers swollen by meltwater 2x a year (Himalayas + Summer Monsoon)

  1. Steep relief by river banks
  2. Tidal flooding - often due to storm surges (monsoon)
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30
Q

In 2007 in Bangladesh, how many were made homeless due to flooding?

A

9M

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31
Q

How many died from drowning/waterborne diseases in Bangladesh 2007?

A

1,000

32
Q

How many people are forced to live in flood prone areas, due to overpopulation in Bangladesh?

A

50M

33
Q

How does Bangladesh being a poor country impact its resilience to a flood event?

A

Very little to spend on flood defences, especially high tech

Lots of social/economic issues which take priority for spending

34
Q

What 2 places in Cumbria were severely hit by floods in 2009?

A

Carlisle and Cockermouth

35
Q

What were 4 significant impacts of flooding in Cumbria?

A
  1. Destruction of key bridge - made transport + communication difficult
  2. Substations flooded - 3 day power shortage
  3. McVities Factory closed - temporary loss of 1000 jobs
  4. Drop in tourism - up to a year after the floods

Very, very minimal compared to loss of life in Bangladesh

36
Q

What recriminations were made after the Cumbria floods and where did the blame lie?

A
  • Budget Cuts on flood defences
  • EU Directive restricted regular dredging of rivers - prioritised environmental conservation
  • Poor land management
  • Global Warming
37
Q

What must be considered when evaluating flood protection measures?

A

Flood defences are only designed to protect within a certain magnitude threshold

When a very rare high magnitude flood occurs, NO amount of money/engineering can fully protect those who are vulnerable

38
Q

What economic crisis ensued after Bolivia gained Civilian rule in 1982?

A

Hyperinflation - 25% by 1985

39
Q

What Bretton woods organisation did Bolivia gain a loan off to stop the economic meltdown?

A

The World Bank

  • encouraged free market ideas of privatisation
40
Q

What was the price (% of average wage) charged by local company Aguas del Tunari, following privatisation?

A

20% of average wage of locals in Cochamba

  • prompted 4 day-long street battles with the company eventually leaving
41
Q

What is the current situation of water like in Bolivia?

A

90% have access to improved water source

50% have access to improved sanitation

42
Q

What are the 2 main sources of the Nile and where do they meet?

A

The White Nile and the Blue Nile

  • Khartoum in Egypt
43
Q

What % of the African continent does the Nile Basin cover?

A

10%

44
Q

What % of flows are contributed by the White Nile, and why are flows higher in the Blue Nile?

A

30% - White Nile

Blue Nile affected by Heavy Monsoonal rainfall in summer months

45
Q

What 3 physical characteristics cause disputes in the Nile?

A
  1. Uneven flows between White/Blue Nile
  2. ENSO cycles + long term climate change
  3. High evaporation loss in hot, arid areas
46
Q

What % of flow is lost by the White Nile between entry/exit of the Sudd Swamp?

A

50%

47
Q

Why is Egypt keen to sponsor the Jonglei Canal Scheme?

A

Speed up flows through the Sudd - reducing evaporation

  • Egypt experiences shortfalls as the Blue Nile is insufficient when pre-monsoonal
48
Q

What initiative is helping to revive the Jonglei Canal Scheme?

A

The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI)

  • began in 1979, but was unfinished due to relations between Egypt and Sudan
49
Q

What do less developed nations need large supplies of water for?

A

Crop Irrigation, HEP and Industrial Processing

  • to help them become emerging economies
50
Q

How is the population of the Nile Basin expected to change by 2030?

A

2x from 300M to 600M

  • more pressure on water for domestic/agricultural use
51
Q

What % of Egypt’s water needs does it depend on the Nile for?

A

95%

52
Q

What is needed for conflicts over water to develop?

(under 1000m3 per person)

A

Water Scarcity

53
Q

What type of water scarcity is more of a problem for countries such as Tanzania?

A

Economic water scarcity

  • lack the capital + technology to exploit their supplies
54
Q

What was the allocation of the 1929 1st Nile Waters Agreement?

A

48M cubic metres to Egypt
4M to Sudan

14% shared between remaining 9 nations

55
Q

What was the main issue with the 1st Nile Waters Agreement?

A

Egypt (as downstream nation) had right veto any modifications to the Nile in the 9 other countries.

56
Q

What was the allocation of the 1959 2nd Nile Waters Agreement?

A

55M cubic metres to Egypt
18.5M to Sudan
(increased due to irrigation developments e.g Gezira Scheme)

In effect, gave ALL water to these 2 nations as rest lost to evaporation

57
Q

Who signed the 2nd Nile Waters agreement, on behalf of upstream nations?

A

Colonial Powers - believed they had enough water from other sources

  • Ethiopia refused to recognise legitimacy of this agreement
58
Q

How has the NBI been successful since the 1990s?

A
  • It is a process of joint decision making (involves all stakeholder nations)
  • Since 2005, looked to partner with key external agencies to create a vision
  • 2 action plans formed for management (Eastern Nile + Nile Equitorial Lakes)
59
Q

Why are Egypt and Sudan under pressure to sign the 2010 New Water Treaty?

A

Politically weaker due to collapse of traditional colonialism

  • it suggests all countries have EQUAL rights to use the Nile Waters
60
Q

How is neo-colonisation helping traditionally marginalised countries such as Ethiopia?

A

Chinese funding/management of building schemes and Dams

  • exerts a lot of ‘soft power’
61
Q

Why is Ethiopia presenting as a fascinating rapidly developing nation?

A

Major Economic Ambitions

  • Modern infrastructure projects (33 HEP plants on Blue Nile)
  • Growth rate of 8-10% per year
62
Q

What 2 reasons suggest that war over the Nile Waters is possible?

A
  1. Water is the most highly contested resource of the 21st century, overtaking oil (as seen by conflict in Middle East)
  2. Many still have inequitable allocation + water scarcity is growing
63
Q

What 3 reasons suggest war over the Nile Waters is unlikely?

A
  1. Recent focus on co-operation between nations
  2. Sudan + Egypt already occupied with other conflicts
  3. NBI principles of sustainable socio-economic development should satisfy all stakeholders
64
Q

Where is the 3 Gorges Dam located?

A

Yangtse River

  • largest dam in the world
  • forms a lake over 600km in length behind it
65
Q

What are the costs of the 3 gorges dam?

A
  • 1.25M displaced
  • Earthquake prone region causes frequent landslides
  • Reduced fertility of farmland downstream
  • Disrupts aquatic life (e.g movement of fish)
66
Q

What are the benefits of the 3 gorges dam?

A
  • Protects 10M downstream from seasonal floods
  • Generates 22.5k MW (largest power station in the world)
  • Locks allow for shipping along the river
  • Ensures downstream water supply in dry spells
67
Q

Where does the South-North Transfer scheme cover?

A

From humid Yangste Basin in the South to arid Yellow Basin in North

  • launched in 2002, transfer 12 trillion gallons of water
68
Q

What are the costs of the South-North Transfer Scheme?

A
  • $62B scheme
  • 100,000s displaced during construction of dams/reservoirs
  • Ecological damage
  • Region prone to earthquakes, easily damage scheme
69
Q

What are the benefits of the South-North Transfer Scheme?

A
  1. Needed to support economic growth in the arid north
  • North is more densely populated + affluent (more domestic demand)
  1. Irrigation reduces food insecurity
  2. Reduces over-abstraction of groundwater
70
Q

What 2 physical problems are faced by Singapore?

A
  1. Tropical climate - (meet supply during drought, effective drainage in rainy season)
  2. Low lying (5m above sea level)
  • Government need to spend 25% of GDP ($75B) on coastal defences
71
Q

When does Singapore’s water withdrawal rights from Malaysia end, and why is this important?

A

In 2061 - currently supplies 50% of Singapores water

72
Q

What is the name of the scheme that uses recycled water (sewage) in Singapore?

A

NEWater

  • solution to long term water sustainability
73
Q

How much of the total water supply of Singapore was NEWater providing in 2017?

A

40% (430M Gallons per day)

74
Q

What other method is Singapore going to expand (alongside NEWater) as demand expected to double by 2060?

A

Desalination - to supply 30% of total water demand (up 5% from 2017)

  • NEWater also increasing by 5% to 55%, in response
  • Remaining 15% to come from 17 reservoirs + imported
75
Q

Despite abundant tropical rains, why does Singapore struggle to harness water?

A

Very limited land for collection/storage

76
Q

What is much of R&D going towards, to increase the economic viability of sustainable water schemes?

A

Halving energy requirements needed for De-salination and NEWater

  • also more environmentally friendly
77
Q
A

Geography Case Studies (4 decks)

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