Almeria: an example of a large scale agricultural development Flashcards
what country is Almeria located in?
Spain
what amount of rainfall do deserts have per year?
less than 500m
what amount of rainfall does the UK have per year?
about 1500m
what amount of rainfall do tropical rainforests have per year?
about 4000mm
why might it be difficult to grow crops in Almeria?
temperatures are very high and the amount of rainfall is very low so plants can’t get enough water
how do you describe a climate graph?
(1) temp: - min and max & month of each
-range (max-min)
(2) rainfall: -min and max & month for each
-range (max-min)
(3) overall comment: -need to mention
temperature, rainfall
and seasonality
how have farmers used technology to overcome difficulties in growing crops?
they use greenhouses to grow their crops so that the water stays trapped and condenses the windows
what are the environmental advantages to Almeria?
-the greenhouses cool the local area by reflecting sunlight back out into the atmosphere
-hydroponics mean that the plants only get the nutrients they need via the drip hoses, there is less water used
what are the environmental disadvantages to Almeria?
-water use has put a strain on local water sources despite the use of desalinated sea water, natural underground aquifers are drying up
-the plastic used has badly damaged local ecosystems and the environment
-large amounts of litter have been left in the area including containers used for chemicals and plastic sheeting
-local riverbeds have been blocked up, there are fears that these could break and cause catastrophic flooding
what are the economic advantages of Almeria?
-fruit and vegetables need packing and this creates jobs
-large amounts of cheap labour available to help in farming
-the year round warmth helps to cut energy costs
-less water is used due to drip hose irrigation
what are some social advantages of Almeria?
-the area produces relatively cheap fruit and vegetables all year round
-hydroponic growing techniques have helped to save on soil and resources
-strict EU rules on quality have helped cut chemical use and raise the standards of production
-plants can be grown outside of their normal growing season, increasing the variety of diet for people all year round
what are some social disadvantages to Almeria?
-the greenhouses often use pesticides to protect the crops from pests, these increase health risks for people working there
-some of the immigrants are from North Africa and work illegally in Spain which raises tensions
-the immigrant labour force is paid very low wages and live in poor conditions
