CASE STUDY - California Case Study (relationship Of Water Supply To Physical Geography)

Question 1

Why is California so dry?

Answer 1

• Orographic rainfall – mountains obstruct rainfall
• More frequent drought due to climate change

Question 2

What happened in 2015?

Answer 2

California experienced on of the worst droughts in its history (declared to be in a drought state of emergency by state governor Jerry Brown)

Question 3

How much water does an average California use per day?

Answer 3

Each Californian uses an average of 181 gallons per day (823 litres)

Question 4

How much rain do they receive per year on average?

Answer 4

22.2 inches of rain a year (564mm per year – semi-desert – desert)

Question 5

What natural factors are causing these drought conditions?

Answer 5

• Temperature rises (enhanced evaporation)
• Low levels of rain and snow
• Orographic rainfall – shadow rain effect
• 2014 hottest year on record in California

Question 6

What has the IPCC climate model for California suggested for 2080?

Answer 6

• California will experience a decrease in average rainfall (dropping by 2-16% below current levels) and an increase in average temperature (4 degrees celsius increase)
• Population increase from 39 million (2014) to 47 million (2040)

Question 7

What methods were introduced to reduce water consumption?

Answer 7

• At the Getty Centre in LA, all water features were switched off
• Advertising cacti to ‘drought-proof your landscape’
• Cash for grass scheme

Question 8

Did the methods to reduce water consumption work?

Answer 8

95% of the state continued to experience severe drought and 98% experienced moderate to exceptional drought

Question 9

Name 3 impacts the drought has had on the environment.

Answer 9

• In 2015, 25,000 fires occurred
• Trees unable to protect themselves from invasive species.
• Rivers dried up and prevented fish, such as salmon, from reaching their breeding grounds