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CS : California Flashcards

1
Q

Where does rain fall in California?

A

in a limited coastal zone less than 250km wide

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2
Q

What do the Sierra Nevada mountains do in California?

A

create a rain shadow over South / Far-East California

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3
Q

How much rain falls in the area under Sierra Nevada’s rain shadow?

A

under 100mm annually

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4
Q

Major rivers fed from snowmelt from Sierra Nevada include…

A

Sacramento and San Joaquin

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5
Q

Where do the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers meet?

A

at San Francisco Bay

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6
Q

Prevailing moist air from the pacific is forced to do what by the Sierra Nevada mountains? What does this create?

A

forced upwards

cools and condenses to form snowfall at higher altitudes

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7
Q

During El Nino what happens in California?

A

increased surface run off and flooding

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8
Q

During La Nina what happens in California?

A

drought

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9
Q

During droughts what happens to groundwater storage levels?

A

decreases

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10
Q

average annual rainfall in Cali

A

200-500mm

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11
Q

Between what months does 50% of Cali’s rain fall? What does this create?

A

November to March

Seasonal shortages

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12
Q

What % of California’s precipitation is lost as evapotranspiration?

A

65%

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13
Q

Between 1900 and 2015 what has California’s population increased by?

A

X20

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14
Q

population expected to grow from today’s numbers to what by 2025?

A

45-50million

another 10million more than today

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15
Q

Where is the mass of demand in California? What fraction of total Californian demand?

A

3/4 of demand south from Sacramento

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16
Q

What fraction of rain falls NORTH of Sacramento? Why is this a problem?

A

75% falls to the north

3/4 of California’s total demand is south

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17
Q

How much water do golf courses in Cali consume annually?

A

90billion

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18
Q

In California what % of water does agriculture receive?

A

80%

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19
Q

What does the federal government do in terms of supplying water to farmers in Cali?

A

supplies it at lower prices

as little as 5% of city prices

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20
Q

What X2 agricultural practices have led to inefficiencies in water management?

A
  • flood irrigation

- inappropriate crop choices (i.e cotton)

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21
Q

What % of water is extracted before reaching Mexico? What did this force?

A

90% extracted before Mexico

Cucupa fishermen forced to move

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22
Q

What fraction of California’s freshwater is from groundwater sources (aquifers)?

A

1/3

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23
Q

How many people rely on the Colorado river for drinking water?

A

25million

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24
Q

What % of Southern California’s water is from the Colorado river?

A

60%

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25
What % of water is taken form the Colorado River more than was predicted in 1963?
20%
26
The Colorado River basin drains what % of the USA?
7%
27
Water from the Colorado River basin is shared between how many US States and what other country?
X7 US states and Mexico
28
What % of the Colorado River Basin is owned by agreement to Native Americans?
5%
29
What X3 factors influence the water collected by the Colorado River Basin
- seasonal variation (incl. El Nino / La Nina) - rain from North Pacific Ocean frontal systems - snowmelt
30
Where does the Colorado River Basin's upper and lower basin meet at?
Lee Ferry
31
What has happened to the annual flow volume at Lee Ferry since 1900?
annual flow volume declining
32
Agreements on the Colorado River were based on what flow patterns? Why is this a problem?
those in the fairly wet 20th century basin has returned to 'normal' / dry conditions
33
By 2006 how many people were consuming from the Colorado river Basin?
40million
34
What % of the lower basin does California take? Is this above or below their allocated amount?
49% 20% more than their 1963 allocation
35
What % does Mexico take of the lower basin?
16%
36
Who takes more, the upper or lower basin?
lower basin by 10%
37
Benefits of Colorado river (x5)
- flood control - irrigation for agriculture - industrial development - recreational opportunities - sediment control
38
Negatives of Colorado river; (x4)
- water loss via seepage - salinisation via irrigation - groundwater over abstraction - environmental damage
39
What % of water can be saved via switching to drought-tolerant plants and drip-irrigation?
50%
40
What % of water can be saved via repairing leaks and using metering?
30%
41
What type of infrastructure can be designed so as to prevent flooding, but reuse this water?
concrete channel storm drains which redirect water to urban parks rather than the sea
42
What is the name for the type of water which involves reusing waste water e.g on landscaping
Grey water
43
Reducing agricultural water usage by 10% will do what to water available for urban areas?
X2
44
What is important about 'smart planning?'
only build housing where ground supplies adequate
45
When was the Colorado Compact signed?
1922
46
What did the Colorado Compact do?
divided basin into X2 (upper and lower) allocated states 7.5million acre feet of annual extraction
47
What did the Colorado compact grant to Mexico in 1944?
1mil acre-foot annually
48
What did the Colorado compact grant Mexico in comparison to US states?
6.5million acre foot annually less of extraction
49
What did the Supreme Court rule in 1963?
Native Americans would be granted to use enough water to irrigate any land where practicable
50
Who has the best water rights along the Lower Colorado River?
Native Americans
51
How many native Americans have access to the Colorado river? What % of the river were they granted?
10,000 | 5%
52
What tribe could potentially claim 1/3 of Colorado's flow?
Navajo Tribe
53
What has happened to Lakes Powell and Mead?
have reached capacity since 1999
54
Which two lakes in California have not reached capacity since 1999?
Powell and Mead
55
In 2007 what new agreement was reached?
California would try to reduce amount extracted by 20% by 2016
56
When did California pledge to try to reduce amount extracted by 20% by 2016? What was this in recognition of?
2007 recognised climate change realities / threats
57
Name X2 other programmes apart from the Colorado Compact aimed at reducing conflicts or restoring the Colorado basin?
- CALFRED BAY DELTA program | - SALTON SEA RESTORATION PROJECT
58
Name X3 things the CALFRED program will aim to do
- restore ecosystems - increase water storage - protect Delta islands
59
Where will the CALFRED program focus?
Bay Delta region
60
How much is invested into the Salton Sea Restoration Project?
$2billion
61
What will the Alton Sea Project aim to do;
- clear up New River from Mexico to reduce pollution - desalination project to produce fresh water = and sell salt as by-product
62
Which River is the most heavily used source of irrigation water in the USA?
Colorado River
63
Environmental Risks associated for people living in Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
- poorly maintained levees = submergence of some delta islands - Salmon migration paths blocked @ Stockton when oxygen levels get too low - water treatment works discharge chlorine = some chemicals released have links to cancer
64
How many people live around the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta area
0.5million
65
What does the Salton Sea act as in California?
acts as receiving basin for runoff from irrigated farmland
66
What 75% of inflow for the Salton Sea is from what source?
from irrigation run-off of cotton / citrus crops, including all the pesticides / fertilisers used
67
Evaporation rate in the Salton Sea
25% higher than Pacific
68
High salinity and fertilisers from agriculture have caused what? Name an extreme example
Eutrophication death of 7.5million birds / fish in one day
69
How many tourists used to visit Salton Sea? Why are these numbers decreasing?
0.5million Decreasing due to smell of decay / waste
70
Name a state which shares the basin with California?
Arizona
71
Who called for the treaty to be negotiated in 2008?
Senator John McCain in general election
72
Why is Mexico currently receiving under 10% of the Colorado?
- over abstraction from upstream | - drought conditions leading to lack of precipitation

Water Security (18 decks)

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