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Physical Geography: The Water Cycle > EQ3 > Flashcards

EQ3 Flashcards

1
Q

in theory explain why there is enough water?

A

2.5% is available as freshwater for human use

1% is available as easily accessible surface water

According to the UN our basic needs can be met by 1000m^3/yr

In 2010 nearly 60% of this accessible fresh water was being used leaving 40% untapped so in theory there is enough water to go around

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2
Q

in theory what are the 3 main reasons as to why there isn’t enough water

A
  • Physical distribution
  • The gap between rising demand and diminishing supplies
  • Water availability gap
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3
Q

how does the physical distribution of water affect availability

A

There is a mismatch between where the water supplies are and where the demand is. Water supplies are spread very unevenly across the world

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4
Q

TRUE or FALSE: 90% of the world’s population live in areas receiving only 25% of the worlds rainfall

A

FALSE
60% of world’s population live in areas receiving only 25% of world’s annual rainfall

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5
Q

explain how physical distribution of water can lead to conflict

A

there are areas i.e middle east that have supply shortages leading to potential conflict over shared basin usage/dams and pollution

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6
Q

TRUE or FALSE:
There is a global gap between rising demand and diminishing supplies

A

TRUE
There is a global gap between rising demand and diminishing supplies

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7
Q

what has caused rising demand for water

A

Population growth increasing
Rising Standards of living (for domestic, agricultural and manufacturing uses)
Economic growth increasing
Irrigated farming/Agricultural practises

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8
Q

what has led to dwindling supplies for water

A

there has been minimal legislation over the use of aquifers and groundwater especially during the added threat from climate change induced drought which places pressure on the amount of supply is avalible for use especially if the water table drops leading to land subsidence

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9
Q

what does a fall in the water table mean

A

water is being extracted quicker than it can be replaced

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10
Q

social impact of water availability gap: how do rich countries cause a water availability gap

A

Imbalanced usage with rich countries rising into 10x more water per head than poor countries.

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11
Q

social impact of water availability gap:
TRUE or FALSE:
12% of the world’s population consumes 85% of its water

A

12% of the world’s population consumes 85% of its water

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12
Q

social impact of water availability gap: what amount of people lack clean drinking water?
A. 1.8 billion
B. 1 million
C. 67.5 million

A

A
1.8 billion people lack clean drinking water

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13
Q

social impact of water availability gap: what amount of people lack adequate sanitation?
A. 77 million
B. 2.9 billion
C. 2.4 billion

A

2.4 billion lack adequate sanitation

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14
Q

social impact of water availability gap: what amount of people face water shortages?
A. 0.1 billion
B. 1 billion
C. 0.7 billion

A

0.7 billion face water shortages

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15
Q

what are the social effects of water availability gap on human health

A

Every 90 seconds, a child dies from a water-borne disease.
0.8 million people die from diarrhoea as a result of dirty water each year; 25% of people drink water contaminated with faeces

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16
Q

what are the environmental and social effects from a water availability gap

A

Half of the worlds rivers and lakes are badly polluted and half the rivers no longer flow all year

Food supplies are threatened as water shortages increase

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17
Q

define water stress

A

if a countries water consumption exceeds 10% of its renewable freshwater supply including difficulties in obtaining new quantities of water (e.g from aquifers, lakes or rivers), as well as poor water quality restricting usage
→ it has less than 1700m^3 of water available per person per year

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18
Q

define water scarcity

A

an imbalance between demand and supply, classified as physical scarcity (insufficient water to meet demand; also the definition for water deficit) or economic scarcity (people can’t afford water, even when it’s available)
→ amount of water falls below 1000 m^3 per person per year – this can threaten flood supplies, reduce economic development and cause environmental damage

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19
Q

define water insecurity

A

where present and future supplies cannot be guaranteed, leading to a need for physical (dams) or political and economic solutions (e.g supply agreements between countries)

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20
Q

what are the characteristics of physical water scarcity

A

Areas with low rainfall and high temperatures

In the future climate change will affect the natural water balance and the availability of water even more:
-Changes in patterns and frequency of rainfall will affect the recharging of water stores
-Increases in temperature increase evaporation and transpiration rates.

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21
Q

what are the characteristics of economic water scarcity

A

Collecting, storing, purifying and distributing water is expensive
Often people cannot afford ‘processed’ water
Some countries don’t have the funds or technology to extract water.

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22
Q

TRUE or FALSE:
there are only human causes of water insecurity

A

FALSE
There are physical and human causes of water insecurity

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23
Q

what are the physical factors of water insecurity

A

climate variability
saltwater encroachment

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24
Q

what are the human factors of water insecurity

A

over abstraction
water contamination by agriculture
industrial water pollution

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25
Q

what is climate variability

A

Climate determines the global distribution of water supply by means of annual and seasonal precipitation.

Precipitation varies globally due to atmospheric circulation with low pressure zones at mid latitudes and equatorial regions having the highest levels.

Seasonally areas such as the Sahel have had lower annual totals of rainfall has led to water insecurity.

Short term climate change (ENSO and climate warming) are exacerbating water scarcity.

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26
Q

what is salt water encroachment

A

Rising of sea water level
caused by global warming so salt water puts pressure on freshwater aquifers.

Change in precipitation
can lead to a slower recharge rate to replenish the amount of freshwater in the aquifer, making it more susceptible to the inland movement of salt water

It also happens when aquifers are overused and salt water is drawn into the aquifers when the freshwater is pumped out.

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27
Q

what can over abstraction of aquifers lead to plus examples

A

Humans can abstract from both rivers and lakes and groundwater stores, for domestic, agriculture, and industrial purposes.
This can lead to:
ground subsidence – Mexico City
Drying out of wells – Pakistan
Shrinking of seas – Aral
Saltwater incursion - California

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28
Q

how does agricultural processes contaminate water sources

A

Chemical fertilisers contaminate groundwater as well as causing eutrophication (excessive plant and algal growth) in lakes and rivers e.g - Mexico

Many pesticides that are banned in HICs contaminate water supplies in LICs

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29
Q

what are advantages of governments moving water to the private sector

A

Governments do not have to pay to modernise their ageing water systems

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30
Q

what are disadvantages of governments moving water to the private sector

A

Consumers have to pay significantly higher for water supplies to provide profits and cover extra costs for the improvements

31
Q

how has how the pricing of water changed

A

Traditionally, governments or local authorities provided water as a service, charging for it at cost price.

However, massive urban growth and the IMF restricting government spending on services (such as water) has led to many countries moving responsibility for water provision to the private sector.

32
Q

what does WPI stand for

A

Water Poverty Index

33
Q

what does WPI do

A

The WPI is a holistic water management tool that’s mainly relevant on a community level.

It can be used to determine priorities for action and to monitor progress towards target (the UN Millennium Development Goals).

34
Q

how many key components are apart of WPI

A

5

35
Q

what are the 5 key components in the WPI

A

water resources
access to technology
handling capacity
environmental indicators
use of water

36
Q

How does the WPI use the 5 key components

A

These components are given a score (up to 20) which determines where they fall on the WIP. For example a community who scores 100 would meet the criteria of all 5 components.

37
Q

how does water play a significant role in economic development of a country

A

its essential for producing many goods and services, including;
→ Agriculture
→ Energy
→ Manufacturing/industry

38
Q

TRUE OR FALSE: as an economy and population grows so does its demand for water

A

True
where rapid economic development has been occurring

39
Q

what are the different practices that produce crops

A

→ Rain fed using green water from soil - entirely dependent on rainwater. Farmers often store to conserve supplies.

→ Irrigation - industrial scale irrigation has greatly increased the pressure on water supplies.

40
Q

how has improved food security caused environmental issues

A

→ Around 30% of irrigation is provided using dams from which systems of irrigation canals radiate. Much irrigated land becomes waterlogged leading to salinization of soils

→ The majority of irrigation is pumped up electrically from aquifers, leading to huge groundwater depletion*, especially in India, the USA, China and Pakistan.

*occurs when groundwater is extracted faster than it can be replenished

41
Q

how has chinas dietary revolution led to environmental issues

A

There has been a large rise in the consumption of dairy products and meat. This is an issue because It takes six times more water to produce 1 kg of beef than it does to produce 1 kg of rice.

42
Q

what are the major industries that use water

A

The industries that produce metals, wood and paper products, chemicals are major users of water

43
Q

how does industry use water

A

Industrial water use includes water used for such purposes as fabricating, processing, washing, diluting, cooling or transporting a product; incorporating water into a product; or for sanitation needs within the manufacturing facilities.

44
Q

how does the global shift relate to issues with water

A

The current concern is that the global shift in industrial production is towards emerging nations who are contaminating groundwater and rivers

45
Q

How does energy use lead to excessive water usage

A

generating HEP (hydroelectric power) or for cooling thermal and nuclear power stations – water is returned to source unchanged however the warmth of the water could impact rivers ecosystems

Biofuels - large areas irrigated in order to produce bioethanol and biodiesel

46
Q

What are the primary energy productions

A

Oil and Gas
Coal
Biofuels

47
Q

How does oil and gas use water

A

Drilling, well completion and hydraulic fracturing.

Injection in the reservoir in secondary and enhanced oil recovery.
Oil sands mining and in situ recovery

Upgrading products

48
Q

How does coal use water

A

Cutting and dust suppression in mining and hauling

Washing to improve coal quality

Revegetation of surface mines

Long distance transport via coal slurry

49
Q

How does biofuels use water

A

Irrigation for feedstock crop growth.

Wet milling, washing and cooling in the fuel conversion process

50
Q

What are the power generations that use water

A

Thermal

Concentrating solar power and geothermal

Hydropower

51
Q

How does thermal power ((fossil fuel, nuclear and bioenergy)) use water

A

Boiler feed, i.e the water used to generate steam/hot water

Cooling for steam-condensing

Pollutant scrubbing using emissions-control equipment

52
Q

how does Concentrating solar power and geothermal use water

A

System fluids or boiler feed

Cooling for steam-condensing

53
Q

how does hydropower use water

A

Electricity generation

Storage in a reservoir (for operating hydro-electric dams/energy storage)

54
Q

how does water relate to human well-being

A

water us vital for tackling global issues of human health and wellbeing.
By 2016 almost 800 million still lacked access to improved water supplies.
Strong link between poverty and lack of safe water and spread of disease, either through contaminated water or low hygiene standards

55
Q

what are the positives of having clean water

hint: health, time, education, women empowerment

A

Health:
Diseases from dirty water kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.
43% of those deaths are children under five years old. Access to clean water and basic sanitation can save around 16,000 lives every week.
Time:
In Africa alone, women spend 40 billion hours a year walking for water.
Access to clean water gives communities more time to grow food, earn an income, and go to school - all of which fight poverty.
Education:
Clean water helps keep kids in school, especially girls.
Less time collecting water means more time in class. Clean water and proper toilets at school means teenage girls don’t have to stay home for a week out of every month.
Women empowerment:
Women are responsible for 72% of the water collected in Sub-Saharan Africa.
When a community gets water, women and girls get their lives back. They start businesses, improve their homes, and take charge of their own futures.

56
Q

How does water cause conflict

A

90% of all countries share water basins with at least one other country – this can lead to conflict

Conflict can occur within countries and between countries

57
Q

what are the 4 type of players that are involved when managing water supplies

A

political
social
environmental
economic

58
Q

Can you give examples of political players that aree involved in managing water

A

International organisations e.g UN responsible for MDGs (millennium development goals), government departments, regional and local churches, lobbyists and pressure groups that form to fight against particular issues such as mega dams being built

59
Q

Can you give examples of economic players that are involved in managing water

A

The World Bank and IMF, which fund mega projects and ensure legislation is in place for trans-boundary schemes; developers or mega schemes; transnational water companies (utilities) that run the supply business; TNCs and businesses that are large users (agriculture, industry, energy and recreation)

60
Q

Can you give examples of social players that are involved in managing water

A

Individuals, residents, consumers, landowners and farmers, who feel access to water is a human right; health officials who try to ensure safe water; NGOs such as wateraid or practical action, which develop sustainable schemes for the poor in LDCs

61
Q

Can you give examples of environmental players that are involved in managing water

A

Conservationists who fight hard-engineered schemes or seek to save wetlands; scientists and planners who develop new schemes; NGOs such as the WWF, which try to influence world water policy; UNESCO/FAO/IUCN, which operate globally

62
Q

What is water conservation?

A

the practice of using water efficiently and reducing unnecessary water usage

63
Q

Can you give examples of agricultural practises which conserve water

A

automated spray technology and drip irrigation systems. E.g Israel
grey water E.g Israel and North China Plains
magic stones E.g Sahel
NGOs
GM crops
Agronomists (The scientific study of soil management and crop production including irrigation)
Hydroponics

64
Q

who is the controversy of water supplies between?

hint: the players

A

Social V Political players
Economic V Environmental players

65
Q

Explain the controversy between Social and Political players

A

Social players see access to clean, safe water as a human right, whereas political players see water as a human need,

water can be provided in a number of ways through private investment, public services (governments) or a mixture of both.

Water provision is extremely expensive.

Meeting the UN MDGs (millenial development goals) of halving the proportion of the population without water access to safe water supply and improved sanitation would cost over US$200 billion.

66
Q

explain the controversy between Economic and Environmental players

A

In order to keep up with rising demand, players favour hard engineering schemes.

These schemes have high social and environmental costs.

The management of future water supplies can be one of two
Top down = large scale projects
Bottom up = localised projects

67
Q

what is the technological fix to managing water supplies

A

HARD ENGINEERING

68
Q

Examples of hard engineering to manage water supplies

hint: theres 3

A

Mega dams – The Three Gorges Dam in China

Transfer projects – The South-North water transfer project in China

Desalination plant – Israel

69
Q

what is water sustainability linked to

A

The concept of water sustainability is linked with the idea of water security – for all the world’s nations, communities and peoples, clean, safe water should be available, accessible and affordable

70
Q

TRUE or FALSE:
Agriculture uses the most water

A

TRUE
Agriculture uses the most water and there are ways that water can be used more efficiently.

71
Q

how does business and industry use water

A

use large amounts of water, not only in the production of food and drink products but also in the production of products and in thermal power stations.

72
Q

How can you reduce domestic demand for water

A

Domestic demand can be reduced too but mainly by attitudinal fix rather than a techno-fix – persuading customers to use less water.

73
Q

how can you persuade consumers to reduce water usage

A

Smart meters
Rain harvesting
Household strategies
Banning use
Household recycling
Climate proof gardens

74
Q

Examples of restoration

A

Restoring meanders and replanting vegetation. E.g: River Skerne and River Cole (in the UK).
The US Army Corps of Engineers restored more than 100km2 of river channel on the Kissimmee River.
Partial restoration of the marsh area in South Iraq which was deliberately drained by Saddam Hussein.
EU funded projects in the lower Danube Basin.
Largest project is the restoration of the northern part of the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan.

Physical Geography: The Water Cycle (4 decks)

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