EQ3 Flashcards
what is the PDSI?
palmer drought severity index-applies to long term drought +uses current+past data, focussing on duration and intensity of large-scale, long-term, drought inducing atmospheric circulation.
what is the CMI?
crop moisture index-measures short term drought on a weekly scale, useful for farmers to monitor water availability during growing season.
what is the PHDI?
palmer hydrological drought index-measures how the hydrological cycle responds to drought. Based onl PDSI but takes into account longer-term dryness that will affect water storage, streamflow and groundwater.
what areas experience the most frequent flooding?
north+central south America
central Africa (sub-Saharan)
southeast asia
what areas experience the least frequent flooding?
southern south America
Europe
middle east
what areas have the highest predicated drought risk by 2099?
Mediterranean
northern south America, central america +mexico
what areas have the lowest predicated drought risk by 2099?
Alaska
central eastern Africa
north russia
what are some physical causes of water insecurity?
climate variability
saltwater encroachment at coasts
what are some human causes of water insecurity?
over abstraction from rivers, lakes and groundwater aquifers
water contamination from agriculture
industrial water pollution
how is climate change increasing saltwater encroachment?
global sea level rise combined with overabstraction lowers the water table which means salt water can move into soils above it.
what human factors cause saltwater encroachment?
climate change
overabstraction
extensive groundwater pumping from freshwater wells
irrigation increases salinity of water.
in which countries is water the most expensive?
Germany
Denmark
belgium
what is the WPI?
water poverty index
what does the WPI take into account?
access resources use capacity environmental
what are the purposes of the WPI?
provides a better understanding of the relationship between the physical extent of water availability, its ease of abstraction and community welfare.
mechanism for prioritisation of water
tool by which progress in water sector can be managed
where is the wpi most useful?
on smaller scales, as a community management tool
what happened in the nile in 1959?
post colonial Egypt given veto power over dams in upstream countries and Ethiopia, whose blue nile contributes most of the water, given 0.
what happened at the nile in 2010?
Egypt and sudan reject new deal agreed by upstream countries which would’ve stripped its veto
what happened at the nile in 2011?
Ethiopia started to work on the grand renessaince dam despite protests from Egypt.
how much of Singapore’s water did Malaysia supply in 2010?
40% (down from 80)
what’s the population of Singapore?
5.4million, all urban
what was Singapore’s water usage per person in 2000 and 2015?
165L/day–>150L/day
what are Singapore’s water leakages compared to the UK?
5% (UK=20)
what are Singapore’s water management strategies?
diversified supplies: local catchment water, recycled water, desalinated water, Malaysia
scaled water prices-subsidies protect poorest citizens from expensive water.
cut leakages
educate public+metering water supply
what does smart irrigation involve?
drip systems allow water to drip slowly through system of pipes and valves, reducing wastage and evaporation.
what is virtual water?
the hidden flow of water if food or other commodities are traded from one place to another.
what are some bottom up sustainable methods of water management?
using plastic trays to collect dew+funnel it straight back to plant roots reduces irrigation by 50%
recycling sewage water for agricultural use
smart irrigation
