EQ3

Question 1

what is the PDSI?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

what is the CMI?

Answer 2

crop moisture index-measures short term drought on a weekly scale, useful for farmers to monitor water availability during growing season.

Question 3

what is the PHDI?

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

what areas experience the most frequent flooding?

Answer 4

north+central south America
central Africa (sub-Saharan)
southeast asia

Question 5

what areas experience the least frequent flooding?

Answer 5

southern south America
Europe
middle east

Question 6

what areas have the highest predicated drought risk by 2099?

Answer 6

Mediterranean

northern south America, central america +mexico

Question 7

what areas have the lowest predicated drought risk by 2099?

Answer 7

Alaska
central eastern Africa
north russia

Question 8

what are some physical causes of water insecurity?

Answer 8

climate variability

saltwater encroachment at coasts

Question 9

what are some human causes of water insecurity?

Answer 9

over abstraction from rivers, lakes and groundwater aquifers
water contamination from agriculture
industrial water pollution

Question 10

how is climate change increasing saltwater encroachment?

Answer 10

global sea level rise combined with overabstraction lowers the water table which means salt water can move into soils above it.

Question 11

what human factors cause saltwater encroachment?

Answer 11

climate change
overabstraction
extensive groundwater pumping from freshwater wells
irrigation increases salinity of water.

Question 12

in which countries is water the most expensive?

Answer 12

Germany
Denmark
belgium

Question 13

what is the WPI?

Answer 13

water poverty index

Question 14

what does the WPI take into account?

Answer 14

access
resources
use
capacity
environmental

Question 15

what are the purposes of the WPI?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

where is the wpi most useful?

Answer 16

on smaller scales, as a community management tool

Question 17

what happened in the nile in 1959?

Answer 17

post colonial Egypt given veto power over dams in upstream countries and Ethiopia, whose blue nile contributes most of the water, given 0.

Question 18

what happened at the nile in 2010?

Answer 18

Egypt and sudan reject new deal agreed by upstream countries which would’ve stripped its veto

Question 19

what happened at the nile in 2011?

Answer 19

Ethiopia started to work on the grand renessaince dam despite protests from Egypt.

Question 20

how much of Singapore’s water did Malaysia supply in 2010?

Answer 20

40% (down from 80)

Question 21

what’s the population of Singapore?

Answer 21

5.4million, all urban

Question 22

what was Singapore’s water usage per person in 2000 and 2015?

Answer 22

165L/day–>150L/day

Question 23

what are Singapore’s water leakages compared to the UK?

Answer 23

5% (UK=20)

Question 24

what are Singapore’s water management strategies?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

what does smart irrigation involve?

Answer 25

drip systems allow water to drip slowly through system of pipes and valves, reducing wastage and evaporation.

Question 26

what is virtual water?

Answer 26

the hidden flow of water if food or other commodities are traded from one place to another.

Question 27

what are some bottom up sustainable methods of water management?

Answer 27

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