Freshwater - Issues and Conflicts Flashcards
Which river flooded in Pakistan in 2010?
The Indus
Which areas of Pakistan were flooded in 2010?
- South Punjab
- East Balochistan
- North Sindh
What proportion of Pakistan was affected by the floods in 2010?
Approximately 40%
How much rain fell in the most intense 24 hours of the Pakistan?
275mm
How did deforestation by the Taliban influence the floods?
It reduced interception and increased surface run off
How did sediment influence the Pakistan floods of 2010?
Huge sediment loads from the Himalayas as fast flowing melt water caused erosion leading to the the River Indus becoming full of silt - the silt deposited on the river bed and reduced the capacity of the river which caused floods
How did irrigation influence the Pakistan floods of 2010?
irrigation channels were used to diver the water from other rivers to farmland which in turn added more water to the River Indus and increased its discharge
What percentage of crops were destroyed in the Pakistan floods of 2010?
23%
How many cattle were killed in the Pakistan floods of 2010?
200,000
How many major bridges were destroyed in the Pakistan floods of 2010?
45
How many died in the Pakistan floods of 2010?
1,781
What were the long term impacts of the Pakistan floods of 2010?
- Pollution as 62000 litres of petroleum and 44300 litres of diesel were washed into the river
- Many people were left homeless due to the 1.9million homes that were damaged
- The total damage cost between $25billion and $40billion
- Inflation exceeded 12% meaning food prices dramatically decreased due to the loss of crops and livestock
What were the responses to the Pakistan floods of 2010?
- Oxfam has helped to provide shelter for more than 232,000 people
- 36,000 people were given funds and training to help them revitalise small scale businesses
- Hygiene kits were provided for 1.4 million people
What are some of the positives of the Three Gorges Dam?
- Allow large ships to navigate the river and reach Chungong
- Create thousands of jobs Develop new towns and farms
- Provide 10% of China’s electricity through HEP Increase tourism along the river
- Protect precious farmland from flooding
What are some of the negatives of the Three Gorges Dam?
- Over 150 towns and 4500 thousand villages were flooded displacing people from their homes
- 1.3 million people were forced to move
- The river landscape was changed forever
- The lake which will be created could become very polluted from industrial waste
How much did the Three Gorges Dam cost?
$22 Billion
What severity of flood can the Three Gorges Dam withstand?
A 1 in 100 year flood
What generating capacity does the Three Gorges Dam have?
22,500 MW
What are some of the problems caused by management of the Kissimmee river?
- The Kissimmee River floodplain dried up after channelisation
- The reduction of the floodplain reduced waterfowl habitat by 90%
- Pollution levels from the Kissimmee flowing into Lake Okeechobee after channelisation increased, such as nitrogen and phosphorous polution
What problems did management of the Kissimmee present for animals?
- The reduction of the floodplain reduced waterfowl habitat by 90%
- Egret, heron and wood stork populations declined by two-thirds
- Fishing, bird watching and hunting tourism declined after channelisation
When did the restoration of the Kissimmee river begin?
1999
What was done to restore the Kissimmee river?
The river was dechannelised, by refilling the flood canal and reestablishing the old natural course of the river.