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.
What are some of the positives of restoring the Kissimmee river?
- Restored sections now flood naturally
- The nutrient loads in Lake Okeechobee have been reduced as more is absorbed in the wetland.
- Wading birds have returned to the restored sections
- Dissolved oxygen levels have doubled in restored sections
How much did restoring the Kissimmee river cost?
$414 million
What are some of the negatives of restoring the Kissimmee river?
- Greater evaporation because more surface stores
- Increased risk of flooding
- The river will be less navigable in dry periods
What percentage of Australia does the Great Artesian Basin cover?
25%
How much water is stored in the sandstone of the Great Artesian Basin?
65,000 mega litres
Why is management of the Great Artesian Basin needed?
- In the arid environment, there are often few alternatives for freshwater
- The groundwater is generally of acceptable quality and the artesian pressure allows relatively low-extraction costs
- Bores and springs have stopped. Or they flow uncontrollably, and waste water
Why is the Great Artesian Basin so important?
- Huge numbers of people reliant upon the basin
- For more than 100 years it has sustained the pastoral and community needs of a fifth of Australia’s landmass
- Vital in sustaining indigenous peoples over thousands of years, so it has many important environmental and cultural and heritage values
- The first artesian bore was drilled in the late 1980s, and ever since people have relied on it for economic and social well-being
How was the Great Artesian Basin formed?
- In Triassic age there was a natural dip in Australia which formed the Great Artesian Basin
- When ocean levels rose and fell, water flooded that area
- When the sea levels fell silt and gravel was deposited in that area
- Formed permeable sandstone with impermeable rock underneath = aquifer
How much do the new Exeter flood defences cost?
£30 million
How long do the new Exeter flood defences stretch?
4 miles along the river
What do the new Exeter flood defences include?
- Erecting flood-proof glass-panels and demountable barriers
- Raising the level of footpaths
- Building up walls and embankments on both sides of the river
How many homes will the new Exeter flood defences protect?
3,000
How much is Devon County Council contributing to the new Exeter flood defences?
£3 million
What was included in phase 1 of the Exeter flood defence scheme, which was completed in 2014?
The Trew’s flood relief channel and the side spill weir at the top of the channel were lowered
How far does the Nile river stretch?
6700km
Through how many countries does the Nile river pass?
10: Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt
Which county contains the largest portion of the Nile river basin?
Sudan (1.9 million square km)
What is the cause of the Nile conflict?
Egypt relies heavily on the Nile, which they claim to have historical rights over. Sudan has created four hydroelectric dams in the last century, which limits the flow of the Nile, thus worrying Egypt
What proportion of the Nile’s content does Ethiopia’s tributaries contribute?
86%
Who alarmed Somali separatists in Ethiopia in the 1970s?
Egypt
By how much is Egypt’s population predicted to grow between 1995 and 2025?
35 million
By how much is Sudan’s population predicted to grow between 1995 and 2025?
30 million
What partnership was formed in 1999 in order to promote cooperation regarding the Nile?
The Nile Basin Initiative
How successful has the NBI been?
Largely successful:
- Initiated the Shared Vision Program
- Created the Eastern Nile Subsidiary Action Program
- Invested in the Ethiopia Power Export Project and the Flood Preparedness and Early Warning Project
On what day did the 2004 Boscastle flood occur?
16th August 2004
How much rain fell in the space of 2 hours during the2004 Boscastle flood?
60mm (typically a months worth)
What climatic factor exacerbated surface runoff during the 2004 Boscastle flood?
The ground was already saturated due to the previous two weeks of above average rainfall
What geological factors exacerbated surface runoff during the 2004 Boscastle flood?
The drainage basin has many steep slopes, and has areas of impermeable slate
Which 3 rivers meet at at a confluence at Boscastle?
Valency, Jordan and Paradise
What marine factor exacerbated the 2004 Boscastle flood?
The flooding coincided with a high tide
What were the impacts of the 2004 Boscastle flood?
- 25 business properties destroyed
- Bridges and roads damaged
- 4 footbridges washed away
What was peak flow during the 2004 Boscastle flood
140 m³/s
What was the change of the 2004 Boscastle flood occurring?
1 in 400
What was the short term response to the 2004 Boscastle flood?
RAF search and rescue were alerted to rescue trapped people.
What were the long term responses to the 2004 Boscastle flood?
- Low bridges removed
- River widened through Boscastle
- New flood defence wall built in village centre
