Key Notes

Question 1

What are the global water cycles stores

Answer 1

Oceans = 97%
Freshwater = 2.5% (69% glaciers, ice sheet/caps and 30% groundwater)
Other surface and freshwater = 1% (permafrost, lakes, swamps, marshes, rivers and loving organisms)

Question 2

Hydrology in polar regions

Answer 2

-85% of solar radiation is reflected
-permafrost creates impermeable surfaces
-lakes and rivers freeze
-rapid runoff in spring
-seasonal release of biogenic gases into atmosphere
-orographic and frontal precipitation

Question 3

Hydrology in tropical rainforests

Answer 3

-dense vegetation consuming 75% of precipitation
-limited infiltration
-deforestation leads to less evapotranspiration and precipitation
-very high temperatures
-very humid
-convectional rainfall

Question 4

Residence times of stores

Answer 4

Ocean = 3600 years
Icecaps = 15000 years
Groundwater = 10000 years
Rivers and lakes = 2 weeks to 10 years
Soil moisture = 2-50 weeks
Atmospheric moisture = 10 days

Question 5

% of total water in stores

Answer 5

Oceans = 96.9%
Icecaps = 1.9%
Groundwater = 1.1%
Rivers and lakes = 0.01%
Soil moisture = 0.01%
Atmospheric moisture = 0.001%

Question 6

% of total freshwater in stores

Answer 6

Oceans = 0%
Icecaps = 68.7%
Groundwater = 30.1%
Rivers and lakes = 1.2%
Soil moisture = 0.05%
Atmospheric moisture = 0.04%

Question 7

Hadley cell (northern hemisphere)

Answer 7

Air rises at the equator, travels upwards, then sinks as it meets the cooler air of the ferrel cell. At this meeting point, precipitation tends to occur. The air then travels southwards, heating up as it does. It will then have heated sufficiently to rise up at the equator, commencing the cycle again

Question 8

Polar cell (northern hemisphere)

Answer 8

Cold air sinks near the arctic circle, cooling and condensing to form precipitation over northern latitudes. The air then travels southwards, heating until it meets warm air from the ferrel cell. The air then rises, causing dry conditions for the land beneath, and then travels northwards, cooling as it does

Question 9

Ferrel cell (northern hemisphere)

Answer 9

The middle cell of the ITCZ. The air circulation is determined by the Hadley and polar cells either side.

Question 10

What’s a drainage basin

Answer 10

An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries with a boundary (know as the watershed), usually composing of hills and mountains

Question 11

What is the water cycle on a local vs global scale

Answer 11

Local = open system
Global = closed system

Question 12

How is precipitation formed

Answer 12

Caused by the cooling and condensation of water moisture in the atmosphere, firming clouds that release moisture in the form of rain, snow, hail, sleet, etc.

Question 13

How does seasonality affect the volume or condition of precipitation

Answer 13

In some climates (such as monsoon and Mediterranean) there are strong seasonal patterns of rainfall. Therefore the time of year determines the precipitation input within the drainage basin

Question 14

How does variability affect the volume or condition of precipitation

Answer 14

Sudden of long term changes to the climate can happen, which would affect precipitation levels and so the drainage basin as a whole
- secular variability - long term
-periodic variability - annual, seasonal or monthly context
-stochastic variability - random factors like localisation of thunderstorms

Question 15

How does latitude affect the volume or condition of precipitation

Answer 15

The location of the drainage basin has a major impact on climate, and so the volume and type of precipitation. In most cases the higher the latitude from the equator, the colder the climate, and so snowfall occurs more often than rainfall. Also, at latitudes where air cells converge (ITCZ), the climate will be categorised by the rise or fall of air

Question 16

What is Convectional rainfall

Answer 16

Often a daily occurrence. The morning heat warms the ground, which in turn heats low-level moisture (from plant dew or surface stores). This moisture evaporates and rises. As the air rises, it cools and the moisture within it will condense, to form rain and in turn ( as more moisture accumulates) rainfall. In tropical climates, convectional rainfall is the most common; within tropical rainforests, rainfall occurs mid-morning before the temperature rises too high for condensation to occur

Question 17

What is frontal/cyclonic rainfall

Answer 17

Where two air masses meet, a wedge can occur of hot air within cold air - this is called a depression. At the front (where the two air masses meet), warm moist air is forced to rise above the cold air mass, causing the moisture within to cool and condense, to form cyclonic precipitation. Depressions are very common to the uk - approx 100 depressions hit the uk each year

Question 18

What is relief/orographic rainfall

Answer 18

When warm, moist air (often travelling onto land from sea) meets land of high relief, the air mass is forced to rise above the hill to continue travelling. As it rises, the air mass cools and the moisture within condenses, to form clouds and rainfall. Orographic rainfall depends on the relief and location of the land immediate after the sea - many coastal landscapes are too cold, low lying or hills are set too far inland for relief rainfall to occur

Question 19

What is interception

Answer 19

The direct intervention of plants leaves in changing the direction or temporarily stopping precipitation as it falls to the surface. Any moisture retained by the surface of the leaf (interception store) is generally greatest at the start of the storms. A plants interception capacity varies depending on the type of vegetation

Question 20

Infiltration

Answer 20

The movement water from the surface into the soil. The infiltration capacity is the maximum rate a which water can be absorbed by the soil, and can be affected by (soil composition, previous precipitation, type and amount of vegetation, relief of land, compaction of soil)

Question 21

What does soil composition have to do with infiltration

Answer 21

Sandy soils have higher infiltration rates compared to clay

Question 22

What does previous precipitation have to do with infiltration

Answer 22

The saturated soils will reduce infiltration rates, hence surface runoff increases after long, intense periods of rainfall.

Question 23

How does Type and amount of vegetation impact infiltration

Answer 23

Dense root growth can inhibit the infiltration of water, and interception of plants leaves will delay infiltration (never stopped, as water will never permanently remain on the leaf)

Question 24

How does relief of land impact infiltration

Answer 24

Sloped land will encourage more runoff, therefore less infiltration as a direct result

Question 25

Surface runoff

Answer 25

Water flows overland, rather than permeating deeper levels of the ground. Overland flow occurs faster where the gradient of the land is greater. The surface runoff is the primary transfer of water to river channels, hence heavily influencing their discharge - moderate/fast

Question 26

Throughflow

Answer 26

Water moves through the soil and into streams or rivers. Speed of flow is dependant on the type of soil. Clay soils with a high field capacity and smaller pore spaces have a slower flow rate. Sandy soils drain quickly because they have a lower field capacity, larger pore spaces and natural channels from animals such as worms. Some sports fields have sandy soils, to reduce the chance of waterlogged pitches, but this may also increase the flood risk elsewhere - moderate/fast

Question 27

Percolation

Answer 27

Water moves from the ground or soil into porous rock or rock fractures (deeper bedrock and aquifers) the percolation rate is dependant on the fractures that may be present in the rock and the permeability of the rock - slow

Question 28

Groundwater flow

Answer 28

The gradual transfer of water through porous rock, under the influence of gravity. Water can sometimes become trapped within these deeper layers of bedrock, creating aquifers and long water stores for the drainage basin - slow

Question 29

Evaporation

Answer 29

Direct loss of water moisture from the surface of a body of water, the soil and interception storage (on top of the leaves) to the atmosphere. Evaporation rates increase when the weather is warmer, windier and drier.

Question 30

How does volume and surface area of the water body affect evaporation rates

Answer 30

The larger the surface area, the faster the rate of evaporation

Question 31

How does vegetation cover or built environment surrounding the water influence evaporation rates

Answer 31

Anything that reduces direct sunlight to the water body will reduce evaporation

Question 32

How does the colour of the surface beneath the water influence evaporation rates

Answer 32

Black tarmac will absorb heat faster than white snow, and so evaporation will occur faster in the tarmac

Question 33

Transpiration

Answer 33

A biological process where water is lost to the atmosphere through the pores of plants (stomata). Transpiration rates are affected by seasonality, the type of vegetation, moisture content of the air and the time of day (morning dew is the release of moisture through transpiration in the temperature climates)

Question 34

Soil water stores

Answer 34

Water stored in the soil which is utilised by plants - mid term

Question 35

Ground water stores

Answer 35

Water that is stored in the pore spaces of rock - long temr

Question 36

River channel stores

Answer 36

Water that is stored in a river - short temr

Question 37

Interception stores

Answer 37

Water intercepted by plants on their branches and leaves before reaching the ground - short term

Question 38

Surface storage

Answer 38

Water stored in puddles, ponds, lakes - variable

Question 39

The water table

Answer 39

The upper level at which the pore spaces and fractures in the ground become saturated. It is used by researchers to assess drought conditions, health of wetland systems, success of forest restorations programmes etc

Question 40

How does climate influence the drainage basin

Answer 40

Physical Influences the amount of rainfall and vegetation growth

Question 41

How does soil composition influence a drainage basin

Answer 41

Physical Influences the rate of infiltrations and throughflow

Question 42

How does geology influence a drainage basin

Answer 42

Physical Affects percolation and groundwater flow

Question 43

How does relief affect a drainage basin

Answer 43

Physical Steeper gradients of land will encourage faster rates of surface runoff

Question 44

How does vegetation affect a drainage basin

Answer 44

Physical Affects interception, overland flow

Question 45

How does size affect a drainage basin

Answer 45

Physical Larger basins collect more precipitation generally

Question 46

How does cloud seeding affect a drainage basin

Answer 46

Human Substances dispersed into the air to provide something for condensation to occur in E.g. was used in china right before 2008 Beijing games to try and reduce pollution levels

Question 47

How does deforestation affect a drainage basin

Answer 47

Human Less vegetation means less interception, less infiltration, more overland flow leading to moor flooding, cycle speeds up

Question 48

How does afforestation affect a drainage basin

Answer 48

Human More vegetation means interception, less overland flow, more evapotranspiration

Question 49

How does dam construction affect a drainage basin

Answer 49

Human Dams reduce downstream river flow and discharge, increase surface stores si mor evaporation E.g. lake nasser behind Aswan dam in Egypt — 10-16 billion m3 water loss from Nile

Question 50

How does change in land use affect a drainage basin

Answer 50

Human Infiltration if 5x faster under forests compared to grasslands, converting land to farmland means less interception, increases soil compaction and more surface runoff

Question 51

How does ground water abstraction affect a drainage basin

Answer 51

Human When water is taken out faster than it is recharges, groundwater flow decreases and the water table drops E.g. in china, groundwater irrigates 40% farmland whilst 79% of drinking water comes form groundwater

Question 52

How does irrigation affect a drainage basin

Answer 52

Human Drop in water table due to high water usage E.g. Aral Sea in kazakhstan shrank in the 1960 due to farmers using the water to grow cotton

Question 53

How does urbanisation affect a drainage basin

Answer 53

Human Impermeable surfaces reduce infiltration, increase surface runoff, river discharge increase. Cycle speeds up

Question 54

The water budget

Answer 54

Water availability varies between different days and month. Over long periods of time (annual) surpluses and deficits can cancel out

Question 55

Precipitation equation

Answer 55

Precipitation = discharge + evaporation +- changes in stores

Question 56

River regime

Answer 56

Annual variation in discharge of a river at a particular location. Most of this river flow isn’t from immediate precipitation, but is supplied from groundwater between periods of rain, which slowly feeds water into the river system

Question 57

Seasonal variation in a river regime

Answer 57

Periods of high discharge followed by low discharge which are due to glacial meltwater, snowmelt or monsoons which cause sudden fluctuations in river input. Complex regimes tend to occur for larger rivers, that cross different reliefs and climatic zones

Question 58

Factors affecting the characteristics of a river regime

Answer 58

- channel capacity of the river - area and relief of the drainage basin - volume ,pattern and intensity of precipitation - climate - geology of soil - anthropogenic (human) activities, e.g. dams

Question 59

Storm hydrographs

Answer 59

Represent the variation in discharge within a short period of time (days). Before a storm begins, the main supply of water to the river is through groundwater or base flow. However, as a storm develops, infiltration and surface runoff will increase which causes a greater Throughflow

Question 60

Rising limb

Answer 60

The increase if river discharge, not necessarily instantaneously after precipitation

Question 61

Peak flow

Answer 61

The maximum discharge , delayed after maximum precipitation has occured

Question 62

Lag time

Answer 62

The time delay between peak rainfall and peak discharge

Question 63

Falling limb

Answer 63

As the storm precipitation levels decrease, discharge will in turn decrease over time

Question 64

Base flow

Answer 64

Eventually the discharge returns to its normal level

Question 65

How does weather and climate affect a flashy storm hydrography

Answer 65

- Intense storms which exceeds infiltration capacity of soil - rapid snow melt as temperatures rise above 0c suddenly -Low evaporation rates due to low temeoratures

Question 66

How does weather and climate affect a subdued storm hydrography

Answer 66

- Stead rainfall which is less than the infiltration capacity of the soil - Snow melt as temperatures rise very slowly - High evaporation rates due to high temperatures

Question 67

Flashy storm hydrograph

Answer 67

- short lag time - high peak - steep rising limb

Question 68

Subdued storm hydrograph

Answer 68

- long lag time - low peak - gently sloping rising limb

Question 69

How does rock type affect a flashy hydrograph

Answer 69

Impermeable rocks like granite which encourage rapid surface runoff

Question 70

How does rock type affect a subdued hydrograph

Answer 70

Permeable rocks like limestone which allow for infiltration and reduce runoff

Question 71

How does soil influence flashy hydrographs

Answer 71

Low infiltration rate

Question 72

How does soil influence subdued hydrographs

Answer 72

High infiltration rates

Question 73

How does relief affect flashy hydrographs

Answer 73

High and steep slopes - more runoff

Question 74

How does relief affect subdued hydrographs

Answer 74

Low and gentle slopes - less runoff

Question 75

How does basin size affect flashy hydrographs

Answer 75

Usually small basin

Question 76

How does basin size influence subdued hydrographs

Answer 76

Usually large basin

Question 77

How does vegetation influence flashy hydrographs

Answer 77

Low density vegetation, less interception and more rapid movement of water

Question 78

How does vegetation affect subdued hydrographs

Answer 78

High density vegetation, more interception, more evapotranspiration

Question 79

How do pre existing conditions affect flashy hydrographs

Answer 79

-Basin already wet from previous rainfall -high water table -soil saturated,less infiltration

Question 80

How do pre existing conditions affect subdued hydrographs

Answer 80

-basin dry -low water table - soil unsaturated, more infiltration

Question 81

How does human activity affect flashy hydrographs

Answer 81

Urbanisation, deforestation, channelisation, dams

Question 82

How does human activity affect subdued hydrographs

Answer 82

Afforestation

Question 83

What methods are there to reduce runoff form precipitation

Answer 83

-growing vegetation on roofs to increase interception and temporarily stores some water within plants - create permeable pavements (gaps within paving blocks) to increase infiltration and reduce surface runoff - rainwater harvesting - collecting rainwater to use as domestic grey water - creating wetland (areas with marsh and wetland vegetation) that will act as a natural sponge and increase temporary water storage

Question 84

Human impacts on a drainage basin

Answer 84

- deforestation, tree felling, slash and burn - soil becomes exposed and roots are lost (bind the soil together), which leads to more soil erosion and so more surface runoff - impermeable surfaces - as more tarmac and concrete us laid, les infiltration into the topsoil can occur, and so more surface runoff occurs - bridges can act as dams for rivers, restricting channel flow and increasing the pressure the rivers water is under, therefore worsening flood impact - drainage and sewage systems will reduce lag time, and so a quick flow of water back to rivers, increasing the risk of flash flooding

Question 85

Meteorological drought

Answer 85

Rainfall deficit - low precipitation, high temperatures, strong winds, increased solar radiation, reduced snow cover Impacts - loss of soil moisture, irrigation supply drops, reduction in water available for consumption

Question 86

Hydrological drought

Answer 86

Stream flow deficit - reduced infiltration, low soil moisture, little percolation and groundwater recharge Impacts - reduced storage in lakes and reservoirs, less water for urban supply, poorer water quality, threats to wetland and habitats

Question 87

Agricultural drought

Answer 87

Soil moisture deficit - low evapotranspiration, reduced biomass, fall in groundwater level Impacts - poor yields from rain fed crops, falling irrigation systems, livestock productivity falls, rural industries affects, government aid may be required

Question 88

Socio-economic drought

Answer 88

Food deficit - loss of vegetation, increased risk of wildfires, soil erosion, desertification Impacts - widespread failure of agricultural systems, food shortages, rural economy collapses, rural to urban migration, international aid required humanitarian crisis

Question 89

El Niño

Answer 89

- normally cool water along Peru and water water near Australia - ENSO causes this to switch every 3-7 years lasting for 18 months - Peru can determine this based on anchovy harvest - anchovy’s prefer cold waters so migrate away causing a reduction in anchovy harvests in Peru - ENSO can trigger extremely dry conditions in areas south and south east Asia, eastern Australia and north east Brazil. In South Asia ENSO can weaken the annual monsoon

Question 90

Wetlands

Answer 90

Act as temporary water stores within the hydrological cycle, which can help mitigate from river floods due to sudden storm discharge. Chemically, wetlands act as giant water filters by trapping and recycling nutrients and pollutants, which helps to maintain water quality of the river. Wetlands have very high biological productivity and support a very diverse food web, providing nursery areas for fish and refuges for migrating birds. All these functions contribute towards their natural importance and well as value for human society (e.g. providing dish for food or a clean water supply)

Question 91

Values of wetlands

Answer 91

Supporting life - stores and flows of carbon (through vegetation and soils/peat), nutrient recycling Provision of resources - fuel wood, fisheries, mammals and birds for tourism Regulation conditions - regular supplier of groundwater and so base flow of river, water purification, reduced flood risk Cultural value - aesthetic value, recreational use, cultural heritage

Question 92

Meteorological droughts impact if wetlands

Answer 92

Reduced interceptions due to less precipitation will cause vegetation to wilt and die, which in turn impacts soil nutrients levels and the rest if the complex food web

Question 93

Physical causes of desertification

Answer 93

-reduced precipitation- as vegetation dies, the protective layer it provided for the soil will also be removed, as a result the soil will be increasingly exposed to wind and rain which will accelerate the rate if soil erosion, leading to worsening soil conditions thin may cause a positive feedback loop of worsening soil condition and vegetation death,leading to desertification - global warming - the rise in average climatic temperatures will increase the rate of evaporation of water moisture, especially in tropical and sub Saharan climates. If more moisture has evaporated, less will be available for convectional rainfall and so plant growth will be stunted and vegetation dies

Question 94

Human causes of desertification

Answer 94

Population growth is the root cause of the recent increase in desertification. As populations increase, the demand for food, water and other resources also increases. As pressure for food increases, agricultural methods change to supply the demand. For example, cattle farming is becoming intensified resulting in large areas of forests being cut down to provide enough land for grazing. Intensification of crop farming means the fallow time between crop harvest and new planting will be reduced. These farming practices can cause over cultivation, trampling of vegetation and loss of soil nutrients which reduces soil fertility. In addition, forests may be felled or slashed and burned to make room for new farms of housing, further worsening soil quality and exposing the topsoil to erosion. Over time desertification will escalate in a positive feedback loop

Question 95

Causes for surpluses in the hydrological cycle

Answer 95

- low lying land, the base of a river valley and estuaries - river flooding can occur along with groundwater flooding as the ground becomes saturated, therefore any surface close to the water table is vulnerable to flooding - urbanised, built environments - impermeable surfaces increase surface runoff, reduce lag time and so increasing the risk of flash flooding - small basin especially in semi arid and arid regions - these regions suffer from flash flooding due to very short lag times, which can be hazardous

Question 96

Mitigation and adaptation to flood risk

Answer 96

- afforestation of upland areas- increasing vegetation cover will reduce rapid surface runoff - restricting construction on flood plains- reducing potential economic and social loss for residents living in flood plain. Also, by reducing urbanisation there will be maximised levels of interception - establishing temporary extra flood plain, in the event of extreme weather - some UK councils have designated football pitches or parks next to rivers, to channel some of the storm discharge and reduce the flood risk for towns living close to the flood banks

Question 97

What causes anthropogenic global warming

Answer 97

Increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Could lead to several impacts directly affecting the hydrological cycle

Question 98

What happens if land and sea level temperatures continue to rise

Answer 98

The period between ENSO cycles (2-3 years) could decrease. This would lead to more periodic and unusual climates for both South America and Australia

Question 99

What would happen if the average global temperature increases

Answer 99

Increase rates of evaporation, which could lead to potential droughts and increasing water insecurity. However in some areas, a rise in average temperatures will lead to more convectional rainfall and enhanced tropical cyclone or depression intensity. This in turn will cause more intense and periodic flooding

Question 100

Effects of climate change on the hydrological cycle

Answer 100

- less precipitation - less water available in stores - reduced size of snow and glacier mass - water table drops and aquifer stores deplete - high rates of evaporation - more frequent cyclones and monsoons

Question 101

Distribution of water data

Answer 101

66% of the worlds population live in areas which only have access to 25% of the worlds annual rainfall. Conflict can further limit accessibility to water sources

Question 102

Why has demand for water risen

Answer 102

- Population growth - generally more people = more water needed - Growing middle class population as countries develop and industrialise, therefore increasing lifestyle and domestic demand - economic growth means industrial demands may also increase

Question 103

Why can supply not always meet the demand for water

Answer 103

- aquifers and deep water wells are being dug, especially for water intensive agriculture - water tables are being dropped as a result - water is being extracted at a faster rate than the soil is able to recharge

Question 104

Causes of water insecurity

Answer 104

- precipitation = varies across different climates: mid latitude areas generally receive the most rainfall - topography = areas with high relief generally get more precipitation and surface runoff is greater for more inclined places, so channel flow tends to be larger and so water can be easily stored by dams and reservoirs - geology = permeable rocks can be infiltrated and water can easily be stored underground

Question 105

What factors reduce freshwater supply

Answer 105

- humans = reduce supply through pollution. Industrial activity (especially in developing countries with slack environmental laws) and population pressure (lack of treatment of sewage, the “plastic tide”) are reducing accessibility to clean freshwater - saltwater encroachment = due to over-extraction and rising sea levels (climate change) is further reducing freshwater stores, hence increasing water insecurity

Question 106

Consequences of water insecurity

Answer 106

As a result of a limited supply, the price of clean water has increases in certain regions, and may increase globally in the future Water is very important in economic productivity, crop yield and manufacturing capacity. Agricultural consumes around 67% of all water extractions and industrial water and consumption is on the rise especially in developing and industrialising countries. Fields and grazing lands are dependent of rainwater and aquaculture (fish farming) has been on the rise as wild fish supplies have diminished. Over 20% of all extracted water is used in industries and for energy production

Question 107

Solutions for water insecurity soft

Answer 107

- many farmers focus in storing rainwater, to use for irrigation and grey water purposes - there has been and increase in HEP and the generation of energy without the consumption of freshwater

Question 108

Advantages and disadvantages of Mega dams

Answer 108

Advantages - can provide a large volume of water - can generate HEP - reduced demand for groundwater Disadvantages - floods land - expensive - Countries/areas downstream suffer from lack of water - water is stored on surface so gets evaporated quickly

Question 109

Advantages and disadvantages of desalination plants

Answer 109

Advantages - can provide a large volume of clean water - reduces demand for groundwater Disadvantages - energy intensive - releases lots of CO2 - expensive - produces salt waste - expensive to build and maintain

Question 110

Advantages and disadvantages of water transfer schemes

Answer 110

Advantages - can provide water for areas that lack water and arid areas - water can become a valuable resource for countries otherwise poor and undeveloped Disadvantages - can dry up source areas - expensive - lots of water evaporated - people relocate to construct

Question 111

What is the water poverty index

Answer 111

WPI - used to measure localised water stress, for the use of national governments to improve provisions

Question 112

What 5 components does the water poverty index focus on

Answer 112

- water resources - the availability and quality of water - access to water - the distance from safe water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and industries - handling capacity - management, infrastructure and income - use of water - for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes - environmental indicators - ability to sustain nature and ecosystems

Question 113

How does the WPI score

Answer 113

Each component is scored out of 20, giving a total score between 0 and app (100=no water stress, 0=water stress) Highest scoring country is Finland (78) and the lowest is Haiti (35)

Question 114

Sustainable water management

Answer 114

- sprinklers are automated by spray technology or advances irrigation systems which are more efficient - recycling city wastewater is a cheap method of conserving freshwater supplies, especially in areas of high demand. ‘Grey water’ doesn’t need to be cleaned as much to meet drinking standards so is less energy intensive - GM crops are being developed, many are tolerant of dry and saline conditions - domestic conservation includes: installing smart metres, charging more for water during times when there is a lack of supply, using eco kettles, taking a Shawnee instead of bath - restoration of damaged lakes, rivers and wetlands to increase natural water storage - restoring meanders and replanting vegetation

Question 115

What is integrated water resource management (IWRM)

Answer 115

Emphasises the river basin as the geographical unit for strategic planning. The basin is treated holistically to protect environment and ensure fair distribution: - freedom from corruption - environmental protection of all supplies and ecosystems - food and water security for poorer people - effective dialogue between people - decentralised approach - cash recovery of schemes through effective pricing - effective regulation and planning use

Question 116

Groundwater management

Answer 116

- aquifer storage and reuse - groundwater quality and quantity modelling

Question 117

Waterway management

Answer 117

- river rehabilitation - sustainable water allocation - environmental flows

Question 118

Integrated urban water management

Answer 118

- water treatment technology - water sensitive urban design - water harvesting and reuse

Question 119

Monitoring technology

Answer 119

- sensor technologies - real time wireless monitoring and controlling

Question 120

Helsinki rules

Answer 120

International treaties must contain concepts like equitable use and shares the criteria could be based on: - natural factors - rainfall amounts, discharge, share of drainage basin - social and economic needs - population size, welfare of peoples, development plans - downstream impact - restructuring flow, water tables, pollution - dependency - availability of alternative sources - prior use - the tricky question of existing historic rights and potential future use - efficiency - avoiding waste and mismanagement

Question 121

UNECE water convention

Answer 121

Promoted joint management and conservation of shared freshwater ecosystems in Europe and neighbouring areas

Question 122

UN water courses convention

Answer 122

Offers guidelines on the protection and use of trans boundary rivers

Question 123

What does wwf say about most water agreements

Answer 123

Lack appropriate enforcement and monitoring

Question 124

Why are th eked players in water management

Answer 124

- UN - UNECE (united commission for Europe water convention) aims to protect and ensure the quality and sustainable use of trans boundary water resources - EU - water framework directive agreed in Berlin 2000 - targets to restore river, lakes, canals, coastal waters to suitable condition - national governments - e.g. the UK environment agency which checks compliance with EU frameworks