The Physical Environment (AS); The Hydrosphere

Question 1

What is the hydrosphere?

Answer 1

Total amount of water on the planet

Question 2

Why is water a significant resource?

Answer 2

It is renewable & essential for all living organisms. Human Society has only been able to develop easily where water is available

Question 3

What are the most prominent human uses of water? (Use %)

Answer 3

Agriculture - 70%, eg. Irrigation
Industry- 20% eg. Cooling, heating, washing, solvent
Domestic uses- 8% eg. Flushing toilets, washing clothes/dishes, hygiene

Question 4

What are the list of reasons for an increasing demand for water?

Answer 4

• Increase in population
• increase in per-capita use w/ increased affluence
  In the poorest communities, there is no piped supply and so water is often limited to the amount that can be carried. As piped water becomes mare available & people more affluent, modern appliances are more common.
• increased irrigation of farmland
  As commercial agriculture expands, increased income allows ↑ irrigation schemes, the water of which may be pumped from aquifers/rivers. Irrigation now uses more water then all human uses combined.
• industrialisation
  Industries have varying water requirements. Heavy industry like chemical & steel use much more water than lighter manufacturing industries

Question 5

TBC page 115