Topic 5 - Water Cycle And Insecurity: EQ3 Flashcards
What is water scarcity?
An inbalamce between demand and supply, classified as physical scarcity (insufficient water to meet demand) or economic scarcity (people can’t afford water, even when it’s available)
What is water stress?
If a country’s water consumption exceeds 10% of its renewable freshwater supply, and difficulties in obtaining new quantities of water, as well as poor water quality restricting usage
What is water insecurity?
Together water stress and water scarcity add up to water insecurity and leads to a need for physical or people and economic solutions such as dam building or supply agreement between countries
What was the UN findings about water scarcity?
Water scarcity affects every continent. Around 1.2 billion people live in areas of physical scarcity. Another 1.6 billion people face economic water shortage. There is a growing use in water and increasing rapidly
What is the pattern distribution of water stress around the world?
It is predicted that in 2030 that many countries in the North of Africa and Central Asia will have severe water stress
The countries on economic water stress is central and South Africa where the people there Cant afford the water
What is the pattern of distribution of water scarcity around the world?
It is predicted that in 2025 most developed countries such as the US and most countries in Europe have little or no water scarcity. However in Africa and Asia there is economic water scarcity or physical water scarcity
What are 6 physical factors that increase water insecurity?
Geology
Topography
Atmospheric circulation systems
Vegetation cover
Salt water encroachment
Water storage system
How does geology affect water insecurity?
If the ground has no poor spaces, then it is nonforest one rule which means that cannot sink into the ground causing it to stay on the surface. It is impermeable
Compared to rocks if it was permeable then water can go into underground storage and infiltrate very easily
How does topography cause water insecurity?
High relief promotes increased precipitation and rapid run-off but may also provide greater opportunities for surface water storage and natural lakes. It also depends on if there is permeable rock. Steep relief locations have more release rainfall and more run-off. High relief increases precipitation
How does atmospheric circulation systems cause water insecurity?
This can cause precipitation to vary globally with low and high pressure zones where high pressure brings clear skies and low pressure brings clouds and rain. The warm waters encourage the growth of bacteria which are harmful to human health.
How does vegetation cover cause water insecurity?
Some vegetation can have dense root growth which can inhibit the infiltration of water and the interception will delay infiltration.Less underground storage. More transpiration of water from soil and evaporation
How does saltwater encroachment cause water insecurity?
This is where salt water from the ocean contaminate freshwater in coastal areas and has started to increase due to climate change as there is strongest storms meaning that more salt water is contaminating the freshwater. Increase water scarcity. Sea water goes into soil too
How does water storage systems cause water insecurity?
They can increase water insecurity if they are not carefully planned or managed as they can be contaminated by dirty containers and they can also reduce natural flow such as dams and reservoirs. However can increase the quantity as there is a storage of water. Impacts poorer areas
What are 6 human factors that can cause water insecurity?
Over abstraction from lakes rivers and groundwater
Agriculture
Industry
Energy
Increasing population
Increase the demand
How does over abstraction from rivers lakes and groundwater cause water insecurity?
When too much water is from groundwater so that supplies diminish. Groundwater levels are declining. 20% of the world aquifers are over exploited
How does agriculture cause water insecurity?
Agriculture is the largest of water consumer (70%). It is unsustainable. Depleting aquifers and reducing river flow, degrading wildlife habitats. Increasing in pesticide, they seep into groundwater. Increase salinity (salt)
How does industry cause water insecurity?
The OECD report environment outlook to 2050 that global water demand for manufacturing would increase by 400%. Increase most in emerging countries and economies with implications for both water supply and quality. Increase pollution.
How does energy cause water insecurity?
Energy industry also requires increasing amounts of water for new energy development such as biofuels and fracking. A number of technological developments are available to cut water usage in all sectors of the economy
How does increase in population cause water insecurity
The world’s population is growing by 80 million per year and be at 9.1 billion people by 2050. Demand for water is rising twice as face. Increasing urbanisation is causing local pressure on the availability of freshwater. More population means more water needed
How does increasing demand cause water insecurity?
Rising income and living standards of a growing middle class in developing and emerging economies has led to sharp increase in water use. Changing consumption patterns such as increase meat consumption, larger homes and increase car use
What is physical scarcity?
It is largely determined by climate and is the balance between precipitation inputs and evapotranspiration outputs
What are examples for an increase in water demand?
Population growth by 80 million a year
Demand for water is rising twice as fast as population growth
Economic growth means more manufacturing
Agriculture
What are factors that affect the price of water around the world?
Transporting the water
Poverty
Demand
Water supplies
Depends if countries are developed
What factors does the water poverty index (WPI) use
Resources
Access
Capability
Use
Environment
What are the dangers of water insecurity with countries?
There is potential for conflict as there is water shortages and 90% of all countries share water basins with at least one of their neighbours
What is an example of water conflict?
Nile
Name the 6 engineering water schemes
Three Gorges Dam
South/North transfer
Israel’s desalination
Smart irrigation
Water restoration
Holistic management
What was the first Nile agreement?
Nile Water Agreement I in 1929– only agreed between Egypt, Sudan and Britain (all colonial
masters). 86% of water should go to Egypt and Sudan
What was the second Nile agreement?
1959 the Nile Water Agreement II so that effectively 100% went to these two countries. Countries such as Ethiopia didn’t acknowledge this ‘agreement’
