Uk Drought Flashcards
Where in the Uk did they experience drought?
Much of central, eastern and southern England and Wales experienced a prolonged period of below average rainfall (drought)
When did the Uk experience drought?
from 2010 to early 2012
What were the causes of the drought? (wind direction)
Throughout 2010 much of the wind direction was from an easterly direction. This meant that less moisture was picked up (having travelled over the continent) and therefore Western areas received less rainfall than average.
What were the causes of the drought? (precipitation level)
The spring of 2011 was the driest spring recorded since 1983 in England and Wales, with some locations recording less than 25mm of rain the whole season. This was predominately due to the extended presence of high pressure.
What were the causes of the drought? (water)
Both Spring and Autumn 2011 were the warmest season in Central England since 1659. This meant large amounts of water was evaporated from reservoirs and soils.
What were the consequences of the Uk drought? (farming)
Water shortages made it difficult to find water for crops and livestock. The dry ground also made it difficult to harvest crops in the autumn ini 2012. This had potential consequences for food security and the government had to make contingency plans
What were the consequences of the Uk drought? (Environmental damage)
Dry areas of moorland caught fire easily, with wildfires raging across South Wales, Surrey and Scottish borders. River water was used to boost the water supply in some areas, reducing river levels and causing damage to plants and animals.
What were the consequences of the Uk drought? (restrictions)
35 million people were living in drought effected areas. Homeowners were still able to turn on the tap for water, but hosepipes bans were introduced which meant that around 20 million people weren’t allowed to use hosepipes to water their gardens or wash their cars.
What were the responses to the drought? (water companies)
As the seriousness of the drought became clear, water companies took action to keep water flowing through the pipes of the UK.
What were the responses to the drought? (bans)
They issued hosepipe bans to conserve water that was available
