Unit 3: Topic 2: Water Conflicts

Question 1

Aquifer

Answer 1

Underground porous rock layers that store groundwater. This is extracted using wells and boreholes.

Question 2

Blue water glow

Answer 2

The visible part of the hydrological cycle where water is running on the surface and supplying rivers or running underground and recharging aquifers.

Question 3

Desalination

Answer 3

The removal of salt from sea water to enable it to be used for drinking. Process very energy-intensive.

Question 4

El Niño

Answer 4

A warm ocean current that arrives off the coast of South America in December when the Walker circulation goes into reverse.

Question 5

Geopolitics

Answer 5

Global-scale political systems, allegiances and negotiations, including global governance and agreements.

Question 6

Green water flow

Answer 6

The interception and transpiration of water by vegetation or its evaporation from a variety of surfaces.

Question 7

High pressure

Answer 7

Pressure that occurs when air if falling towards the ground.

Question 8

Hydropolitics

Answer 8

Political negotiations centres on conflicts over that shared use of water sources, especially rivers that form an international border. Sometimes called water diplomacy.

Question 9

Impermeable

Answer 9

Rock or soil that will not transmit water.

Question 10

Irrigation

Answer 10

Watering land artificially rather than as a result of rainfall.

Question 11

La Niña

Answer 11

When conditions are an exaggerated form of the normal Walker circulation making dry areas drought-ridden and wet areas places that flood.

Question 12

Prevailing wind

Answer 12

The direction from which the wind blows most often.

Question 13

Rain shadow

Answer 13

The area on the leeward or sheltered side of the mountains that gets less rainfall.

Question 14

Relief rainfall

Answer 14

Rain that falls on the windward or sea-facing side of mountains as clouds are forced upwards by the shape of the land.

Question 15

Salinity

Answer 15

Saltiness.

Question 16

Salt water incursion

Answer 16

The pollution of groundwater by inflowing seawater. It happens as a result of over-abstraction.

Question 17

Transboundary

Answer 17

An issue or problem that crosses international borders.

Question 18

Transfer

Answer 18

The movement of resources, particularly water and energy, from a source region to a region of consumption. Resources move along pathways.

Question 19

Urbanisation

Answer 19

The increase in the number of people living in built-up areas.

Question 20

Water conservation

Answer 20

This involves reducing the amount of water used (i.e. demand) rather than trying to increase water supplies. An important strategy in a world where water is finite.

Question 21

Water pathways

Answer 21

The routes taken by water from production site to consumption location.

Question 22

Water rights

Answer 22

The legal right of a user to use water from a water source e.g. river, stream, pond, source of groundwater.

Question 23

Water scarcity - economic

Answer 23

This occurs when the development of blue water flow sources is limited by human and physical capability. Over 1 billion people in areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa use

Question 24

Water scarcity - physical

Answer 24

This occurs when 75% of a country’s or region’s river flows are being used. 1/4 of the world’s population lives in such areas (e.g. Australia).

Question 25

Water security

Answer 25

The extent to which a community, region or country can secure sufficient, reliable water supplies.

Question 26

Water stress

Answer 26

Lack of reliable, cost-effective water supplies in a community, region or country. Health and well-being are likely to be affected. The term used when annual supply of water falls below 1,700 m3/person/year. Water scarcity occurs when water supply falls below 1000m3/person/year.

Question 27

Water wars

Answer 27

International conflict as a result of pressure on water supplies. An increasing possibility due to increased demand for food and water as population grows and climate changes.

Question 28

Water gap

Answer 28

The difference between those people, nearly 2/3 of the world’s population, who live in water poverty and those who have ready and reliable access to water for drinking and sanitation.