Unit 3: Topic 2: Water Conflicts Flashcards
Aquifer
Underground porous rock layers that store groundwater. This is extracted using wells and boreholes.
Blue water glow
The visible part of the hydrological cycle where water is running on the surface and supplying rivers or running underground and recharging aquifers.
Desalination
The removal of salt from sea water to enable it to be used for drinking. Process very energy-intensive.
El Niño
A warm ocean current that arrives off the coast of South America in December when the Walker circulation goes into reverse.
Geopolitics
Global-scale political systems, allegiances and negotiations, including global governance and agreements.
Green water flow
The interception and transpiration of water by vegetation or its evaporation from a variety of surfaces.
High pressure
Pressure that occurs when air if falling towards the ground.
Hydropolitics
Political negotiations centres on conflicts over that shared use of water sources, especially rivers that form an international border. Sometimes called water diplomacy.
Impermeable
Rock or soil that will not transmit water.
Irrigation
Watering land artificially rather than as a result of rainfall.
La Niña
When conditions are an exaggerated form of the normal Walker circulation making dry areas drought-ridden and wet areas places that flood.
Prevailing wind
The direction from which the wind blows most often.
Rain shadow
The area on the leeward or sheltered side of the mountains that gets less rainfall.
Relief rainfall
Rain that falls on the windward or sea-facing side of mountains as clouds are forced upwards by the shape of the land.
Salinity
Saltiness.
Salt water incursion
The pollution of groundwater by inflowing seawater. It happens as a result of over-abstraction.
Transboundary
An issue or problem that crosses international borders.
Transfer
The movement of resources, particularly water and energy, from a source region to a region of consumption. Resources move along pathways.
Urbanisation
The increase in the number of people living in built-up areas.
Water conservation
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.
Water pathways
The routes taken by water from production site to consumption location.
Water rights
The legal right of a user to use water from a water source e.g. river, stream, pond, source of groundwater.
Water scarcity - economic
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
Water scarcity - physical
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).
