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Physical Geography > Water Case Studies > Flashcards

Water Case Studies Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the characteristics of the Sahel region

A

Semi-arid
North of Africa, south of the Sahara desert
Spans 11 countries
Tropical, hot climate- hot sunny dry and windy all year

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2
Q

Natural causes of drought in the Sahel

A

High seasonal variability triggered by a persistent lack of rain

CLIMATE
Unpredictable rainfall pattern, 80% of dry lands in Sahel have suffered from environmental deterioration

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3
Q

Human causes of drought in The Sahel region

A

Growing environmental degradation caused by overgrazing by nomadic tribes

Deforestation for fuel wood
High levels of rural poverty
Rural population doubled every 20 to 30 years
Population growth outstripped food production

Over cultivation
Growth of cash crops
Destruction of crop land due to civil war

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4
Q

What are the consequences of drought in the Sahel region

A

Crops dying-subsistence farmers suffer
Widespread famine
29/36 of worlds poorest countries are in sub Saharan Africa
Cholera epidemic caused by reliance on contaminated water sources
Increased food price

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5
Q

Natural causes of drought in the Brazil

A

Moist air moving in a westerly direction across the Amazon Basin

Directed southwards by the Andes

Diverted by the high pressure systems away from the Amazon

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6
Q

Human causes of drought in Brazil

A

High fee’s charged by Brazilian government to drill a well and grant a license meaning the poor go without

Illegal well drilling- not monitored for water safety
Contain industrial pollutants and high level of bacteria

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7
Q

Environmental effects of drought in Brazil

A

Causes forest stress- younger trees die which reduce canopy cover, reduces humidity and so rainfall- dry out underbrush which can easily catch fire
Shorter trees and thinner canopies
Increased groundwater abstraction

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8
Q

Social-economic effects of drought in Brazil

A

Cause building of illegal wells which become diseased and contaminated thus spreading disease
Increased mortality reduced wild animal habitats
Water rationing for 4 million people, supplies cut off 3 days a week
Depletion of Brazil’s 17 reservoirs to 1% capacity
Reduced crop of Arabica coffee beans put global coffee price up by 50%

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9
Q

Drought in California

A

40 million people facing problem due to recent rainfall variation
Forecast of 30 yr mega droughts
Increased evaporation rates
Decrease in precipitation

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10
Q

Changes of water in Northern Europe

A

Warmer lower atmosphere
Increased evaporation
Increased circulation of water in troposphere
Increase intensity and frequency of precipitation events over land areas

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11
Q

Why are some regions of the Sahel re-greening

A

Possibly due to rise in wet years between years of drought since 1996

Restoration techniques involving planting trees
Natural regeneration of water retaining shrubs and trees

Low cost reforesting. Use of water harvesting techniques

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12
Q

Global statistics for irrigation

A

1/5 of world land is under full irrigation
Around 30% of irrigation is provided by dams (constant irrigation) which often leads to water logging and soil salination

Aral Sea 10% of initial size since Russia diverted water source for agricultural irrigation

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13
Q

Global health and sanitation in relation to water security statistics

A

15% of world population reliant on unimproved water sources

2.5 Billion have no access to improved sanitation

Issues of indiscriminate or open defacation in sub Saharan Africa leads to outbreak of cholera typhoid and dysentery

Stagnant water encourages vector breeding

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14
Q

Background information on the Murray-Darling River

A

1 million Km2 of South East Australia
Home to more than 2 million people
Provides 75% of Australia’s water

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15
Q

Key players in Australian water conflict

A 
Government 
Residents
Heritage groups 
Indigenous people
Industry 
Environmentalists
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16
Q

What causes the water conflict in the Murray-Darling

A

5 fold increase in water extraction since 1920
Variation in ENSO Cycle affect different regions of basin differently

Urban, industrial, aquaculture, leisure, local and state governments, environmental groups, heritage and conservation and indigenous groups

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17
Q

Consequences of water conflict in Murray-Darling

A

Water deficit
Disrespect of indigenous culture
Decrease in tourism
Destruction of natural environment

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18
Q

Background information on the River Nile

A

3rd largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa, opened in 2015

$1.8 billion project

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19
Q

Causes of conflict in the River Nile

A

200 000 people rely on river for subsistence agriculture and dependent on seasonal floods

Mursi living in chronic hunger

Historic water allocation causing conflict favours Egypt and Sudan

Dam building reducing downstream flow

Egypt has a veto power over construction

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20
Q

Effects of River Nile conflict

A

Violent conflict between tribes

Human rights violations by Ethiopian army against local opposition

9/11 states have no historical claim on water

Late opposition against Egypt

21
Q

Countries involved in River Nile international conflict

A 
Tanzania
Uganda
Rwanda
Burundi
Congo
Kenya
Ethiopia
Eritrea 
South Sudan
Sudan
Egypt
22
Q

Countries involved in the conflict for Colorado River

A 
Colorado
Utah
Wyoming
New Mexico
Arizona
Nevada
California
23
Q

Relevant background on the Colorado River

A

Mexico has 10% of total flow
Lower states of Basin take 50%, upper basin 10%
Native Americans owed 5%
Provides drinking water to over 50 million Americans

24
Q

Causes of conflict in Colorado River

A

California takes 20% more than its allocations

demand and climate change have depleted storage to 48%

Since 1990s average annual flow decreased 15%

Native Americans owed 5%

25
Q

Effects of the Colorado River conflict

A

Tension and disagreement caused by California refusing to cooperate

Disrespect to Natives

Less water for regions further down stream

26
Q

Beijing 2008 solution to air pollution

A

Utilisation of cloud seeding to create rain in order to clear pollution in time for the Olympic games

27
Q

Where is the Amazon River located?

A

South America

Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia

28
Q

What are the Characteristics of the Amazon River Regime?

A

over 6000 km long
drains 6 million km2 basin
Humid tropical climate based by ancient shield rock
Linked with snow-melt in Andes

29
Q

Where is the Yukon River located?

A

North America- Canada and Alaska

30
Q

What are the characteristics of the Yukon river regime

A

over 3500 km long
drains 850 000 km2 basin
Tundra climate through mountain range
Water freezes in winter temp drop, in put of summer snow-melt

31
Q

Where is the Nile river located?

A

North Africa- Egypt, North and south Sudan, Kenya, Congo, Burundi, Uganda

32
Q

What are the characteristics of the Nile River Regime?

A

Warm, arid climate
1970 construction of Aswan dam greatly altered regime
flow reduced 65% and seasonal flow changed

33
Q

What caused the Brazilian Tropical drought in 2014

A

High pressure wind system diverted winds north of Andes rather than south to Brazil
Human over abstraction of groundwater and surface water

34
Q

What were the impacts of 2014 Brazil drought

A

water rationing for 4 million people, water cut off for 3 days a week in some towns
HEP slowed, power cuts followed
Depletion of 17 largest Brazilian reservoirs, some to 1% capacity
Reduced coffee crop increased global coffee price 50%

35
Q

Three Gorges Dam basic information

A

Designed to control flooding on Yangtze, improve water supply and generate HEP
allows surplus water build up to be transported to northern China via the South-North water transfer scheme

36
Q

impacts of the three gorges dam

A

632km2 land flooded for reservoir
1.3 million people displaced
decomposing vegetationin reservoir produces methane which is released in HEP turbines

37
Q

Basic information of South-North Water transfer project

A

Beijing has 35% of population and 40% of crops, only 7% of water
transfer involves 3 different routes
cost $70 billion

38
Q

impacts of south-north water transfer project

A

will submerge 370km2 of land
345 000 people to relocate
eastern route is industrial, risk of system wide pollution

39
Q

basic information of Israel’s desalinisation project

A

Five plants opened by 2013, takes water directly from the Mediterranean sea
aimed to provide 70% of domestic water by 2020
PROVIDES RELIABLE AND PREDICTABLE SUPPLY OF WATER

40
Q

impacts of desalinisation in Israel

A

Each plant requires its own power station which adds to CO2 emissions- but most of this energy is solar
Produces salt/brine- contains anti-scaling agents harming ecosystems
Produces 600 tonnes of potable water per hour

41
Q

define sustainability in relation to water

A

managing water supplies to meet the needs of today without jeopardising the supply for future generations

42
Q

Main sustainable water management strategies

A

Replacing old irrigation with smart irrigation
repairing leaking systems
use of grey water
intermediate technologies used to empower small farming communities
Educating farmers
Restoring aquifer

43
Q

Holistic managment approaches in singapore

A

Four Taps Approach

1) water from local catchment
2) reuse water- 30% of current supply
3) Importing water
4) desalinisation

Cutting leakage to 5%

44
Q

How has Israel managed its water?

A

Charging “real value” for water to reflect supply
Recycling sewage water for agriculture (65% of crops)
Using smart irrigation systems

45
Q

Benefits of harvesting jars in Uganda

A

Locally made with available materials
one jar holds 1500 litres of water
collect rainwater from roofs ans store water for dry seasons
Made for durability
prevents local from having to travel long distances for clean water

46
Q

How many people were effected by flash flooding in Bangladesh

A

8 million people

Estimated 1200

47
Q

What were the significant impacts of the Bangladesh floods

A

Crop loss increased rice price by 30%
100 000 houses and schools destroyed

40 000 hectares of farmland reported to be inundated

48
Q

What were the significant impacts of Storm Eva

A

9000 properties flooded
7500 Houses in North Affected by power cuts
Suspension of rail services

49
Q

What were the significant impacts of storm Desmond

A

5200 honest affected
40 schools closed
Gov provided £50 million to Cumbria and Lancashire councils for affected houses

Physical Geography (7 decks)

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