water cycle case studies

Question 1

North of England Floods 2015

Answer 1

Cause= three consecutive low pressure systems across UK during December
Jet stream had not moved as normally expected to, so was partly responsible for the storms
Factors for impacts= Settlements on flood plains, clearance of trees and burning of moorlands (also maybe straightening river channels?)

Question 2

Pakistan Floods 2022

Answer 2

So hot glacier collapsed, releasing water from glacial lake

Question 3

Three Gorges Dam China

Answer 3

• Dammed the Yangtze, created a HEP station
• 632 square km of land has been flooded, 1.3 million people have been displaced
• Sewage collects in reservoir
• Near fault line, landslides may also increase

Question 4

South-North Water transfer scheme

Answer 4

• South has more water than north, water being transferred to reduce deficits in highly populated urban areas
• cost $62 billion, 50 years to complete
• 44.8 billion cubic meters of water to be transferred a year, increasing water pollution in original rivers with less flow

Question 5

Tigris- Euphrates conflicts?

Answer 5

• Turkey have built 22 dams, reducing flow into Syria and Iraq (by 40% and 80% respectively)
• Iraq accused of poor water management due to civil war
• Droughts in Iraq make conflicts more likely in the future