water world

Question 0

hydrological cycle

Answer 0

the global stores of water and linking processes that connect them

Question 1

groundwater

Answer 1

water contained beneath the surface as a reserve

Question 2

impermeable

Answer 2

not allowing water to pass through

Question 3

infiltration

Answer 3

the process whereby water soaks into the soil and rock

Question 4

joints

Answer 4

lines of weakness in a rock that water can pass along

Question 5

permeable

Answer 5

allowing water to pass through

Question 6

over abstraction

Answer 6

when water is being used more quickly than it is being replaced

Question 7

pollution

Answer 7

the presence of chemicals, noise, dirt or substances which have harmful or poisonous effects on an environment

Question 8

pores

Answer 8

small air spaces found in a rock or other material that can also be filled with water

Question 9

precipitation

Answer 9

when moisture falls from the atmosphere - as rain, hail, sleet or snow

Question 10

regulated flow

Answer 10

the steady movement of water through a drainage basin that will not bring flash flooding

Question 11

river pollution

Answer 11

the emission of harmful or poisonous substances into river water

Question 12

through flow

Answer 12

water that flows slowly through the soil until it reaches a river

Question 13

water harvesting

Answer 13

storing rainwater or used water for use in periods of drought

Question 14

water management schemes

Answer 14

programmes to control rivers, generally organised by local or central government

Question 15

water store

Answer 15

a build up of water that has collected on or below the ground, or in the atmosphere

Question 16

water table

Answer 16

the level in the soil or bedrock below which water is usually present

Question 17

water stress

Answer 17

occurs when the demand for water exceeds the amount available during a certain period, or when it is not good enough quality to use

Question 18

what are the 5 flows of water?

Answer 18

1) surface run off
2) through flow
3) groundwater flow
4) infiltration
5) precipitation

Question 19

what are the reasons for increasing demand for water and water stress?

Answer 19

• demand increases as population increases
• increased demand from agriculture e.g irrigation for crops
• supplies are increasingly unpredictable
• possibility of water wars e.g middle east
• economic development e.g china, india : increased demand
• rising living standards : use more water e.g showers, washing machines

Question 20

why is there a decline in water availability and quality?

Answer 20

• population growth
• agricultural demand
• urbanisation
• tourism: hotels and golf courses use a lot of water
• climate change: rain less reliable on some places
• industrial development
• energy reservoir storage for HEP

Question 21

how do richer countries buy their way out of water trouble?

Answer 21

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia use desalination which turns sea water into fresh water which is very expensive

Question 22

what are the social impacts of climate change on water supplies in the USA?

Answer 22

huge populations such as Arizona rose 40% in the 1990’s, reliant on smaller water sources

Question 23

what are the economic impacts of climate change on water supplies in the USA?

Answer 23

• authorities having to pay for solutions e.g drought tolerant landscaping
• long term decline tourism in areas such as Las Vegas

Question 24

what are the environmental impacts of climate change on water supplies in the USA?

Answer 24

• reduced rainfall to areas that are usually scarce e.g SW

- drought conditions experienced in 2002, 2004 and 2007

Question 25

what are the social impacts of climate change on water supplies in Asia?

Answer 25

• 1/2 worlds population at risk
• billions of people could have reduced water supplies
• risk of starvation as subsistence farmers no longer able to supply water to crops

Question 26

what are the economic impacts of climate change on water supplies in Asia?

Answer 26

increased dependency on aid from other countries and the World Bank

Question 27

what are the environmental impacts of climate change on water supplies in Asia?

Answer 27

• major rivers fed by seasonal melting of glaciers ensure sustainable water supply
• climate change could lead to permanent melting
• increase in extreme weather events e.g cyclones in Bangladesh
• increase sea level could flood low lying areas

Question 28

what are the sources of water pollution?

Answer 28

• salt run off from roads
• sewage
• run off from building sites
• industrial discharge
• chemicals applied to golf courses
• crop spraying
• fertilisers
• cattle waste
• disposal of hazardous waste

Question 29

how do people interfere with the water cycle?

Answer 29

1) cloud seeding - making it rain
2) deforestation - decreased interception = increased flooding
3) urbanisation - increased impermeable surfaces
4) over abstraction - taking too much water from rivers and lakes
5) building dams and reservoirs
6) global warming - melting glaciers

Question 30

what are the problems with building reservoirs?

Answer 30

• loss of land: drowns villages and farmland
• disease: stagnant water = mosquitos
• vegetation drowned releases methane = greenhouse gas

Question 31

what are the benefits of reservoirs?

Answer 31

• water supply

- recreation: fishing, sailing, walking, wildlife

Question 32

what are the advantages of large-scale water management schemes?

Answer 32

• increased water supply
• recreational use
• HEP
• habitat for water birds
• fishing

Question 33

what are the disadvantages of large-scale water management schemes?

Answer 33

• loss of farmland/villages
• less navigation
• people have to be relocated
• disease
• loss of cultural sites
• interferes with fish migration