Water World Flashcards
What are two factors contributing to the rise in water shortages?
- Increased demand
* More unpredictable weather
What are three ways global warming impacts on precipitation?
- Warmer temperatures are likely to make more rain.
- Increased moisture in the air means more precipitation.
- There is a predicted rise in precipitation density - heavier storms.
What impact does global warming have on evaporation?
An increase in temperature means more evaporation. This would also affect groundwater storage, making droughts more likely.
What impact does global warming have on river flow?
A warmer climate means an earlier Spring. This would melt glacial reserves sooner meaning that river flow in Summer would be reduced.
What are three ways human activity limits the amount of water available?
- Overabstraction
- Building of reservoirs
- Deforestation
What is overabstraction?
When too much water is taken from a source.
What is an example of overabstraction?
The Thames Valley where overabstraction has lead to some tributaries drying up completely.
Give an example of a reservoir.
Lake Chad
What are reservoirs built for?
Water storage and Hydro-Electric Power.
What are three disadvantages of building reservoirs?
- Loss of land
- Drowning of crops
- Spread of disease
What two parts of the hydrological cycle does deforestation reduce?
- Evapotranspiration
* Interception
What is the effect of a drop in Evapotranspiration?
A drop in green water and therein a reduction in rainfall.
What is the effect of having less interception?
Rain can more easily wash away soil nutrients and finer soil particles leaving a coarser, harder surface.
How many people in the world don’t have a reliable water supply?
780 million
What are three impacts of not having a reliable water supply?
- Waterborne diseases like cholera kill a child every second.
- High risk of crop failure.
- Tasks like cooking become difficult.
According to the World Bank, how many people could face water shortages by 2025?
50%
Since what decade has the Sahel region had droughts?
1980s
What did the seasons used to be like in the Sahel region?
A mixture of wet and dry.
What has happened to the seasons recently in the Sahel region?
The wet seasons have consistently failed.
What are three ways that human activity has contributed to the desertification of the Sahel region?
- Overfarming
- Overcultivation
- Firewood collection
What are five effects of the changing climate on the Sahel region?
- Crop failure
- Soil erosion
- Famine
- Hunger
- People less able to work
What happened in Niger in 2004?
A plague of locusts consumed any surviving crops after a long dry season.
What kind of aid are the people of the Sahel getting? Is this sustainable?
They are eying food aid. It is helpful but unsustainable?
What kind of aid would benefit the Sahel more in the long term?
Development aid