A.3.1: Physical Water Scarcity and economic scarcity

Question 1

Level of water scarcity depends on…

Answer 1

The level of water scarcity depends on precipitation and water availability, population growth, demand for water, affordability of supplies and infrastructure

Question 2

Physical water scarcity

Answer 2

Where water consumption exceeds 60% of the useable supply.

To help meet water needs some countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have to import much of their food and invest in desalinisation plants

Question 3

Economic water scarcity

Answer 3

Where a country physically has sufficient water to meet its needs, but require additional storage and transport facilities

This means having to embark on large and expensive water-development projects, as in many sub-Saharan countries

Question 4

Drought

Answer 4

An extended period of dry weather leading to conditions of extreme dryness

Question 5

Absolute drought

Answer 5

A period of at least 15 consecutive days with less than 0.2 mm of rainfall

Question 6

Partial drought

Answer 6

A period of at least 29 consecutive days during which the average daily rainfall does not exceed 0.2 mm

Question 7

Severity of droughts depend on…

Answer 7

The severity of a drought depends upon the length of the drought and how severe the water shortage is

Question 8

Impacts of droughts

Answer 8

• Reduced crop yields
• Increased animal mortality
• Increase in illnesses in humans (linked to dehydration)
• Increase in forest fires
• Hosepipe bans
• A ban on watering private gardens or washing cars

Question 9

Water quantity (supply) depends on …

Answer 9

Depends on several factors in the water cycle, including:
- Rates of rainfall
- Evaporation
- The use of water by plants (transpiration)
- River and groundwater flows