RBM Flashcards
(25 cards)
To reduce negatives of a river basin X4
Ensure enough water available for each person
Reduce effects of low annual rainfall
Reduce effects of siltation
Reduce effects of flooding
Ensure enough water available for each person X3
People use water to drink
Availability declined because of increased population
Places suffer from lack of clean water (cholera)
To reduce effects of low annual rainfall X3
Lead to drought leaving too little water for farming
Enable existing water supplies to be stored and shared equally
Water can be transferred from an area of water surplus to areas of water deficit
To reduce effects of siltation
X1
Can reduce volume of river channel = more likely to flood
—>Dams trap sediment reducing siltation reducing flood risk
To reduce the effects of flooding
Lots of rainfall can les to flash floods= death,unemployment, crop failure
RBM- regulates river flow in times of high input and let’s more put in times of less precipitation
To maximise positives of RBM
X3
To provide renewable energy
To raise living standards
Provide regular water supply for expanding urban areas
To provide regular water supply for expanding urban areas
Expanding urban populations will demand more from RB.
-RBM is required to ensure existing supplies are managed to satisfy increasing demand
To provide a source of renewable energy X2
Growing population demands energy as well as climate change advances
-dams allow for sustainable and renewable energy by hydroelectric power
-excess energy can be exported to being in revenue
Raise living standards
X2
-allows for agricultural where it was no previously due to irrigation therefore increasing food supply and revenue
-allows for certain food to be grown year round and not just when there is enough precipitation
Physical factors that influence where a dam should be sited
X5
-rock type
-vegetation
-geographically stable areas away from earthquake zones
-cool climate
-constant water supply from rain and snowmelt
Human factors influencing where a dam should be sited
X4
-close to construction materials
-proximity of labour supply
-proximity to historical sites
-cost of displacing people
physical factor -rock type
metamorphic rock eg slate is impermeable some rocks like limestone are permeable and will allow for seepage
physical factor -cool climate
to keep evaporation rates lower than precipitation vomlumes
physical factor -vegetation
to stabilise sides of valley as roots will hold together soil to stop valley sides slipping downwards
physical factor- constant supply of water from rainfall and snowmelt
to ensure dam has a constant supply of water year round
physical factor -geographically stable areas awat from quake zones fault lines etc
to ensure dam is stable and secure, solid stable rock foundation to hold the weight of the dam
human factor -close to contruction materials
helps reduce the cost of transporting materials to the construction site
human factor -proximity of labour supply
if its closer it makes the build cheaper overall
human factor -proximity to historical sites
to avoid offending these cultures by destroying significant sites
human factor -cost of displacing people
determines whether the economic gains of the dam will outweigh the costs
human factors why the colorado RB needs managed X6
- urban water supply
-need for hydroelectric power to fuel industrial expansion and increased employment
-irrigation for farmers
-recreation
-over allocation of water in certain states rapidly increasing urban populations
-water levels in largest reservoirs have dropped threatening supplies
physical factors why the colorado RB needs managed X6
-seasonal thunderstorms and flash floods
-soil is thin red desert soil with little vegetation and is susceptible to erosion
-95% of rainfall lost to evaporation
-total rainfall is low and unpredictable
-in upper basin rainfall and snowmelt are extremely variable
-in lower basin its extremely dry recieving little rainfall and high temps evapourating the water that is there
Benefits of colorado RB management
X3 environmental
X3 socioeconomic
-reservoirs are water fowl sanctuaries eg. snow goose, lake mead has over 250 species of water bird
-the network of dams and reservoirs helped to regulate the colorado rivers flow and reduce flooding
-previously 266 tonnes of sediment flowed through grand canyon, dams trap sediment
-dams and resertvoirs allow the develpoment of hydroelectric power, this allows industry to benefit off cheap electricity
-more people can now be supported as jobs are made available, this will create more consumers of local services and more local tax payers
-warm climate and rapid population growth increase demand for reliable water supply for domestic use
problems of colorado RB management
X3 socio economic
X3 environmental
-expensive to build multi purpose water management schemes resulting in large debts
-resettling of people involved in clearing areas for construction of dams and reservoirs causing families to move away from home areas costs alot in compesation payments
-increasing house prices as demand increased means original residents are forced out creating resentment
-chemical pollution is added to the river because of increased industry/farming causing fish to die
-siltation reduces reservoir storage capacity increasing flood potential
-dams and reservoirs destroy habitats reducing biodiversity in area
