The water cycle and water insecurity

Question 1

Breakdown of Earth’s water

Answer 1

-97% saltwater
-2.5% freshwater
-99% of freshwater is glaciers and ground water

Question 2

Blue water

Answer 2

Stored in lakes, rivers, sea

Question 3

Green water

Answer 3

Stored in soil and plants

Question 4

Fossil water

Answer 4

Stored underground for over 10,000 years

Question 5

Biggest water stores (km^3)

Answer 5

-Sea 1,300,000
-Glaciers 24,000
-Groundwater 23,000

Question 6

Biggest water fluxes (km^3 /year)

Answer 6

-Evaporation 500
-Precipitation 500

Question 7

Drainage basin

Answer 7

The area of land drained by a particular river network

Question 8

Watershed

Answer 8

The boundary of a drainage basin

Question 9

Factors affecting discharge of river and shape of hydrograph

Answer 9

-Basin size/shape/relief
-Permeability
-Vegetation
-Land use
-Precipitation & evapotranspiration rates

Question 10

Amazon characteristics

Answer 10

-Four month lag time
-Constant convection rainfall
-High evapotranspiration

Question 11

Indus characteristics (Pakistan/China)

Answer 11

-Peak discharge reached in April from snowmelt
-Monsoons June-Sept
-Rapidly dropping discharge in winter as water freezes

Question 12

Yukon characteristics
(Alaska)

Answer 12

-Snow and permafrost melt in short summer
-Low discharge in winter

Question 13

Pluvial & fluvial floods

Answer 13

Pluvial- Short lived, intense rain
Fluvial- Lag time

Question 14

Physical factors of Sedgemoor floods 2013/2014

Answer 14

-One of flattest and lowest areas
-Steep surrounding uplands
-Low pressure system in Dec
-High tide stops rivers draining flood water

Question 15

Human factors of Sedgemoor floods 2013/2014

Answer 15

-Budget cuts meant rivers weren’t dredged
-Housing & industrial developments (Morrisons depot in Bridgewater)
-Channel straightening

Question 16

Causes of drought

Answer 16

-High pressure systems
-El-Nino Southern Oscillation
-Over extraction of groundwater

Question 17

La Nina

Answer 17

Intensification of normal conditions. Low pressure in Australasia and high pressure in S.America

Question 18

El Nino

Answer 18

Reversal of normal conditions. High pressure in Australasia and low pressure in S.America

Question 19

Aridity

Answer 19

Permanent low precipitation (deserts)

Question 20

Desertification

Answer 20

-Human induced
-Overgrazing and excessive water extraction

Question 21

Benefits of wetlands

Answer 21

-Protects against flooding
-Purifies water
-Habitat for endangered species
-Carbon store

Question 22

Uncertainty of impact of climate change on hydrological cycle

Answer 22

-Locations of rain belts and deserts may shift
-May be increased plant growth
-Effects on ENSO cycles unknown
-Loss of glaciers, nearly 1 billion people rely on meltwater

Question 23

Future water scarcity

Answer 23

-Booming demand for food
-Increasing energy demand
-Climate change
-Water pollution

Question 24

Virtual water

Answer 24

The water used to produce products, that we indirectly consume

Question 25

Mexico City water insecurity

Answer 25

-Ageing infrastructure leaks 40% of water -21.7m people -Extraction of groundwater, causing the city to sink and damaging pipes -Families spend 20% of income on bottled water

Question 26

Lake Chad water insecurity

Answer 26

-Has dried by 90% in last 60 years -High, growing agriculture usage -Lifeline to 40m

Question 27

California water insecurity

Answer 27

-Saltwater intrusion -Lack of rain -Over extraction of groundwater -Wells created to try and create barrier against saltwater

Question 28

Ethiopia stance on Nile

Answer 28

-Building largest dam in Africa -Wants to provide electricity for population and exports

Question 29

Sudan stance on Nile

Answer 29

-Historically sided with Egypt -Renaissance dam will create constant Blue Nile flow -To increase agriculture

Question 30

Egypt stance on Nile

Answer 30

-Relies entirely on Nile for water -Will expect less water because of dam, could kill 50% of farmland -Evaporation is lower in Ethiopia so could increase supply in long term

Question 31

Nile Basin characteristics

Answer 31

-White Nile has constant discharge -Blue Nile peaks in summer -Monsoon rains in summer -Ethiopian highlands -Sudd region - swamp -Lake Victoria supplies White

Question 32

Nile Basin Initiative

Answer 32

-1999, 10 countries -Needed for rapidly growing population and conflict -Not a legal framework, just a guide for alignment of water policies

Question 33

Artificial Glaciers in Ladakh, Nepal

Answer 33

-Over 14% of glaciers lost in last 50 years -Meltwater is redirected via pipeline and sprinkled over bushes, so it freezes

Question 34

Cryosphere

Answer 34

All water in a frozen state

Question 35

Smart irrigation

Answer 35

Providing crops with less than optimal supply, so that they are more resistant to droughts