Water Case Studies Flashcards
(49 cards)
What are the characteristics of the Sahel region
Semi-arid
North of Africa, south of the Sahara desert
Spans 11 countries
Tropical, hot climate- hot sunny dry and windy all year
Natural causes of drought in the Sahel
High seasonal variability triggered by a persistent lack of rain
CLIMATE
Unpredictable rainfall pattern, 80% of dry lands in Sahel have suffered from environmental deterioration
Human causes of drought in The Sahel region
Growing environmental degradation caused by overgrazing by nomadic tribes
Deforestation for fuel wood
High levels of rural poverty
Rural population doubled every 20 to 30 years
Population growth outstripped food production
Over cultivation
Growth of cash crops
Destruction of crop land due to civil war
What are the consequences of drought in the Sahel region
Crops dying-subsistence farmers suffer
Widespread famine
29/36 of worlds poorest countries are in sub Saharan Africa
Cholera epidemic caused by reliance on contaminated water sources
Increased food price
Natural causes of drought in the Brazil
Moist air moving in a westerly direction across the Amazon Basin
Directed southwards by the Andes
Diverted by the high pressure systems away from the Amazon
Human causes of drought in Brazil
High fee’s charged by Brazilian government to drill a well and grant a license meaning the poor go without
Illegal well drilling- not monitored for water safety
Contain industrial pollutants and high level of bacteria
Environmental effects of drought in Brazil
Causes forest stress- younger trees die which reduce canopy cover, reduces humidity and so rainfall- dry out underbrush which can easily catch fire
Shorter trees and thinner canopies
Increased groundwater abstraction
Social-economic effects of drought in Brazil
Cause building of illegal wells which become diseased and contaminated thus spreading disease
Increased mortality reduced wild animal habitats
Water rationing for 4 million people, supplies cut off 3 days a week
Depletion of Brazil’s 17 reservoirs to 1% capacity
Reduced crop of Arabica coffee beans put global coffee price up by 50%
Drought in California
40 million people facing problem due to recent rainfall variation
Forecast of 30 yr mega droughts
Increased evaporation rates
Decrease in precipitation
Changes of water in Northern Europe
Warmer lower atmosphere
Increased evaporation
Increased circulation of water in troposphere
Increase intensity and frequency of precipitation events over land areas
Why are some regions of the Sahel re-greening
Possibly due to rise in wet years between years of drought since 1996
Restoration techniques involving planting trees
Natural regeneration of water retaining shrubs and trees
Low cost reforesting. Use of water harvesting techniques
Global statistics for irrigation
1/5 of world land is under full irrigation
Around 30% of irrigation is provided by dams (constant irrigation) which often leads to water logging and soil salination
Aral Sea 10% of initial size since Russia diverted water source for agricultural irrigation
Global health and sanitation in relation to water security statistics
15% of world population reliant on unimproved water sources
2.5 Billion have no access to improved sanitation
Issues of indiscriminate or open defacation in sub Saharan Africa leads to outbreak of cholera typhoid and dysentery
Stagnant water encourages vector breeding
Background information on the Murray-Darling River
1 million Km2 of South East Australia
Home to more than 2 million people
Provides 75% of Australia’s water
Key players in Australian water conflict
Government Residents Heritage groups Indigenous people Industry Environmentalists
What causes the water conflict in the Murray-Darling
5 fold increase in water extraction since 1920
Variation in ENSO Cycle affect different regions of basin differently
Urban, industrial, aquaculture, leisure, local and state governments, environmental groups, heritage and conservation and indigenous groups
Consequences of water conflict in Murray-Darling
Water deficit
Disrespect of indigenous culture
Decrease in tourism
Destruction of natural environment
Background information on the River Nile
3rd largest hydroelectric power plant in Africa, opened in 2015
$1.8 billion project
Causes of conflict in the River Nile
200 000 people rely on river for subsistence agriculture and dependent on seasonal floods
Mursi living in chronic hunger
Historic water allocation causing conflict favours Egypt and Sudan
Dam building reducing downstream flow
Egypt has a veto power over construction
Effects of River Nile conflict
Violent conflict between tribes
Human rights violations by Ethiopian army against local opposition
9/11 states have no historical claim on water
Late opposition against Egypt
Countries involved in River Nile international conflict
Tanzania Uganda Rwanda Burundi Congo Kenya Ethiopia Eritrea South Sudan Sudan Egypt
Countries involved in the conflict for Colorado River
Colorado Utah Wyoming New Mexico Arizona Nevada California
Relevant background on the Colorado River
Mexico has 10% of total flow
Lower states of Basin take 50%, upper basin 10%
Native Americans owed 5%
Provides drinking water to over 50 million Americans
Causes of conflict in Colorado River
California takes 20% more than its allocations
demand and climate change have depleted storage to 48%
Since 1990s average annual flow decreased 15%
Native Americans owed 5%
