Geography: water cycle case studies Flashcards
describe the snowy mountains water transfer scheme, include advantages and disadvantages
- 16 major dams, 7 power stations.
- hydroelectricity and irrigation scheme in SE Australia.
ADVANTAGES:
- increased renewable energy.
- increased agriculture efficiency.
DISADVANTAGES:
- storage lakes destroy habitats.
- conflict between farmers and stakeholders in urban areas.
state the advantages and disadvantages of the 3 gorges dam
DISADVANTAGES:
- 1.2m relocated.
- fertile farmland submerged.
- increased pollution from sewage
- $30 bn in cost
ADVANTAGES:
- provides flood control in middle and lower regions.
- provides 10% of China’s energy.
- improved navigation for ships.
- reduces air pollution.
describe the advantages and disadvantages of desalinisation in Israel.
ADVANTAGES:
- water is cheaper - $30 a month.
- 86% of the water is recycled.
- 1.5 million people supplied with water in this way.
DISADVANTAGES:
- waste products such as brine threaten marine life.
- exploitation of the environment.
- expensive to maintain
describe the sustainable water management scheme in Kenya
BIO-LATRINES
- reduce water demand.
- provide energy
- 3000 children are able to go to school because of improved sanitation.
describe the sustainable water management scheme in Singapore
GREY WATER RECYCLNG
- 5.4m people have access to water because of this.
- meets 30% of Singapore’s water demand.
- less reliant on Malaysia for water.
describe the sustainable water management scheme in the London aquifer.
AQUIFER RECHARGE
- 31 boreholes used to artificially recharge the water.
- supplies 180m extra litres of water per day.
- prolongs lifespan of the aquifer.
describe the sustainable water management scheme in Australia
SMART IRRIGATION
- conserves water with limited impact on yield.
- drip irrigation limits water loss in agriculture.
- reduces evaporation
describe the transboundary conflict at the Nile basin.
- 11 countries within the basin.
- Egypt and Sudan have the most control but are at the bottom of the river.
- in 2011, Ethiopia wanted to build a dam to aid economic development, Egypt would have 10% of its HEP provided for but it turned it down.
- dam construction was agreed in 2015.
- 60% of Egyptian crops are on the nile delta.
describe the transboundary conflict at the Murray/Darling basin.
- conflict between different Australian states over the use of the basin.
- conflict caused by a drought between 2001-2009
- decreased irrigation volume concerns farmers.
- native species of fish died due to the release of rivers into lakes.
describe the freshwater flooding as a result of the UK depressions.
- in 2015, storms Eva, Desmond and Frank hit the UK
- a meander in the jet stream brought in tropical air from Azores.
- £5.2b in damages.
- 5.2m properties at risk.
- 16,000 homes flooded.
-costs £2.3b in flood management over the next 6 years.
describe the freshwater flooding that happened as a result of the Indian monsoons
-the monsoon is an annual event but it was excessive in 2014.
Effects:
- lack of defences.
- 1m displaced.
- 1200 dead
- 670,000 homes destroyed
describe the effects of freshwater flooding that happened as a result of snowmelt in Canada.
- meltwater resulted in flooding.
- 2017 spring found rise in temperatures by 1.5 degrees.
- 130 communities impacted.
- only 15% of people affected had insurance.
- 16 bridges collapsed.
- $1.5b in damages
describe the local-scale drought in California
- groundwater levels fell by 30m between 2011-2015.
- water storage 77% of the national average.
- $3.5b in agriculture production lost.
- high demand due to dense population.
agricultural and socio-economic drought
describe the drought in the Sahel region.
- pollutants caused atmospheric cooling so no tropical rains arrived.
- high sea surface temperatures meant no monsoons.
- population growth resulted in high demand.
- el Nino made the North Atlantic cooler, resulted in less evaporation so less precipitation
meteorological drought
