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Geography- physical > The water cycle and water insecurity > Flashcards

The water cycle and water insecurity Flashcards

1
Q

Aquifer?

A

A permeable or porous rock which stores water

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2
Q

Channel flow?

A

The water flowing in a rivulet, stream or river contained within the banks

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3
Q

Closed system?

A

A sequence of linked processes with a transfer of energy but not matter between parts of the system

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4
Q

Cryosphere?

A

Describes the set of all locations on earth where water is found in solid form, including areas of snow, sea ice, glaciers, permafrost, ice sheets and icebergs

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5
Q

Deficit?

A

Where a resource is less than the necessary amount

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6
Q

Drainage basin?

A

The area of land drained by a river and it’s tributaries. Drainage basins are separated by a ridge of high land called the watershed

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7
Q

Economic water scarcity?

A

Occurs when water resources are available but there is insufficient capital to access the water to meet demand

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8
Q

Evapotranspiration?

A

Combined loss of water to the atmosphere via the processes of evaporation and transpiration

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9
Q

Flux?

A

The flow or flowing of a liquid

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10
Q

Fossil water?

A

Water that has been contained and undisturbed for millennial. There is no significant recharge therefore it is a non-renewable resource.

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11
Q

Global water budget?

A

The amount of water transferred and stored in the earths hydrological cycle each year.

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12
Q

Hard engineering?

A

Often hi-tech and high-cost engineering schemes such as dams or Thames barrier

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13
Q

Hydrological drought?

A

Occurs when there is insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of vegetation at a particular time

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14
Q

Infiltration?

A

The movement of water vertically downwards via spaces (pores) in the soil.

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15
Q

Interception?

A

The process by which raindrops are prevented from called onto the ground via leaves, branches, twigs of vegetation.

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16
Q

Monsoon?

A

A seasonal prevailing wind which causes wet and dry seasons in many sub-tropical areas

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17
Q

Open system?

A

A sequence of linked processes with inputs and outputs, including transfers of energy and matter to and from other systems.

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18
Q

Orographic?

A

Relating to mountains, orographic uplift if when the uplift of an air mass, because of orographic obstruction, causes the cooling of air mass. If enough cooling takes place, condensation can occur and form into orographic precipitation.

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19
Q

Percolation?

A

A process similar to infiltration but travelling through rock surfaces towards the water table.

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20
Q

Permafrost?

A

Zone of permanently frozen water found in high latitude soils and sediments

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21
Q

Permeability?

A

The ability of a substance to allow another to pass through it, especially porous rock, sediment or soil to transmit fluid through pores and cracks

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22
Q

Physical water scarcity?

A

Occurs when there’s physical lack of available freshwater resources to meet demand due to over-abstraction by agriculture, industry and domestic activity

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23
Q

Porosity?

A

A surface that allows water to pass through it, such as sand

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24
Q

Precipitation?

A

Any form of water falling from the sky

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25
Q

Relief?

A

The range of topographic elevation within a specific area

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26
Q

Resilience?

A

Ability to recover/adjust easily to an event or change

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27
Q

River regime?

A

The pattern of river discharge over a year; usually there are seasonal variations

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28
Q

Runoff?

A

Water (from rain, snowmelt etc) that flows over the land surface; can be due to soil saturation

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29
Q

Saltwater encroachment?

A

Where saline water beings to find it’s way into fresh water aquifers, especially near coastal aquifers which run low, allowing salt water to see back in and cause contamination

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30
Q

Saturated overland flow?

A

Occurs when the soil becomes saturated, and any additional precipitation causes runoff

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31
Q

Storm hydrograph?

A

Shows changes in a rivers’ discharge at a given point on a river over a short period of time (usually before, during and after a storm)

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32
Q

Water budget?

A

The annual balance between inputs (precipitation) and outputs (evapotranspiration and channel flow) at a place

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33
Q

Water security?

A

The capacity of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantity’s of acceptable quality water.

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34
Q

Water stress?

A

When demand for water exceeds the available amount during a certain period. Renewable water resources are between 1000 and 1700m

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35
Q

What is a closed system?

A

A system that does not allow a transfer of matter in or out of the system

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36
Q

Inputs of hydrological cycle?

A

Ocean precipitation

Land precipitation

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37
Q

Stores of hydrological cycle?

A 
Ice 
Ocean
Soil moisture 
Groundwater 
Rivers, lakes 
Land 
Vegetation
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38
Q

Flows/processes of hydrological cycle?

A

Ocean to land water vapour transport
Surface flow
Ground water flow

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39
Q

Outputs of hydrological cycle?

A

Ocean evaporation

Evaporation, transpiration

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40
Q

What type of system is the hydrological cycle?

A

A renewable one: no new water can enter the system and no new water can be lost

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41
Q

What is the water circulation in the hydrological driven by?

A

Solar energy- suns heat causes evaporation and transpiration

Gravitational potential energy- water accelerates under gravity causing it to flow

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42
Q

Why is fossil water considered non-renewable?

A

Will require significant amount of energy to obtain

Taken out of the store and not replaced

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43
Q

Of the fresh water present, where is most of it?

A

Locked up or bellow surface as ground water

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44
Q

Where is 68% of water found?

A

In icecaps or glaciers

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45
Q

Where is 30% of water found?

A

Groundwater

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46
Q

What does ITCZ stand for?

A

Inter tropical convergence zone

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47
Q

What type of pressure can be found at the equator?

A

Low pressure

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48
Q

What type of pressure can be found at the tropics?

A

High pressure

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49
Q

What type of pressure can be found at the polar regions?

A

High pressure

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50
Q

How many cells of circulating air are there?

A

Six

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51
Q

Why is the sun most intense at the equator?

A

Suns rays are most concentrated here

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52
Q

What does intense solar radiation result in?

A

Rising air

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53
Q

What type of rainfall can be found at the equator?

A

Convectional rainfall

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54
Q

What type of system is the drainage basin?

A

An open system within the closed global hydrological cycle

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55
Q

What is the definition of a drainage basin?

A

An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries with a boundary, usually composing of hills and mountains

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56
Q

What are the 5 main stores in the drainage basin?

A 
Channel storage 
Groundwater storage 
Surface storage 
Soil moisture storage 
Interception storage
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57
Q

What is the main input in the drainage basin?

A

Precipitation

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58
Q

What are the 7 main flows in the drainage basin?

A 
Throughfall 
Stemflow
Surface runnoff 
Infiltration 
Groundwater flow 
Percolation 
Channel flow
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59
Q

What are the 3 physical factors that affect the drainage basin INPUTS?

A

Seasonality
Variability (long term changes to climate)
Latitude

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60
Q

What is interception?

A

Process by which raindrops are prevented from falling directly onto ground surface by a layer of vegetation

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61
Q

What is Infiltration?

A

The movement of water vertically downwards through pores in soil

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62
Q

What is Surface runoff?

A

Water flows overland, rather than permeating deeper levels of the ground.

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63
Q

What is Throughflow?

A

A down slope movement under the influence of gravity towards a stream or river through the soil

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64
Q

What is Percolation?

A

Water moves from the ground or soil into porous rock or rock fractures. The rate is dependent on the fractures that may be present + the permeability of the rock

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65
Q

What is groundwater flow?

A

The gravitational transfer of water through porous rock, under the influence of gravity. Water can sometimes become trapped within these deep layers of bedrock, resulting in aquifers.

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66
Q

What is infiltration capacity?

A

Is the maximum rate at which the soil can absorb precipitation

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67
Q

What is soil capacity affected by?

A

Soil composition
Previous precipitation
Type and amount of vegetation
Relief of land

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68
Q

What is the primary transfer of water to river channels?

A

Surface runoff

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69
Q

What are the 6 physical factors affecting drainage basin FLOWS?

A 
Interception 
Infiltration 
Surface run off 
Through flow 
Percolation 
Groundwater flow
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70
Q

What are the two physical factors affecting drainage basin OUTPUTS?

A

Evaporation

Transpiration

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71
Q

What is transpiration?

A

A biological process where water is lost to atmosphere via pores of plants (stomata).

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72
Q

What is transpiration affected by?

A

Seasonality
Vegetation
Moisture content

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73
Q

What is evaporation also dependent on?

A

Volume and surface area of the water body
Vegetation cover
Colour of surface beneath the water

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74
Q

What are the 3 rainfall types?

A

Conventional
Frontal/cyclonic
Relief/orographic

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75
Q

Conventional rainfall?

A

Often a daily occurrence. Morning heat warms the ground in turn heats low level moisture which evaporates and rises. It cools and condenses to form rain. Very common in tropical climates.

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76
Q

Frontal/cyclonic rainfall?

A

Where two air masses meet, a wedge can occur of hot air within cold air (a depression). At the front, warm moist air is forced to rise above the cold air mass, causing the water moisture within it to cool and condense

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77
Q

Relief/orographic rainfall?

A

When warm moist air meets land of high relief, the air masses are forced to rise above the hill to continue travelling. As it rises, air masses cools and the moisture in it hun it condenses to form clouds and rainfall.

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78
Q

What are the 6 human (anthropogenic) factors that disrupt the drainage basin system?

A 
Cloud seeding 
Urbanisation 
Change in lane use 
Deforestation 
Dan construction 
Ground water abstraction
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79
Q

Over abstraction?

A

When water is taken from aquifers, ground water levels fall. If the amount of water taken is greater that the amount it water falling it is called over abstraction

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80
Q

Groundwater abstraction?

A

When water us taken out faster than it is replaced (from aquifers), causing reduced ground are flow and a lower water table

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81
Q

Dan construction?

A

Dams reduce downstream river flow and discharge, increased surface stores thus means more evaporation

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82
Q

Cloud seeding?

A

This is in an attempt to change the amount of precipitation by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation nuclei

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83
Q

Urbanisation?

A

Creates impermeable surfaces that reduces infiltration and increases surface runoff and through flow via artificial drains: river discharge increases as a result

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84
Q

What are 4 impacts on drainage basin due to reservoir construction?

A

Reduce river flow bellow the, leading to loss of vegetation
They abstract water from the drainage basin
Salinity levels can rise as water evaporates
In tropics, mats of floating plants on water surface makes evapotranspiration rates 6x higher than in open water

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85
Q

Water budget equation?

A

Precipitation= channel discharge + evapotranspiration + change in water storage

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86
Q

5 ways in which the Amazon forests can effect the hydrological cycle?

A

Risks to wildlife
Risks indigenous tribal communities
Precipitation can arrive in bursts causing floods
Affect water supplies of Brazilian cities
Winds blowing over uneven forest canopy creates turbulence, which allows atmosphere to absorb moisture

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87
Q

What does the water budget give a direct comparison to?

A

Natural water supply and demand- can identify a positive water balance and when there is a drought risk

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88
Q

What are the 6 characteristics on a soil moisture budget graph show?

A 
Soil moisture surplus 
Soil moisture utilisation 
Maximum annual temp 
Soil  deficiency
Soil moisture recharge  
Field capacity
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89
Q

Soil moisture surplus

A

Precipitation is greater than evaporation thus meaning the soils moisture increases

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90
Q

Soil moisture utilisation

A

As temp increases, so does evaporation. The soil uses the moisture gained during its surplus, used up by plants etc

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91
Q

Maximum annual temp

A

The point of maximum evaporation= highest risk of drought. Soil moisture is now used up. Precipitation likely to be used up, no run off, river levels will fall

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92
Q

Soil deficiency

A

Despite evaporation decreasing, there is not enough precipitation to provide for vegetation. Plants must adapt to survive

93
Q

Soil moisture recharge

A

Occurs when potential evapotranspiration decreases so that it is lower than precipitation, soil begins to fill again

94
Q

Field capacity

A

Soil moisture is now full, additional rainfall will relocate to the water table and groundwater stores will be recharged

95
Q

What slowly feeds the river system?

A

Groundwater during between periods of rain

96
Q

Simple river regime?

A

Seasonal variation in regime- periods of high discharge followed by low discharge (glacial melt water and monsoons) cause sudden fluctuations in river input

97
Q

Complex regime?

A

Tend to occur for larger rivers that cross different reliefs and climactic zones thus experience different climactic effects eg Ganges

98
Q

What are 7 characteristics affecting the characteristics of a river regime?

A 
Channel capacity 
Vegetation 
Area and relief of drainage basin 
Climate 
Volume, pattern and intensity of precipitation 
Geology of soil
Anthropogenic factors
99
Q

What are the 5 characteristics on a hydrography?

A 
Rising limb
Peak flow
Lag time 
Falling limb
Base flow
100
Q

What limb on a flashy storm hydrography is always steeper?

A

Rising limb

101
Q

Rising limb?

A

The increase of river discharge, not instantaneously after precipitation

102
Q

Peak flow?

A

The maximum discharge, delayed after maximum precipitation has occurred

103
Q

Lag time?

A

The tine delayed between peak rainfall and the peak discharge

104
Q

Falling limb?

A

As the storm precipitation levels decrease, discharge will in turn decrease over time

105
Q

Base flow?

A

Eventually, the discharge will return to a normal level

106
Q

Flashy storm hydrograph?

A

Means that the graph depicts sharp vertical jumps and equally steep vertical declines.

107
Q

5 features of a flashy storm hydrography

A 
Short lag time 
High peak 
Low infiltration rate 
Urbanised
High water table
108
Q

Subdued storm hydrograph?

A

‘Delayed’, or ‘flat’ hydrographs

109
Q

5 features of a subdued storm hydrograph

A 
Long lag time 
Low peak 
Gently sloping rising limb 
High infiltration rate 
Low water table
110
Q

What does SUDS stand for?

A

Sustainable drainage systems

111
Q

What is an example of a SUDS?

A

Permeable pavement, green roofs

112
Q

Drought?

A

A period of deficit rainfall

113
Q

What are the 4 types of drought?

A

Meteorological
Agricultural
Hydrological
Socio economic

114
Q

Meteorological drought?

A

When longer term precipitation is much lower than normal

115
Q

Agricultural drought?

A

When there is insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of crops

116
Q

Hydrological drought?

A

When there are deficiencies in surface and sub surface water supplies eg rivers

117
Q

Socio economic drought?

A

When the water demand from people and industry exceeds water availability

118
Q

What type of hazard is drought?

A

Hydro-metrological hazard

119
Q

What results in shortened seasons and severe droughts?

A

When the ITCZ does not show up, blocked by stable high pressure

120
Q

El nino?

A

The appearance of warm surface water from time in Eastern equatorial pacific ie a warmer event

121
Q

La nina?

A

The appearance of colder than average sea surface temperatures in the central and East equatorial pacific ie a colder event

122
Q

The southern oscillation?

A

Is a see-saw of atmospheric pressure between the pacific and Australia area

123
Q

The southern oscillation index?

A

Represents the difference in average air pressure measured at Tahiti and Darwin, Australia

124
Q

What are the two main causes of drought?

A

Climactic Variability

El ninio

125
Q

What enhances the causes and effects of drought?

A

Climate change

126
Q

Desertification?

A

Once productive land gradually changing into a desert like landscape

127
Q

How are humans increasing desertification process?

A

Via positive feedback

128
Q

Positive feedback?

A

Enhances or amplifies change, moving a system away from its equilibrium state and making it more unstable. It creates a ‘snowball effect’.

129
Q

Negative feedback?

A

Decreases the amount of change by reducing some of the inputs, returning the system to stability.

130
Q

What is the greatest environmental challenge and how many people are affected by this?

A

Desertification

2 billion people

131
Q

What are the two ways in which humans can increase drought risk?

A

Direct (reservoir construction)

Indirect (climate change)

132
Q

What are the three main causes of desertification?

A

Animals grazed in higher numbers to feed people
Ground is farmed more intensely
Reduction of forest cover and vegetation (exposed ground)

133
Q

How does climate change impact the environment?

A

Making temperature hotter and rainfall less reliable

134
Q

What is the desertification process?

A

No plants or leaves intercept the rainwater and soil is left to exposed sun which bakes the ground. Rainwater does not soak in soil so it degrades losing fertility and structure.

135
Q

What does drought result in?

A

Famine
Migration
Terrorism etc

136
Q

Impact of drought on rainforests?

A

Younger trees die, reducing the canopy cover

Tree litter can catch fire due to being exposed to tropical sun = wildfires

137
Q

Impact of drought on wetlands?

A

Increase tree mortality= less animal habitats
Wildfires
Reduces cattle ranching

138
Q

Two main meteorological causes of flooding?

A

Intense rainfall

Prolonged, heavy rainfall

139
Q

What can meteorological processes increases?

A

Increases inputs in hydrological cycle causing a surplus of water in system

140
Q

What does an increase of inputs in the hydrological cycle cause?

A

Freshwater floods

141
Q

How much of the lands area does freshwater flooding affect?

A

1/3 of land’s area

142
Q

What do most freshwater floods result from the presence of?

A

Low atmospheric pressure systems

143
Q

What are the three main factors that cause flooding within a low atmospheric pressure system?

A

Intense monsoonal rainfall
Rapid snow or ice melt
Prolonged and heavy rainfall associated with passage of depressions

144
Q

Intense rainfall characeristics?

A

Severe thunderstorms= convectional rainfall

Channel capacity is quickly exceeded resulting in flash flooding

145
Q

Prolonged, heavy rainfall in the mid latitudes?

A

Come in the form of depressions

146
Q

Prolonged, heavy rainfall in the sub tropics?

A

During the wet phase of a monsoon

147
Q

Depressions?

A

An area of low pressure. Air rises in a depression so clouds and rainfall are formed. Depressions therefore bring unsettled weather and rain. Winds are normally stronger.

148
Q

Where do depressions form?

A

Over the Atlantic Ocean and are carried across Britain by westerly winds.

149
Q

What is the main reason for the UKs changing weather?

A

Depressions

150
Q

Monsoon?

A

A seasonal reversal in wind direction. Brings prolonged, heavy rainfall

151
Q

Water scarcity?

A

Renewable water resources are between 500 and 1000m

152
Q

Absolute water scarcity?

A

Renewable water resources are very low: bellow 500m per capita

153
Q

Renewable water resources?

A

The long term annual average total of internal and external renewable water resources?

154
Q

What is the link between water and human causes of water stress?

A

Human factors increase outputs or degrade supplies

155
Q

What is the link between water and physical causes of water stress?

A

Lead to reduced inputs

156
Q

What are the two main physical causes of water stress?

A

Climate variability

Saltwater encroachment

157
Q

What are the three main human factors that can lead to water stress?

A

Over abstraction
Industrial pollution
Agriculture

158
Q

How can climate variability lead to water stress?

A

In warmer climates= increased evaporation and transpiration = less precipitation
Higher water temp can encourage bacteria growth

159
Q

How can saltwater encroachment lead to water stress?

A

Global sea level rise, localised groundwater abstraciona and thermal expansion are all enhancing risks of saltwater encroachment

160
Q

How can over abstraction lead to water sress?

A

Too much water is removed from groundwater to that supplies diminish

161
Q

What % of the worlds aquifers are exploited?

A

20%

162
Q

How can industrial pollution lead to water stress?

A

Waste and chemicals are released into the water supplies

163
Q

How can agriculture lead to water stress?

A

Excessive water withdrawals (inefficient use= depleted aquifers and habitats)
Chemical fertilisers can get into water supplies

164
Q

What are the two main processes operating within the hydrological cycle on a global and local scale?

A

Rain

Snow

165
Q

Biosphere?

A

Made up of the parts of Earth where life exists—all ecosystems

166
Q

Why could the hydrological cycle be possibly viewed as an open system?

A

Due to the input of solar energy which drives fluxes and flows

167
Q

Why is the hydrological cycle a closed system?

A

There are no losses or gains of water over time

168
Q

What % of the worlds water is freshwater?

A

2.5%

169
Q

Blue water?

A

Water in our surface and groundwater reservoirs ( river, lakes)

170
Q

What % of freshwater is accessible to us in the form of blue water ?

A

0.3%

171
Q

What are three of the main contributing factors to unequal water distribution?

A

Climate, demand, human development and population growth

172
Q

What impact do human activity have on the water distribution system?

A

Can cause local water shortages due to the transfer of water between different parts of the system

173
Q

What % of water do human withdraw of the worlds annual freshwater runoff?

A

8%

174
Q

What % of the 8% freshwater withdrawal is used for irrigation?

A

7%

175
Q

What % of water returns to the atmosphere after being used for irrigation?

A

6.3%, the rest runs as grey water

176
Q

Grey water?

A

Partly degraded/polluted water- bathtubs, showers, sinks, washing machines

177
Q

What % of water returns to the atmosphere after being used for industrial activity?

A

0.6%

178
Q

What % of water returns to the atmosphere after being used for industrial activity?

A

0.12%, the rest runs as grey water

179
Q

What % of water returns to the atmosphere after being used for domestic and commercial use?

A

0.4%

180
Q

What % of water returns to the atmosphere after being used for domestic and commercial use?

A

An equal amount is evaporated and lost via runoff, some runs as black water

181
Q

Black water?

A

The mixture of urine, feces and flushwater along with anal cleansing water

182
Q

What type of water stores have short turnover times?

A

Renewable water stores

183
Q

What type of water stores have much longer turnover times?

A

Non-renewable water stores

184
Q

Turnover time?

A

measure of the movement of an element (water) in a biogeochemical cycle

185
Q

What are the three main ways humans can increase flood risk?

A

Urbanisation
Agricultural development
Mismanagement of rivers

186
Q

Agricultural development?

A

Farming upstream of urbanised floodplains can result in flooding downstream: soil compaction and deforestation

187
Q

Mismanagement of rivers?

A

Straightening channels in urban areas can result in flooding: increase discharge and the natural channel may not be able to cope

188
Q

Channelization?

A

Straightening the river channel

189
Q

How do you measure the flood frequency?

A

Calculated by observing how often a flood of a certain magnitude occurs in a given .location or time period

190
Q

What is flood frequency expressed in?

A

Return periods or recurrence intervals e.g. A 1 in 100 year flood meaning the flood magnitude is only to occur once in an 100 year period

191
Q

Return periods?

A

An average based on historical data (flood magnitude), it gives the estimated time interval between events of a similar size or intensity.

192
Q

What does IPCC stand for?

A

Intergovernmental panel on climate change

193
Q

What does the IPCC predict regarding climate change?

A

That increasing greenhouse gas concentrations will have a considerable impact on the global hydrological cycle

194
Q

Globally, what is there an increase of?

A

Precipitation intensity

195
Q

What does the increase of precipitation intensity due to climate change result in?

A

A depletion of stores and a faster hydrological cycle- a wetter atmosphere

196
Q

What will changes in run off due to climate change result in?

A

Less water stored as groundwater
Rapid snow melt= flashy flooding
Some regions will experience limited runoff

197
Q

In terms of drought, how will this worsen due to climate change?

A

Greater level of evapotranspiration and limited amount of surface storage

198
Q

How unequal is the worlds water supply?

A

Proportion of worlds water that is accessible for human is very small: 1%- not equally distributed and demand is too high

199
Q

What does the water availability gap refer to?

A

How water is not equally distributed and demand is too high

200
Q

In terms of water distribution, what country factors are important?

A

Physical geographical factors such as climate and development level such as affluence and population size

201
Q

What % of water is contained in just 10 country?

A

60%

202
Q

What % of worlds population live in areas receiving only 25% of worlds annual rainfall?

A

66%

203
Q

How much has water usage increased between the years of 1900-2000?

A

85%- set to increase further

204
Q

What are the three main causes that impact the water availably gap?

A

Diminishing supplies
Rising demand
Competing demand from users

205
Q

What are some examples of rising demand that impact water supplies?

A

Population growth

Economic development

206
Q

What are some examples of diminishing supplies that impact water supplies?

A

Impact of climate change
Deteriorating quality from the population
Water pressure point/ water hotspot= supplies under threat

207
Q

What are some examples of competing demand from users that impact water supplies?

A

Internal conflicts in a basin

International issues upstream and downstream

208
Q

Main PHYSICAL factors affecting water supply?

A

Topography
Geology
Climate x precipitation
River systems

209
Q

The physical factors affecting water supplies on a regional scale?

A

Geology
Topography
Snow fall and glaciers
River systems

210
Q

The physical factors affecting water supplies on a global scale?

A

Climate

211
Q

How does climate affect water supplies?

A

Precipitation varies across different climates: mid lat receives most rainfall
Seasonal and highly variable

212
Q

How does topography affect water supplies?

A

Areas with high relief generally get more precipitation and surface runoff is greater for more inclined planes, so channel flow tends to be larger so water can be easily stored in dams and reservoirs
High relief allows for cryosphere storage

213
Q

How does geology affect water supplies?

A

Controls the distribution of aquifers and groundwater storage- permeable rocks can be infiltrated, water can be stored easily underground

214
Q

Why is geology important in terms of groundwater?

A

Groundwater regulates flows and provides an even supply of water throughout the year, provided natural recharge can keep up with abstraction

215
Q

How does river systems affect water supplies?

A

Are important for regional water supplies- a significant source of water for multiple counties

216
Q

How do snow and glaciers affect water supplies?

A

Their seasonal thaw feeds into river systems.

217
Q

How does the global atmospheric pressure system play a big role in water security?

A

Makes the mid lats and equatorial regions water secure

218
Q

When does water scarcity occur?

A

When there’s less than 1000m cubed per capita of water available

219
Q

What % of the worlds counties face physical scarcity, where more that 75% of their blue water flows aren’t being used?

A

2.5%

220
Q

By 2050. what % of people will be experiencing water scarcity?

A

1.5 billion people

221
Q

Economic water scarcity?

A

Don’t have enough money to invest in new technology, lack of governance etc

222
Q

What is water still scarce in countries with satisfactory physical availability?

A

Poor management
Privatisation
Gov corruption

223
Q

Human factors that affect water supply?

A 
Pollution 
Industrial pressure 
industrial activity 
Over extraction 
Saltwater encroachment
224
Q

As a direct result of limited supply, what has happened to price of water?

A

Price of clean water has increased

225
Q

What does the increase in the price of water affect?

A

The access of water

226
Q

Four sustainable ways to manage the drainage basin?

A

Growing vegetation on roofs- increase interception
Create permeable pavements- increase infiltration
Rainwater harvesting- collecting rainwater
Creating wetlands- act as natural sponges in

227
Q

What are the impacts of allowing human development on a basin to occur?

A

Deforestation, tree felling and slash-and-burn- soil erosion and more surface runoff
Impermeable surfaces- more surface run off
Bridges can act as dams on some rivers- restricts channel flow
Drainage and sewage systems will reduce lag time- flash flooding risks

228
Q

How does wet lands act as temporary water stores within the hydrological cycle?

A

Act as giant water filters which traps and recycles nutrients and pollutants which maintains water quality

Geography- physical (10 decks)

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