Read this article for an introduction to the unit Groundwater. Published by http://www.yearofplanetearth.org/ |
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Hydrological cycle 1) Water balance = relationship between inputs and outputs of a drainage basin.
2) Stores and transfers of water in the hydrological cycle. 3) Recap water cycle (simple animation), 4) Problem of less water being stored as ice in the water cycle Maximum Sustainable Yield: The maximum level of extraction that can be maintained indefinitely for a given area.water mining - sustainable? sea level? Global business & water shortages Key terms: evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration, condensation, precipitation,interception, infiltration, percolation, surface runoff, throughflow, baseflow, groundwater. |
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Drainage Basins Drainage Basin: The area drained by a river and its tributaries.Drainage Divide: Also known as a watershed, it is the line defining the boundary of a river or stream drainage basin separating it from adjacent basin(s).5) Features of drainage basins: source, tributary, confluence, channel, floodplain, mouth, delta, distributaries. 6) River profile & characteristics: upper, middle & lower valley. Bradshaw model. Waterfalls. 7) River discharge: define, measurement (cumecs). |
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Storm/flood Hydrographs 8) What is a hydrograph? Key characteristics (discharge, rising limb, recessional/falling limb, peak flow, baseflow, runoff, lag time). 9) Factors affecting the hydrograph: basin shape/size, drainage density, human influence, slope gradient, climate, soil type, vegetation, 10) Purpose & use of hydrographs in flood prediction.
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Flooding 1) Physical & human causes of flooding. CASE STUDY: Bangladesh floodingSee slide show below. Include - Geograpphical location, physical & human causes, effects & preventative efforts. Case study notes (password required)
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Dams & Resovoirs Case Study: Aswan Dam - EgyptCosts/benefits of the dam Q19 p.100 (Waugh) Case study notes (password required) |
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Case Study: 3 Gorges Dam - China
Cracks in the Three Gorges Dam, (300,000 people can wave goodbye to their homes) Three Gorges dam wall completed Three Gorges dam's social impact More people moved in China near Three Gorges dam Geography pages: Three Gorges dam section Three Gorges dam 'could be blocked by rubbish' Damming the Mekong, Laos building new megadam (BBC) |
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Floodplain Management 1) Factors affecting erosion: velocity, gradient, human activities. 2) Levees, meanders & oxbow lakes. 3) Notes about deposition: deposition features (deltas, braided channels, levees), reason for increased deposition & benefits brought by deposition.. 4) Human modifications of floodplain & effect on flooding
5) Management Strategies Storm channels through cities Case Study: London, UKshort guides looking at some of the causes & solutions to flooding in London Flood barriers such as the Thames Barrier, London Upstream measures: Yangtze River: China. 3 Gorges Dam upstream to hold back floodwater & release it slowly. Jingjiang flood diversion scheme - area allowed to flood to protect large urban areas downstream.
Mississippi flood gates opened (Telegraph 2011) |
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Practise Exam Q You may use your books, research etc to answer this - make it thorough & treat it as a learning execise rather than a test. |
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Groundwater Management Unsustainable use of groundwater: India New reserves of groundwater discovered: Namibia
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Wetlands & Management Wetlands: Areas that are regularly saturated by surface water or groundwater, including freshwater marshes, swamps and bogs.What are wetlands & why are they important. |
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Irrigation & Agriculture 1) Irrigation - p.490 (Waugh) define & why used? What are boom & drip irrigation (p.491). 2) Salinisation - p.496 (Waugh) why can irrigation cause salinisation & how can it be managed?
Case Study: Kissimmee River RestorationWhere is the Kissimmee river. How, why & when was it altered? Why and how is it being restored? (and at what cost?) Resources: http://www.theevergladesstory.org/journey/index0.php http://www.protectingourwater.org/watersheds/map/kissimmee_river/
3) Chemicals & eutrophication - p.494 (Waugh) side effects of chemicals on water supplies. What is eutrophication & why is it a problem
Fertilisers: Enriching the worlds soil
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Conflict over water - National or local scale 1) P.490 Waugh. Case study (password required) |
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The Guardian.co.uk - The AndesMini-series looking at water shortages in Peru - causes, effects and some ideas about what can be done. |
The Andes: The farmers' struggle |
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Peru's water protests halt Machu Picc hu tourism |
| bbc.co.uk: Chiles water conflicts between mining & agriculture in the Atacama Desert. |
Conflict over water - International ScaleCase Study (password required) The Nile River Basin Water politics in the Nile Basin How should the Nile's waters be shared? (2004) East African nations to challenge colonial Nile treaty (2010) Egypt cuts water use as Ethiopia dams for power (2010) Extra reading: Water Conflict and Cooperation/Nile River Basin (2003) |
Complete: Past Exam Q essay:
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Lake Mead & the Hoover DamWater wars in the USA: BBC video clip about state conflicts over the use of the Rio Grandes water. Age of Limits: 21st Century Water Management from Alexandra Cousteau on Vimeo. Dams around the world & some of the concerns & benefits. bbc.co.uk |
Tanning Factories & the River Ganges
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Check your knowledge
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