Geo Active Questions 2!

1) List the main reasons for water scarcity.
The main reasons of water scarcity are Variations in climate, land degradation, water pollution and population growth.

2) What is a drought? What type of hardships do you think that a drought could cause if you were living in a village in a poor country such as Ethiopia?
A drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall. Hunger, scarcity of water, shelter and clothing.

3) How does land degradation affect the supply of fresh water?
It affects the supply of fresh water by covering the water table and aquifer and not letting any water filter in the ground causing a salt water intrusion.

4)

(a) What is El Nino?

El Nino refers to the warming of an area that develops every 3-5 years in the Pacific Ocean of the coast of Peru. It is accompanied by a reversal of air pressure.

(b) Why does El Nino often cause drought in Australia?
Because it gives high pressure systems building up over the most area of Australia.

5) Observe the map showing the global effects of El Nino in 1982-83.
(a) What effects does El Nino have on the availability of fresh water?

Serious drought was prolonged resulting to scarcity of fresh water.

(b) Name the countries and describe the problems that arose from decreased rainfall caused by El Nino.

Africa: Reduced corn crop in sub-Saharan region.

Indonesia: high air pollution levels, following forest fires.

China: Agricultural land under threat from drought in northern regions and flooding in southern regions.

Philippines: Lower rice harvest following drought.

United States: Rainfall above normal in north-western states (double the historical averages.)

Colombia: Fishing operators affected by lower catch (down 20%.)

Peru: Flooding (also in Chile), fishing operators affected by lower catch as anchovy and Pacific sardine move offshore to escape warm currents (5 degrees Celsius above normal temperatures)

Australia: Wheat exports threatened by drought conditions across grain-growing areas, particularly New South Wales.

Papua New Guinea: Drought-related failure of food crops, leading to famine conditions requiring food aid.