Drought

• 1. Climatic hazards: Drought & Desertification

2. Starter: Watch the following video clip carefully and identify the issues associated with a lack of rainfall. What is the pattern of freshwater across the world? Why do some places enjoy a surplus while others suffer deficit? 3. World without water YouTube clip 4. Describe the pattern of the distribution of freshwater across the world. 5. What is a drought? A drought occurs when there is not enough rainfall to support people or crops There are various causes, human and natural Drought is hard to prevent & can cause crop failure, famine, death, fires & desertification It is a weather hazard that can develop slowly 6. Deaths as a consequence of drought Of all drought-related disasters from 1975-2000, 98% of deaths occur in just three countries: Ethiopia, Sudan & Mozambique 1975-2000: +560000 deaths worldwide from drought disasters 7. Causes of drought Natural / Physical causes: - Weather: increased amount of anticyclone weather (hot + dry) means air holds less moisture so you get less rain - Global warming: weather patterns change (e.g. Sahel is becoming hotter + drier) - Hotter weather = more evaporation than precipitation - El Nino: random weather event that reverses normal weather patterns (e.g. Australia has years of drought + then years of flood) Human causes: - Overpopulation: too many people living in an area using too much water - Overcultivation: planting too many crops which use up too much water - Overextraction: removing too much water from wells so they dry up - Deforestation: cutting down trees which otherwise store water + hold soil together - Politics: fighting over water, or companies being greedy + taking too much water to then sell on 8. Explore the news Barcelona drought news Australia drought Australia drought 2 9. Case Studies LEDC = Ethiopia (Sahel region) 1985-2006 MEDC = Australia 2005-2008 10. Ethiopia drought 11. Ethiopia drought 2006 Sahel region, drought conditions since 1985 (Drought of 1984-1985 = 1million deaths) Causes = natural climatic causes (low precipitation), human causes (deforestation, desertification, overpopulation, overcultivation) GDP per capita $110, life expectancy 43yrs 2006 = affected 2.7million people UNICEF donated $50million to water aid projects Consequences = famine, migration, disease, 46% of cattle died, debt 12. Australia drought 13. Australia drought 2006 Extremely low rainfall season (lowest rain since 1900) across southern Australia River Murray dried up in places Triggered by El Nino weather event causes excessively low rainfall Human causes = poor use of water resources Consequences: 6million sheep died in 2years, temporary migrations, improvements to water resource use, eventual floods! 14. Causes, effects, case studies, management? Use the textbook and the photocopies to explore the causes & consequences of drought Include human & physical causes, the effects & how they are managed Consider patterns of rainfall & how the land is managed CASE STUDIES: CAUSES, EFFECTS, RESPONSES 15. How can drought and desertification be managed? 16. Watch the slide show from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2009/may/18/desertifica tion-china?picture=347540416 Mindmap the ways that people are affected by desertification 17. What is desertification? 18. How can it be managed? Afforestation? Terracing? Magic stones? 19. Exam Qs Describe & explain the causes of drought. [4marks] What are the patterns associated with droughts? [2marks] With reference to a case study, describe the effects of and responses to drought. [6marks]