drought
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Drought. Learning objectives: Specific climatic conditions leads to drought Natural hazards occur when events adversely affect people Droughts are responsible for hazards such as crop failure, famine, wildfires. What does this image tell you about where drought occurs?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
DroughtLearning objectives:• Specific climatic conditions leads
to drought• Natural hazards occur when
events adversely affect people• Droughts are responsible for
hazards such as crop failure, famine, wildfires
What does this image tell you about where
drought occurs?
WHAT IS DROUGHT? In the UK an official drought is declared
when at least 15 consecutive days go by without more than 0.2mm of rain.
In the Sahel, a drought is declared when there’s below average rainfall for 2 years. The Sahel has actually suffered drought for most of the last 30 years.
DROUGHT HAZARD IN LEDCS Drought is often quoted as one of the
major natural hazards of the developing world
Drought killed just under 10 million in China in 1878.Drought is different from other hazards unlike floods and tropical storms it never kills people directly
TEST BITE Drought is declared in the UK when 15
consecutive days go by with no more than how much rainfall?
When is drought declared in the Sahel? How is drought different to other
climatic hazards?
GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION On a global scale drought prone areas can be predicted with accuracy Tropical high pressure zones will have low rainfall as air descends e.g. Sahara desert Whilst these areas are drought prone their lack of rainfall is not seen as natural hazard as the populations there are very small and dispersed
SO WHERE IS IT SEEN AS A NATURAL HAZARD?
Drought is mostly a hazard in the semi-arid regions adjacent to the desert areas. Here seasonal rainfall allows agriculture and has sustained a large population.Millions of people are therefore affected by any change in the pattern of rainfall
THE SAHEL This is the semi arid region south of the
Sahara consisting of 6 countries: Senegal Mauritania Mali Burkina Faso Niger Chad
TEST BITE Why are droughts in desert areas such
as the Sahara not a natural hazard? In which areas is drought the biggest
hazard? Name the 6 countries in the Sahel
region of Africa.
THE SAHEL REGION HAS A WET AND A DRY SEASON DEPENDING ON THE POSTION OF THE ITCZ (INTER TROPICAL CONVERGENT ZONE)
HOWEVER Sometimes the wet season does not
arrive or lasts a shorter than usual time The ITCZ does not migrate as far North
as it usually does. This is due to the influence of sea
temperatures.
TEST BITE What does ITCZ stand for? Why is it important to the Sahel? What causes the failure of the wet
season?
EL NINO Watch the video and then explain how
this phenomenon causes drought.
DESERTIFICATION. Drought is often worsened by ecosystem
degradation Over cultivation – takes too much nutrients from
the soil results in erosion leading to desertification Overgrazing – animals eat plants soil no longer
protected Decline of traditional nomadic lifestyle due to
conflicts and changes in farming due to pressure of increased population.
Removal of bushes and small trees for fuel meeting the demand of an increased population
TEST BITE~ COPY AND EXPLAIN EACH FACTOR
overgrazing
Over cultivation
Over population
Decline of traditional nomadic herders
desertification causes
CAUSES IN THE UK Long periods of high atmospheric pressure
(anticyclones) clouds don’t form so it doesn’t rain.
Long periods of high temperatures. This means more evapotranspiration than precipitation.
Land use e.g. agriculture uses a lot of water High population density strain on resource Changes in the way we live, and increasing
wealth e.g. power showers, dishwashers.
DROUGHT HAZARD IN MEDC Disrupts lifestyles – Watch the video clip 2003 European heat wave sparked
wildfires in Portugal which killed people. Harvests fell dramatically.
Water tables fall small rivers dry up can affect aquatic life
TEST BITE What are the 5 causes of drought in the
UK?
TECHNOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO DROUGHT
Improved forecasting – monitoring El Nino and other surface temperature anomalies may give an advance warning of droughts caused by complex atmospheric circulations.
Ecosystem monitoring – spots early signs of land degradation
Improved water conservation – low tech e.g. stone piles or bunds, agroforestry. High-tech drip irrigation, increase fertilizers, genetically engineered crop varieties.
OTHER RESPONSES Water rates increase Free installation of water saving
devices Non essential uses banned e.g. hose
pipe Reclaim water from sewage treatment
plants. Repair water pipes Build reservoirs in wetter places and
pipe to more populated areas
PLENARYDo you feel that you could answer the exam question given?
Do you think that “test bite powerpoint talk” is a good way to learn?
Homework answer the exam question