3.6 Water resources

3.6 Water resources

1. 3.6.1 Describe the earths energy budget

2. 3.6.2 Describe and evaluate the sustainability of freshwater resource usage with reference to a case study

   • Increased demand for fresh water
     • Population growth
     • Irrigation
     • Industralisation
   • Inequity of usage and political consequences
     • Water shortage could result in mass migration, civil unrest and/ war
     • Case Study: Water shortages in the Middle East
       • 5% of the world population has 0.5% of the fresh water supply
       • Cause countries who are suffering from a drought, Israel, to stop pumping from major pumps
       • Despite shortage, Israel is still sharing the supply with Jordan
       • Spectulations: Future supply will shortages will lead to conflict between bordering countries.
   • Methods of reducing usage
     • Fitting homes with more water efficient appliances
     • Expand metering to encourage effecient usage
     • Plant drought resistant crops to reduce need for irrigation
   • Factors affecting the current supply
     • Global warming disrupting rainfall patterns
     • Our withdrawal of water from underground aquifers and degrading it with wastes greater than it can be replenished

Images and files in the map