Subject Guide

​Physical and economic water scarcity, and the factors that control these including the causes and impacts of droughts; the distinction between water quantity and water quality.


Causes of water scarcity

  • What are the different causes of water scarcity
    • ​Physical vs economic
    • Overuse (through agriculture and industry)
    • Population growth
    • Pollution
    • Conflict
    • Drought
    • Political reasons
  • For each, search for real examples and be ready to share with the rest of the class.
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Group work presentation

In your group, investigate the cause of water shortage you have been given. You should explain to the rest of the group how is causes water shortages. You may use the whiteboard but no ICT or notes. Diagrams will be needed for all of the causes. Your presentation should be between 3-4 minutes in length and all team members must contribute. 

Hadley cell

Rain shadow

Continentality
Climate change


Case Study - The Horn of Africa

Use the resources below to create a case study which uses the 4Ps approach:
  • Place - where is the Horn of Africa? How does its location contribute to water scarcity? Think about ICTZ and how this connects to latitude but also consider the socio-economic situation of the region (you could use the CIA factbook information in the pdf from Geography pods to help here)
  • Power - how did decision makers respond and make the situation better or worse? Think about government in the affected countries, rebel forces like Al-Shabaab as well as the response of international governments, the UN and NGOs
  • Processes - what processes led to the water scarcity? Identify factors which contributed to economic water shortages and factors which led to physical water shortage. What role did climate change play?
  • Possibility - what are the possible solutions or ways of managing water in this region? Evaluate their likely success.

What were the impacts? Make your own copy of the table in the pdf and add any additional SEEP impacts.
impact_of_drought_in_the_horn_of_africa_2011.pdf
File Size: 474 kb
File Type: pdf
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