Water World Revision

Key Ideas Detailed content

Why is

water

important to

the health of the planet?

The hydrological cycle regulates water supply and links the atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere.

Investigating the role of the biosphere and the lithosphere in regulating the hydrological cycle and ensuring water supply. Workings of the hydrological cycle, as a system.

Changes to the hydrological cycle can affect both human and ecosystem health

Investigating the impact of unreliable and insufficient water supply on humans, using a case study from a vulnerable area, eg South Eastern Australia.

Considering the impact of climate change on the hydrological cycle and ecosystems, in areas which may experience increased aridity.

How can water

resources be sustainably

managed?

There are many threats to maintaining a healthy hydrological cycle.

Considering the consequences of human interference on water quality, eg river pollution.

Examining located examples of human interference that disrupt water supply eg deforestation, over abstraction of groundwater and reservoir construction.

There is a range of strategies, at a variety of scales, designed to manage water resources more sustainably using different levels of technology.

Considering the costs and benefits of large scale water management projects, eg the Aswan Dam

Examining the role of named small-scale intermediate technology solutions such as the Afridev hand pump in Tanzania.

What impact will deforestation have on the water cycle?How else can people interfere with the hydrological cycle?

SE Australia: what’s the problem

• What was the name of the area that we studied?

• What was the issue?

• What was making the problem worse?

Climate change

• Less rainfall – what effect? where?

• More rainfall – what effect? where?

• Glacial melting – what effect? where?

Advantages Disadvantages

Aswan

Dam

Afridev Hand pump

Exam Question

• Use your table to answer this question:

• Using a named example, describe the benefits and costs of a large scale water management project (4)

• Which example should you use?• Mention advantages and disadvantages, and try

to develop your points

Key word bingo

• These are the key terms relating to the Water World unit• You need to know what these words mean, and how to use

them.• Pick nine and write them in a 3x3 grid

Aquifer Joints Throughflow

Deforestation Over abstraction Water flow

Ecosystem Permeable Water harvesting

Groundwater Pollution Water management schemes

Hydrological cycle Pores

Impermeable Precipitation Water store

Infiltration Regulated flow Water table

Intermediate Technology River pollution