Water is one of the most important substances on earth. All plants and animals must have water to survive. If there was no water there would be no life on earth.
Apart from drinking it to survive, people have many other uses for water. These include:
Apart from drinking it to survive, people have many other uses for water. These include:
- cooking
- washing their bodies
- washing clothes
- washing cooking and eating utensils; such as billies, saucepans, crockery and cutlery
- keeping houses and communities clean
- recreation; such as swimming pools
- keeping plants alive in gardens and parks
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TASK
Use the videos above to create a graphic that summarises the main points made. Techniques could include simple images, data, short sentences and key terms and concepts. Keep it neat and organised.
Use the videos above to create a graphic that summarises the main points made. Techniques could include simple images, data, short sentences and key terms and concepts. Keep it neat and organised.
The Hydrological Cycle
TASK - Annotated diagram Create a full page/poster sized fully annotated diagram to show the hydrological cycle. It should include and explain all of the terms listed below:
Use the information and images opposite and below to help you. |
The hydrological cycle is made up of STORES and TRANSFERS.
A STORE is somewhere that water stays for a period of time eg groundwater, surface water or in the ice caps.
A TRANSFER is a process which moves the water from one place or state to another eg evaporation, groundwater-flow.
Go back to your diagram and identify the stores and transfers. Use colour and a key to show these clearly.
A STORE is somewhere that water stays for a period of time eg groundwater, surface water or in the ice caps.
A TRANSFER is a process which moves the water from one place or state to another eg evaporation, groundwater-flow.
Go back to your diagram and identify the stores and transfers. Use colour and a key to show these clearly.
Drainage basins and the work of rivers
A Drainage basin, also called Catchment Area, or (in North America) Watershed, is an area from which all precipitation flows to a single stream or set of streams. For example, the total area drained by the Mississippi River constitutes its drainage basin, whereas that part of the Mississippi River drained by the Ohio River is the Ohio’s drainage basin. The boundary between drainage basins is a drainage divide: all the precipitation on opposite sides of a drainage divide will flow into different drainage basins.
TASK
Rearrange the descriptions to correctly match the definitions.
Rearrange the descriptions to correctly match the definitions.
TASK
We're heading down the Mississippi, yo. Grab your rod and wellies.
The river can be thought of as having an UPPER, MIDDLE and LOWER section. Note down the river features and characteristics seen and place them in the correct river section. Find as many as you can. Use the video timings below and identify the features and characteristics seen. Characteristics should include vegetation, gradient, or land use.
Feature Characteristics
0.26
0.56
1.07
1.34
2.17
3.02
3.16
3.25
3.32
4.13
4.30
We're heading down the Mississippi, yo. Grab your rod and wellies.
The river can be thought of as having an UPPER, MIDDLE and LOWER section. Note down the river features and characteristics seen and place them in the correct river section. Find as many as you can. Use the video timings below and identify the features and characteristics seen. Characteristics should include vegetation, gradient, or land use.
Feature Characteristics
0.26
0.56
1.07
1.34
2.17
3.02
3.16
3.25
3.32
4.13
4.30
Do these images show UPPER, MIDDLE or LOWER sections of a river/drainage basin?
TASK
Use the map below to find:
Use the map below to find:
- The source of the River Trent
- Two river confluences into the Trent
- Two small towns on the Trent
- Two major towns or cities on the Trent
- Where the Trent meets the sea (estuary)
What is a "river regime"?
The regime of a river is the way in which the discharge of the river changes over time or in the course of the year.
How would the regime of a river be affected by each of the following:
Sketch a set of axes like the ones shown below and work in pairs to draw and try to explain how you think the river regime would look for each of the rivers listed:
How would the regime of a river be affected by each of the following:
- A sudden intense period of rainfall
- Snow melting on mountains at the end of summer
- A long period of drought
Sketch a set of axes like the ones shown below and work in pairs to draw and try to explain how you think the river regime would look for each of the rivers listed:
- A river on Java, Indonesia
- A river in northern Nigeria, on the edge of the Sahel. Rain falls only between June and August
- A river in NW Europe where precipitation falls year round. During the winter months precipitation falls as snow which does not melt until March.
Storm or Flood Hydrographs
Storm hydrographs show how the discharge of a stream or river changes after a period of rainfall. They help us to understand how factors like vegetation, land use, water abstraction and dams, hydraulic radius, stream flow can affect the hydrograph of a river. Use the diagram opposite to draw and fully annotate your own copy of the storm hydrograph. Make sure you have explained each of the following:
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How do rivers erode, transport and deposit material?
Erosion is the process that wears away the river bed and banks. Erosion also breaks up the rocks that are carried by the river.
There are four types of erosion:
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Transportation is when the river picks up sediment and carries it downstream in different ways.
There are four types of transportation:
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TASK
Watch the video below. How many processes can you spot?
As you watch, create 2 questions for small groups in the class to investigate. These could be about landscape, processes, features, wildlife, politics, land use, history of the river, futures, etc.
Watch the video below. How many processes can you spot?
As you watch, create 2 questions for small groups in the class to investigate. These could be about landscape, processes, features, wildlife, politics, land use, history of the river, futures, etc.
TASK
The image above shows the main river features caused by the processes of erosion, transportation and deposition.
For each of the features, find a located real world example using google maps. Take a screen shot image of each and explain its formation. This could also include an historical explanation, such as Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon in the US.
Organise your examples into erosion, transportation or deposition features.
The image above shows the main river features caused by the processes of erosion, transportation and deposition.
For each of the features, find a located real world example using google maps. Take a screen shot image of each and explain its formation. This could also include an historical explanation, such as Niagara Falls or the Grand Canyon in the US.
Organise your examples into erosion, transportation or deposition features.
Managing rivers and river flooding
Hard engineering
Flooding can cause damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure and communications.
Hard engineering involves building artificial structures which try to control rivers. They tend to be more expensive. Each hard engineering strategy has its advantages and disadvantages.
Flooding can cause damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure and communications.
Hard engineering involves building artificial structures which try to control rivers. They tend to be more expensive. Each hard engineering strategy has its advantages and disadvantages.
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Dams and reservoirs
The dam traps water, which builds up behind it, forming a reservoir. Water can be released in a controlled way.
Advantages
Disadvantages
The dam traps water, which builds up behind it, forming a reservoir. Water can be released in a controlled way.
Advantages
- Can be used to produce electricity by passing the water through a turbine within the dam.
- Reservoirs can attract tourists.
Disadvantages
- Very expensive.
- Dams trap sediment which means the reservoir can hold less water.
- Habitats are flooded often leading to rotting vegetation. This releases methane which is a greenhouse gas.
- Settlements are lost leading to the displacement of people. In developing countries locals are not always consulted and have little say in where they are relocated.
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TASK - Evaluation using evidence
There is huge evidence to suggest that dams are environmentally harmful and that their economic, energy and social benefits are often overstated. Knowing this, attempt the question:
"Is it possible to support the widespread global use of dams?"
Think in terms of their economic and social benefits and use specific examples that support your arguments.
There is huge evidence to suggest that dams are environmentally harmful and that their economic, energy and social benefits are often overstated. Knowing this, attempt the question:
"Is it possible to support the widespread global use of dams?"
Think in terms of their economic and social benefits and use specific examples that support your arguments.
River straightening and dredging
Straightening the river speeds up the water so high volumes of water can pass through an area quickly. Dredging makes the river deeper so it can hold more water.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Straightening the river speeds up the water so high volumes of water can pass through an area quickly. Dredging makes the river deeper so it can hold more water.
Advantages
- More water can be held in the channel.
- It can be used to reduce flood risk in built-up areas.
Disadvantages
- Dredging needs to be done frequently.
- Speeding up the river increases flood risk downstream.
Embankments
Raising the banks of a river means that it can hold more water.
Advantages
Disadvantages
Raising the banks of a river means that it can hold more water.
Advantages
- Cheap with a one-off cost.
- Allows for flood water to be contained within the river.
Disadvantages
- Looks unnatural.
- Water speeds up and can increase flood risk downstream.
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TASK
Use the videos above to explain the specific causes and consequences of the flooding events and the advantages and disadvantages of the hard engineering flood prevention techniques.
Use the videos above to explain the specific causes and consequences of the flooding events and the advantages and disadvantages of the hard engineering flood prevention techniques.
TASK
Watch the video below about the Mississippi River floods of 1993. Create a case study of the event. This should include:
Watch the video below about the Mississippi River floods of 1993. Create a case study of the event. This should include:
- Maps and specific locations
- Causes of the floods (Long term and short term)
- Effects of the floods (Long term and short term, scale)
- Response to the floods (Successful or unsuccessful)
- Effect of engineering and management strategies (Successful or unsuccessful)
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Case study - Bangladesh and its perfect storm
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TASK
Give examples of how these impacts are being managed. Short Term Management 1. Boats to rescue people 2. Emergency supplies for food, water, tents and medicines 3. Fodder for livestock 4. Repair and rebuild houses, as well as services such as sewage, etc 5. Aid from other countries |
Long Term Management 1. Reduce Deforestation in Nepal & Himalayas 2. Build 7 large dams in Bangladesh to store excess water $30-$40 million and 40 yrs to complete 3. Build 5000 flood shelters to accommodate all the population 4. Build 350km of embankment - 7 metres high at a cost of $6 billion to reduce flooding along the main river channels 5. Create flood water storage areas 6. Develop an effective Flood Warning Scheme |