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Droughts can have severe consequences in some regions.
Drought
Droughts often mean a shortage of water. This can be either an inconvenience (leading to a hosepipe ban for instance) or a disaster (leading to famine and loss of life). This GCSE Geography quiz looks at some of the causes and effects of drought and some ways in which we can conserve water.
We rely broadly on two things to survive - sunlight (so producers can start the food chain) and water (for hydrating us, plants and other animals). In general, people will be able to get water to drink in all but the most extreme circumstances, but a shortage of water can have other negative effects. Without adequate water, crops will die, or at least show lower yield, and animals may have to be slaughtered before they have grown to their full size. It may also be difficult to have adequate sanitation.
1 .
What is a drought?
A period of highly variable rainfall
When rivers fall below particular levels
A period of below average precipitation in a specific region
When there is no water for human or animal use
Average precipitation is the criteria by which a drought is measured. This means that even wet countries can have a drought
2 .
Why is drought worse in areas that are considered marginal land for farming?
There is no margin of error, as the land is already difficult to grow crops on
People will give up sooner since the margin for profits are much lower
Being on higher ground, they will dry out sooner
Marginal land is less prone to desertification
Marginal land is much more prone to desertification. Imagine it as a balancing act, with a drought being enough to tip things over the edge
3 .
How does the UK ensure the population have a continuous supply of water?
By pumping water out of rivers
By desalination of sea water
By recycling water from sewage
By using reservoirs to store water and boreholes to reach the water table
Some nations recycle water for drinking but the UK uses it for industrial purposes. In the UK a series of reservoirs and the use of the water table ensure that a continuous supply can be provided. After a series of droughts in the South East there were calls to provide desalination plants near London to provide fresh water, but this is a costly method. With the average rainfall remaining high across the UK there are plans to move water from the North to the South
4 .
Do all droughts have the same effect worldwide?
Yes, since droughts are measured by their effects
No, since average rainfall differs between countries, so below average is a different measurement depending on the climate
Yes, since drought is measured by a specific amount of rainfall
No, since drought is measured on amount of water in the rivers and water table and so can be influenced by a variety of factors
Britain has suffered from several years of drought, specifically in the South East of England. However, compared to droughts in parts of Africa, there is a huge difference in the impact. Hosepipe bans were introduced and some rivers ran dry in England. At the same time there was a greater than average rainfall in parts of the North of England, meaning there was no serious threat to human life
5 .
Which of these areas is prone to dangerous droughts?
The Lake District
Canada
Sahel, in North Africa
Bangladesh
Sahel, in North Africa, is one of the regular case studies on drought. As well as the seasonally wet and dry seasons, there is a real risk that the rains will fail to appear in what should be the wet season. There have been droughts on and off for many years now
6 .
How is climate change likely to affect the number of occurrences of drought?
Droughts will reduce, as the warmer air is able to hold more moisture
It's unlikely to change to any great amount as the drought hit areas are already an extreme environment
It's unlikely to change to any great amount as an increase in floods will compensate
Drought will become more common as extreme weather becomes more common
The predictions are that droughts and desertification will become much worse in the parts of the world that can least afford to have the conditions deteriorate, for example, the Sahel
7 .
Why does high atmospheric pressure lead to periods of drought?
The descending air moves too fast to rain
The air is descending, which inhibits the formation of cloud
The high pressure forces the rain clouds away
The winds in an area of high pressure blow rain clouds through too fast
Clouds form as warm, moist air rises and cools, so in high pressure systems, where the air is descending, the moisture in the air does not condense. No clouds, no rain!
8 .
Which of these is a secondary hazard of drought?
Water shortage
Desertification
Warmer weather
Hurricanes
Drought can lead to desertification which in turn leads to surface run off and lower levels of precipitation
9 .
Which of the following is a primary hazard of drought?
Lack of water
Reduced tourism
Damage to crops
Damage to wildlife
The lack of water will lead to the failure of crops and damage to the ecosystem
10 .
In the UK, droughts can reduce the water table, leading to small and seasonal rivers running dry, water having to be regulated by hosepipe bans, fish struggling due to increased concentrations of pollutants and low oxygen levels in the slow moving waterways. Which of the following is not a way that households can reduce water use?
Having a water meter fitted
Using a hosepipe more
Reducing the size of the toilet cistern
Taking showers rather than baths
In areas of drought, reducing individual household water consumption can help to stop a drought becoming a more serious issue
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