resource security

resources

they are materials or substances occuring in nature which can be exploited for economic gain eg fossil fuels, freshwater

resource security

can be national or global but is the ability of a country to safeguard a reliable sustainable flow of resources to maintain the living standard of its population while ensuring ongoing economic and social development

stock resources

• also known as non-renewable resources

• they are finite and can’t be replaced in the forseeable future

• examples include coal oil and gas

flow resources

• also known as renewable resources

• can be replenished

• they include resources that will never run out and doesn’t rely on human input

• some flow resources may require careful human management to ensure replenishment

resource

the entire material

reserve

the amount of a resource that is economically viable to extract

measured reserves

the quality and density of the reserves characteristics are so well established they can be estimated with confidence

indicated reserves

confidence is sufficient to allow further evaluation into the economic viability of the reserve

inferred resources

limited geological samples conducted uncertainity in the quality / quantity of the resource

possible resources

resources that are thought to exist

potable water

water that is safe for drinking

water stress

occurs when demand for water exceeds amount of water available

water surplus

areas where there is more than sufficient water available to meet human needs

facts about water availability

• 71% global population use a safely managed drinking source

• 10% global population lack access to even a basic drinking water service

• 2 billion people use a contaminated water source

• 485,000 diarrhoea deaths each year

issues concerning water security

• water terrorism may occur

• water war due to scarcity worldwide

• climate change more severe droughts

• privatisation of the water supply

• geopolitical access

sources of water

• surface water eg rivers and reservoirs

• underground stores eg aquifers

• seawater eg desalination plants

3 main water uses

• agriculture - 69%

• commercial - 19%

• domestic - 12 %

factors need to be considered when abstracting from rivers

• river discharge

• variations in flow overtime

• water quality and contamination

• other uses of the river eg transport or wildlife conservation

negative impacts of over abstraction

• increased concentration of pollutants

• decreased velocity = sedimentation

• reduced downstream flooding may impact soil quality

• reduced flows downstream may impact habitats and kill aquatic life

water scarcity

where water resources cannot meet demand to a great extent

reservoirs

• an artificial lake where water is stored

• topography - narrow valley with steep slopes

• geology - impermeable rock - must be tectonically stable

• low flow fluctuation in river

benefits of reservoirs

• flood control- prevents flooding downstream

• stored water supply - for agricultural , industrial or public use

• multiple purposes eg Hep, fishing , recreational use

disadvantages of reservoirs

• sedimentation/siltation

• creates microclimate - smaller temperature fluctuations

• river regime changes downstream

• habitat change - flooding removes habitat ‘ creates a barrier to migration and seed dispersal

aquifers

• an underground layer which has high pressure causing water to be trapped

• recharge occurs at higher elevation creates pressure

• water can rise naturally to the surface through a well

confined and unconfined aquifers

• confined - under pressure trapped between two impermeable layers - limited to specific recharge areas- water stays underground

• unconfined- not under pressure - open to surface -recharged by rainfall , water levels may vary

issues of overabstraction

• saltwater intrusion

• subsidence

• loss of wetlands/vegetation change

• drying of soils/ osmotic dehydration

• lower water table

• rivers drying up leading to habitat loss

human factors leading to water scarcity

• wealth

• pollution

• industry

• agriculture irrigation

• development

• domestic use

• tourism, leisure recreation

• leaks in infrastructure

physical factors leading to water scarcity

• topography

• flooding

• climate change

• low/high temperatures

• geology

• weather patterns

• storage ability

physical water scarcity

where natures provision of water is insufficient to meet population needs

areas of water deficit

prevalent in areas such as mena , south west usa , parts of northern China

economic water scarcity

when a population does not have the money to utilize an adequate supply of water

characterised by unequal distribution and poor infrastructure

sub-saharan Africa ,south east asia , parts of south Africa