Geography GCSE Edexcel - Hurricane Sandy and Namibia/California Droughts for Weather and Climate

Causes of Namibia drought

Causes of Namibia drought

2013/2014 rain seasons were driest recorded, complacency and lack of preparation due to preceding wet weather

Rainfall deficit percentages in 2013/2014 Namibia

20%-50% in North, 50%-90% in Central

Social impacts of Namibia drought

Livestock and crop death (food shortage), malnutrition, stunting in children

Percentage reduction in harvests in Namibia

In 2014, 42% lower than in 2012

Number of Namibians malnourished

1 in 3 at risk, 778000 moderately or severely food insecure

Economic impacts of Namibian drought

Long term desertification, vegetation change, lack of production of rain-fed crops

Result of dried up wells in Namibia

Mass migration of people, pressure on non-drought areas

Individual responses to Namibian drought

Farmers selling livestock, job changes

Organisational responses to Namibian drought

Food aid, food and water distribution

Donation of UNICEF to Namibia

US$17 million

Donation of International Red Cross to Namibia

US$1.5 million

Donation of Algeria to Namibia

US$1 million worth of food aid

Government responses to Namibian drought

State of emergency, exchange of livestock to the government for money, subsidies for transportation to emergency grazing areas

Money requested for Namibia

US$1 million

Amount of money available to affected communities in Namibia

US$13 million

Causes of California drought

2013/2014 rain seasons were driest recorded, arid environment, agricultural shift towards more water-intensive crops

Social impacts of California drought

Use of polluted water, communal tanks in low-income areas

Economic impacts of California drought

Loans to dig deeper wells, alternative sources of irrigation needed in agriculture

Percentage of water in California used for agriculture

80%

Amount of money lost in California drought

US$1.5 billion

Number of jobs lost in California drought

17000

Percentage inflation of food prices

6%

Environmental impacts of California drought

Wildfires, Land subsidence, shortage of river fish

Time and location of wildfires in California

May 2014, San Diego

Size of shrinkage of land in Central Valley California

<60cm

Individual responses to California drought

Smaller crops grown, sparing use of water

Organisational responses to California drought

Linen and towels not washed daily in hotels, schools (e.g. Stone Corral Elementary) purchasing bottled drinking water

Government responses to California drought

State of emergency, funds given from the President

Amount of money given from President Obama to California

US$100 million

Time and location of Superstorm Sandy

Began in Western Caribbean, travelled to Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, USA, October 2012

Number of USA states affected by Superstorm Sandy

24

Loss of money of USA in Superstorm Sandy

US$63 billion

Death toll in USA in Superstorm Sandy

117 (41 in New York)

Economic impacts of Superstorm Sandy on Cuba

Repair costs, construction materials price cut, interest-free loans for reparation

Percentage drop of GDP in Cuba after Superstorm Sandy

5% (2.4% for reparation), meaning US$2 billion

Percentage price cut of construction materials in Cuba after Superstorm Sandy

50%

Social impacts of Superstorm Sandy on Cuba

No electricity and fresh water, deaths and affected lives, evacuations, property damage, blocked roads and airports

Death toll and affected lives in Cuba in Superstorm Sandy

11 people killed, 3 million (27% of population) affected

Number of people evacuated in Cuba in Superstorm Sandy

55000

Number of houses destroyed or damaged in Cuba in Superstorm Sandy

17000 destroyed, 226000 damaged

Environmental impacts of Superstorm Sandy on Cuba

Destruction to banana crops, coffee plantations in mountains swept away, beaches swept away, coastal flooding, trees uprooted in Santiago de Cuba

Area of banana crops destroyed in Cuba in Superstorm Sandy

2600 hectares

Individual responses to Superstorm Sandy in Cub

Sheltering in other’s homes, rebuilding with material from the government and organisations, no home insurance

Organisational responses to Superstorm Sandy in Cuba

Emergency funds, aid from other countries

Donation from UN to Cuba in Superstorm Sandy

US$5.5 million

Countries that provided aid to Cuba in Superstorm Sandy

Venezuela, Russia, Japan

Amount of aid given from Venezuela to Cuba in Superstorm Sandy

650 tonnes, in the form of food, water, heavy machinery

Government responses to Superstorm Sandy in Cuba

Teams of electricians sent to Santiago, giving out of building materials, clearing of rubble by military

Materials given by the Cuban government after Superstorm Sandy

Corrugated iron sheet, metal rods, cement

Amount of trees cleared by military in Cuba after Superstorm Sandy

6.5 million m³

Social impacts of Superstorm Sandy on USA

Power cuts, property damage, flooding of streets and subway

Number of homes with power cuts in USA in Superstorm Sandy

9 million

Number of houses destroyed or damaged in USA in Superstorm Sandy

650000

Number of cars destroyed by flood water in USA in Superstorm Sandy

250000

Economic impacts of Superstorm Sandy on USA

Large insurance claims, large reparation costs

Total insurance claims in USA after Superstorm Sandy

US$3.3 billion

Damage cost in USA due to Superstorm Sandy

US$19 billion (US$1.1 billion on sewage in New Jersey and New York)

Environmental impacts of Superstorm Sandy in USA

Sea water contamination in fresh water habitats, release of sewage, damage of beaches, oil spills

Volume of sewage released into Raritan River during Superstorm Sandy

1.5 billion L

Percentage of beaches in New York and New Jersey damaged from Superstorm Sandy

90%

Volume of Arthur Kill oil spill in Superstorm Sandy

15 million L

Individual responses to Superstorm Sandy in USA

Sheltering in other’s homes, hiring builders for rebuilding, home insurance or aid from organisations and government

Organisational responses to Superstorm Sandy in USA

Restoring beaches for horseshoe crabs, aid

Number of meals and snacks provided by Red Cross to USA in Superstorm Sandy

17 million

Government responses to Superstorm Sandy in USA

Aid to victims, improved weather forecasting, funds for emergency food assistance and reparation for farmlands

Aid given by USA government in Superstorm Sandy

US$60.3 billion

Fund given by Department of Agriculture in USA in Superstorm Sandy

US$6.2 million