Water case studies

Libya 2023 key info

½ a years rainfall fell in 24 hours

Libya physical causes

Medicane weather event

Storm daniel

Wadi derna river valley easily flooded

Libya human contribution

Dam was not maintained by governments

2 dams constructed by clay in 1970’s

Lack of proper preparation and warnings would have eliminated deaths

Government restricted reporters and aid groups

Libya Impacts

20,000 deaths

Hospitals flooded

Roads were destroyed so aid was difficult to access

Hurricane Helene background info

Worst flood in a century

Wind speeds 140mph

Hurricane Helene physical causes

Category 4 hurricane

Extreme rainfall

Mountainous region receives heavier rain

Hurricane Helene human contribution

Human induced climate change

Hurricane Helene impacts

115 deaths

Lack of cell phone service

Large amount of debris made the area inaccessible

Valencia background info

Worst weather event in 5 decades

A years worth of rainfall in hours

Valencia physical causes

Intense rainfall, high altitude, low pressure weather systems

Flash flooding

Valencia human contribution

Local government did nothing to help despite knowing about the potential floods

Valencia impacts

205 deaths

No power or internet

No running water

Lack of deliveries

Pakistan 2022 floods background info

Worst flood since 1929

Sutlej river expanded by 4km

Pakistan 2022 physical causes

Monsoon season

Saturation of drainage basins

High rainfall

Pakistan floods human causes

Human caused climate change Pakistan is among the 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change

Pakistan floods impacts

33 million people were impacted

Waterborne diseases formed

High amount of homelessness

Panamanian canal background info

Worst drought in over 70 years 

Dricest october since records began in 1950

Panama Canal physical causes

El nino 

 Water levels in Gatun lake have continued to decline

Panama Canal human contribution

Potential for human caused climate change but too soon to predict

Panama Canal drought impacts

Long delays, reduction in the amount of ships able to pass through per day, higher shipping rates 

Higher gas prices

Amazon rainforest drought background info

Worst drought in at least half a century 

Known as ‘lungs of the planet and plays a key role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Amazon rain forest drought physical causes

El nino 

Less rainfall than normal, hotter temperatures and more evaporation from plants

Amazon rainforest drought human contribution

Human caused climate change - burning coal, oil and gas will increase amazon droughts to every 13 years

Amazon rainforest droughts impacts

Increased droughts, 

Increased rate of global warming 

Increased chance of fires

South Africa (2013-2017) background info

3 year drought

Worst in history

South Africa (2013-2017) physical causes

El nino 

Smaller average rainfall of 500mm making it more vulnerable 

SA 2013-2017 human causes

High water consumption due to demographic change 

human caused climate change

SA 2013-2017 impacts

Agricultural (4% of gdp) and grazing land and wine estates all suffered from a lack of rain

Sahel droughts background info

Normally only rains 2/12 months of the year

Sahel droughts physical causes

Climate change

Only 250-400mm of water every year

Sahel droughts human contribution

Deforestation, poor land management, over using natural resources

Sahel droughts impacts

Crops fail and livestock die

Clean water becomes contaminated, disease spreads

Vegetation dies

Horn of Africa 2020 droughts background info

Every year for the last four years

43,000 deaths in somalia 2023

Worst drought in 40 years 

State conflict and unstable governments causes conflicts

Horn of Africa droughts physical causes

low rainfall, high evapotranspiration 

5 continual seasons of no rainfall

Horn of Africa droughts human contribution

Human induced climate change made it 100x more likely and would not have happened without human action.

Horn of Africa droughts impacts

Famine 

Deaths 

20 million people were affected

180,000 people have become climate refugees.