Edexcel A Level Geography - Water Cycle Case Stduies

what physical factors affect the Thames river basin, UK

annual precipitation - 600-750mm/year

soil/rock type - sedimentary rocks

what human factors affect the Thames river basin, UK

land use - urban, agriculture, transport

pollution - sewage run off

flood risk

Thames barrier - for tidal flood control

population pressure - 15million+ in basin

what physical factors affect the toncantis river

Tropical climate - 2000 + mm/year

dense rainforest, allows for high interception and evapotranspiration

what human factors affect the toncantis river

Tucurui Dam one of the worlds largest, alter river flow and increase flood risk

deforestation increases run off

agriculture near the river, pollutes river, reduces interception

River Yukon - Alaska - regime

complex, low discharge until may, snow melt contribute to rising river levels, peak discharge in june of 16000, then starts to drop after june until winter months and refreeze

River Amazon - West of South America to east - regime

complex, peak rainfall in feb/march direct sunlight (270mm), peak discharge in june despite rain at lowest, due to large basin + all tributaries to reach, fall in convectional rainfall june-oct, tilt from sun

River Severn case study

longest river in the uk 354km, flow through wales, west england, regime seasonal variation, flow high in winter/spring due to rainfall/snowmelt

River Severn case study human impacts and the flood management

Human

building on floodplain

agricultural land

flood management

hard engineering in gloucester e.g levee/embankment

Mississippi River USA

One of the longest rivers in the world 3730km, from north usa to gulf of mexico

river regime - high variety, heavy rain in summer, snowmelt in spring peak, large drainage basin

Mississippi River USA human impact and flood management

human impact

loss of wetlands - natural storage reduced

flood management

river engineering - levee spilways

England water situation - drought 2025

water crisis caused by plant watering, over abstraction, heat caused water sources to dry up, will need mass rainfall to replenish as a dry year one year can cause be a threat if a drought happens next year, water tables significantly lower

what caused the 2014-15 Brazil drought

anti cyclone blocking rain bearing winds away from the amazon, deforestation, less transpiration.

what impact did the Brazil 2014-15 drought have

reduced crop of arabica coffee beans - global coffee price up by 50%

groundwater extraction up - aquifers low

fall in HEP production -

What caused the 2019-20 Pantanal wetland drought

140,000km2. Anti cyclone caused high pressure. 192% increase in wildfires from 2019. ground litter exposed.

What impact did the 2019-20 Pantanal wetland drought have

40m reliant on the river. over 70,000 km 2 burned. agriculture and ecosystem suffers. Breathing issues from smoke. Burned trees, release co2, less transpiration. Exposed ground, heat up and cause lowering water tables, kill vegetation

what physical and human factors caused the Texas flood keer county - 4-5th July 2025

physical - flash flood, 200mm + rain in hours, river rose 8m in 1 hour, steep terrain accelerated water

human - built on a vulnerable flood plain

impacts of the Texas flood keer county - 4-5th July 2025

130 deaths - 200 missing

poor land use planning, flash flood in HIC area

loss of habitats

what physical and human factors caused the Pakistan monsoon flood June-October 2022

physical - flash flood exacerbated by climate, monsoon rainfall and glacier melt from Himalayas mountain cause river indus over load

human - deforestation, poor land management

impacts of the Pakistan monsoon flood June-October 2022

33m+ displaced 1300 deaths

$15B loss

crops loss and submerged, food insecurity worsen

what physical and human factors caused the west Germany and east Belgium 12-15 July 2021 flood

physical - low pressure system, intense rainfall, 150mm over 24h, caused river ahr overload

human - climate change made this disaster 9x more likely to occur.

impacts of the west Germany and east Belgium 12-15 July 2021 flood

200 deaths

€30B loss in Germany alone

habitat loss

What physical and human factors caused the oxford Jan 2024 floods

physical - surface water flooding, storm Henk cause river Cherwell and Thames overflow, saturated soil, higher flood risk, more run off

human - impermeable surface, city expansion.

impacts of the oxford Jan 2024 floods

no deaths

road closure

city loss of businesses.

polluted water systems.

what physical and human factors caused the Nigeria July - October 2022 flood

physical - shift in ITCZ north, heavy rainfall in N, monsoon season

human - Cameroon lagdo dam overflow, flows into Benue river Nigeria and floods.

impacts of the Nigeria July - October flood 2022

600+ died, 1.3m displaced

food inflation rise

agriculture land flood, soil erosion, 50% water contaminated.

The Nile river - physical and human factors that cause conflict

physical - climate variations through 11 countries, upstream get lot rain, downstream little.

human - population growth, agriculture - Egypt rely on Nile for 95% of freshwater. GERD Ethiopia dam, HEP for 65m

impact of river Nile conflict

Egypt water deficit, trade hinderance, soil erosion

The Tigris - Euphrates Basin - physical and human factors that cause conflict

physical - climate change, mountainous region of Turkey, high snow melt, low dry climate around Iraq and Syria.

human - 22 turkey dams, Iraq river dropped by 50%, poor irrigation systems Iraq and Syria,

impact of Tigirs - Euphrates Basin conflict

water borne disease rise, food insecurity rise, desertification and loss of Iraqi marshland.

China vs India ( Brahmaputra) - physical and human factors that cause conflict

physical - reliance on glacial melt, fear of monsoon rains

human - unreasoned dam building, lack of data sharing from china.

impact of China vs India ( Brahmaputra) conflict

exacerbated flooding in N India, job sector threatening, wetland disruption.

Israel - Gaza coastal aquifer - physical and human factors that cause conflict

physical - low rainfall

human - over abstraction, 3x recharge rate,

impact of Israel - Gaza coastal aquifer conflict.

over 95% of water available contaminated, aquifer collapse, marine pollution.

Indus river system (Pakistan - India ) - physical and human factors that cause conflict

physical - monsoon rain.

human - population density, 270m reliant on basin

impact of Indus river system (Pakistan - India ) conflict.

80% of Pakistan agriculture reliant on Indus river, gdp growth decline, soil erosion.

What is the 3 gorges dam, pros and cons of the project. - mega dam

Worlds largest HEP dam in china, aim to control water

pros

produce 22,500MW of energy, enough for millions of homes.

large water storage and reservoir

cons

1.3m relocated. loss of habitats due to changes in flow.

costly - us$37B, all gained back within a year.

what is the south - north water transfer project, pros and cons - transfer projects.

transfer water from south china to north e.g Beijing - 35% of china population, 7% of water

pros

reduce groundwater extraction, improve water quality.

cons

US$80B cost. 300,000 + relocated. place stress on south water, impacted by climate change.

what is the Israel Desalination project, pros and cons - desalination.

5 plants provide reliable supply of water from med sea.

pro

stable supply, 70% of water

reduce pressure on natural resources.

cons

energy intense, lots of salt waste, harm marine life.

costly.

How is water managed in Israel - smart irrigation.

smart irrigation - drip water to roots.

recycle sewage water - 65% of crops made this way

how is water managed in Saudi Arabia - aquifer restoration

aquifer threatened by wheat crop, now export wheat.

How is water managed in Singapore - holistic management

cut leaks to 5% - UK 20%

2/3 of Singapore catches rainwater.

recyle waste water, re use in industrial, covers 40% of water demand

The Murray darling basin - overview and causes of water insecurity

overview

cover 1m km² in SE Australia

supports 40% of agriculture

contains 30,000 wetlands

cause

demand increase 5x since 1920

climate disasters - disrupt rainfall

The Murray darling basin - impact and response of water insecurity

social

farmers forced to leave farm land

economic

price of water risen, loss of $15B in output value as dependent on water

environmental

over 1m hectares of farmland affected.

Colorado River, US - IWRM Overview

IWRM is needed due to 2 major dams altering flow, the IWRM aimed to divide the water equally.

- has the biggest impact on farmers, California farmers flood risk increase, Mexican farmers hard to distribute water evenly.

- climate change threatens LT

Nile river basin - IWRM Overview

The IWRM is needed due to water scarcity in 11 countries + economies demand on agriculture, 2016 water act, allowed country a equal share of the Nile in response to the IWRM policies.

- conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia due to Ethiopia control over blue Nile

what is the Helsinki water treaty

water protection of transboundary courses.

- co operation, sustainable use and protection of water sources.

- influence Nile water treaty

what is the water framework directive and hydropower

EU policy to protect water quality and balance hydroelectric energy generation.

- berlin, 9 principles to balance HEP and ecological footprint.