Geography: The Trouble of Water Class Notes

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the distribution, scarcity, and management of water resources in China and globally, including the causes and impacts of drought and flooding.

Freshwater availability

Only a small share of the world's total water is freshwater, and about two thirds of it is frozen in glaciers and ice caps.

Surface water and Groundwater

The only sources of freshwater that can be used directly, accounting for about $30\%$ of all freshwater.

Water cycle

The movement of water round and round between the oceans and seas, the atmosphere, and the land through different processes.

Evaporation

The process where the sun heats the earth’s surface and water in seas, rivers, lakes, and soil becomes water vapour.

Transpiration

The process where moisture is released from plants as water vapour into the air.

Condensation

The process where water vapour rises, cools, and group together to form clouds as water droplets.

Precipitation

Water falling back to the earth’s surface from heavy clouds in the form of rain or snow.

Overland flow

Water that flows across the land surface.

Infiltration

The process where water seeps into the ground and becomes groundwater.

Water scarcity

A condition occurring when there are insufficient freshwater resources to meet daily needs.

World population projections

The world population is projected to increase from $7.8\,\text{billion}$ in $2020$ to $9.7\,\text{billion}$ in $2050$.

Water footprint

A measure of water consumption related to economic development, lifestyle changes, and diet, such as meat and dairy consumption.

River basin

An area drained by a river and its tributaries.

Major China River Basins

The three most important basins in China are the Changjiang, the Huang He, and the Zhu Jiang.

Monsoons

Winds that change directions seasonally, blowing from one direction in summer and the opposite direction in winter.

Summer monsoon

Onshore winds blowing from the sea towards the land in China, carrying moisture and bringing wet summers.

Winter monsoon

Offshore winds blowing from the land towards the sea in China, which are dry.

Agriculture water efficiency in China

Agriculture uses about $60\%$ of freshwater resources, but only one third of irrigation water is used effectively.

Drought

A natural hazard that occurs when rainfall in an area is much lower than normal for a long period of time.

Deforestation

The large-scale cutting of trees which disrupts the water cycle by decreasing transpiration and infiltration.

Drip irrigation

An agricultural method that saves water by using less than other irrigation methods.

South-North Water Transfer Project

The largest water transfer project in China, moving water from the Chang Jiang basin to northern regions.

Flooding

A hazard that occurs when rainfall is heavy and river water flows over its banks onto surrounding land.

Silting

The deposition of sand and soil on the river bed, making it shallower and reducing its holding capacity.

Overgrazing

When livestock eat up grass so quickly that it does not have enough time to recover, causing soil erosion.

Over-cultivation

Growing crops intensively on slopes, causing soil to become poor and leading to soil erosion.

Dykes

Structures built along river banks to raise their height and increase the holding capacity of the river channel.

Dredging

The removal of sediments from river channels to lower the river bed and increase holding capacity.

Three Gorges Dam (Sanxia) Project

A large-scale project completed in $2009$ to control flooding, provide hydroelectricity (HEP), and promote tourism.