Hydrological and Atmospheric Hazards & Water Scarcity

Fill-in-the-blank practice cards covering hydrological hazards, atmospheric hazards, water scarcity concepts, African case study impacts, and water management practices.

A __________ hazard is an extreme natural event that begins in the hydrosphere (in the water).

hydrological

An __________ hazard is an extreme natural event that begins in the atmosphere, such as tropical cyclones, storms, blizzards, and tornadoes.

atmospheric

Under Alert 1 for Severe Weather Warning, winds are forecast to exceed __________.

$$120\,km/h$$

Under Alert 3 for Extreme Heat Warning, temperatures are forecast to reach __________.

$$46^\circ C$$

Cutting down trees, also known as __________, is a human-induced hydrological hazard factor that increases flooding and soil erosion.

deforestation

Building cities, known as __________, stops rainwater from soaking into the ground due to concrete surfaces, causing floods.

urbanisation

Burning fossil fuels contributes to __________, which increases global temperatures and leads to stronger storms and heatwaves.

climate change

__________ impact refers to the cost to the community and how people's daily lives are affected by a hazard.

Social

__________ impact refers to changes in environmental quality, including effects on ecosystems, biodiversity, and air/water quality.

Environmental

__________ impact refers to the effect on economic wellbeing, including infrastructure rebuilding costs, job losses, and tourism decline.

Economic

__________ are defined as individuals or groups who have an interest in, or are affected by, a particular place or event.

Stakeholders

__________ occurs when many people do not have access to enough clean, affordable water for a prolonged period.

Water scarcity

Globally, approximately __________ people do not have access to clean water services.

$$2.2\text{ billion}$$

Approximately __________ people worldwide experience difficulty obtaining water for at least one month each year.

$$2.7\text{ billion}$$

Africa is the second driest inhabited continent in the world, following __________.

Australia

Of the 800 million people living in Africa, more than __________ reside in water-scarce areas.

$$300\text{ million}$$

__________ water scarcity occurs when there is physically an insufficient volume of water in the natural environment to meet human demand.

Physical

__________ water scarcity occurs when water is present in nature, but people cannot access it due to a lack of capital, technology, or infrastructure.

Economic

In this IWMI map, the dark red shading across Central and Sub-Saharan Africa indicates regions experiencing __________ water scarcity.

economic

Agriculture accounts for __________ of all global water consumption.

$$70\%$$

Industry practices account for __________ of all global water consumption.

$$20\%$$

Domestic or home use accounts for __________ of global water consumption.

$$10\%$$

During the 1900s, while the global population tripled, total water consumption grew by __________.

$$6\times$$

An individual's __________ measures total annual water usage, including both direct consumption and virtual water embedded in products and services.

water footprint

Drying and degradation of soil caused by water scarcity can transform land into arid conditions, leading to ___________.

desertification

In many water-scarce regions of Africa, __________ often miss school because they hold the primary responsibility for retrieving water.

girls

Cross-border political tensions over shared water resources in Africa are prominently seen in disputes regarding the __________ River.

Nile

__________ strategies focus on immediate, temporary relief during a crisis, such as distributing bottled water or emergency water kits.

Short-term

__________ strategies involve multi-year infrastructure or policy measures, such as constructing desalination plants and recycled water systems.

Long-term

Aboriginal Peoples in Australia located springs and wells by observing the flight trajectories of birds such as the __________.

zebra finch

Underground water was accessed by Aboriginal Peoples by following the extended root systems of __________ trees.

eucalypt

To catch fish in narrow creeks, Aboriginal Peoples constructed dams using rocks or __________.

woven branches

The Indigenous Australian phrase 'Waramanu yurramaagu' describes the traditional method of __________.

Making a soak

A __________ is an area of land where rainwater and surface runoff drain together into a central water body like a river, lake, or reservoir.

catchment

__________ is defined as utilizing resources to satisfy present requirements without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet theirs.

Sustainability