geog global hazards cases studies

drought case - name + date + place

The Big Dry - Australia - 2002-2009

causes of the drought x 3

el nino causes Australia to become drier than normal and rainfall chances to decreases & trade winds over Pacific Ocean causes rainfall diminshment and water cooling leading to severe drought conditions & Murray-Darling basin used by 2 million people + is under stress

social impacts of the drought x 2

people in rural areas left due to lack of water = urbanisation & rural suicides rates soared

environmental impacts of dorught x2

loss vegetation, wildlife & grassland—> scrubland

economic impacts of drought x 2

water bills rose 20% in 2008 & food prices increased + were dependent on trade

response to drought x 4

‘drought proofing’ for future & subsidiary rainwater storage tanks for houses & gov. paying out $1.7 mil to farmers a day in drought relief & legislation to ban car washing and limit showers to 4 minutes

storm case - name + place + date

storm Desmond - 5-6 Dec 2015 - UK & Ireland ( esp Cumbria and Lancashire )

causes for storm x3

warm air from Carribean travelling across the Atlantic ocean and meeting cooler air over Northern England = low pressure system = relief rainfall + heavy rainfall & 342.4mm rainfall in 24 hrs at Howister pass & impermeable rock, steep valley sides, small round basin…

social impacts of storm x 4

• 40 schools shut over Cumbria ( 3034 children unable to attend )

• 1800 evacuated

• 5200 homes flooded

• 43000 homes suffered power cuts

economic impacts of storm x 3

• est cost of £500 million

• landslide closed a section off the A591 road for several months businesses faced significant losses due to flooding & of West Coast mainline infrastructure damage led to increased repair costs and loss of tourism revenue.

• combination of storm Desmond + Eva + Franks led to further economic strain on affected areas & cost total of £3 bil

environmental impacts of storm x4

• rivers changed by erosion

• landslides + mudslides

• vegetation flooded = habitat loss

• historic Pooley-Bridge collapsed

responses to storm x 4

• 5 rescue centres opened

• gov provided £50 mil

• repaired 200 bridges

• 5000 households + businesses given council taxes + business rates relief

tectonic hazards case study - name - date - place

Kashmir, Pakistan 2005 earthquake on 8th Oct