Droughts and Floods

• Alternating periods of floods affect the availability of water
• As a result of global warming, it is predicted that South Africa will experience wetter rainy seasons and much drier dry seasons in the future
• Drier dry seasons will lead to more floods and droughts
• Higher average temperatures increase evaporation rates, which cause more droughts in areas where water is already scarce
• Warmer air can carry more water vapour, leading to extreme rainfall and floods
• Increase sea surface temperatures cause changes in air circulation and precipitation and these changes give rise to droughts and floods
• Droughts reduce water availability as empty water reservoirs are not refilled
• Floods reduce water availability because safe freshwater sources are destroyed