UK drought-GLOBAL HAZARDS

• how does a drought come about


  droughts develop over a period of time where rainfall is below average
• how do dry soils cause droughts

  its difficult for rain that did fall to soak into the ground as it was dry and baked hard
• how do warm temperatures cause droughts

  the weather is warmer than usual, so more water is evaporated from reservoirs than usual and soils dried out
• how does high water usage cause drought


  people in the UK are in the habit of using large amounts of water. Massive amounts are also used in industry and farming.Water is also wasted through leaking pipes
• How does less rain cause droughts

  the area affected by drought in 2010 only received about 55-95% of usual rainfall. Unusual wind patterns had brought dry wind from Europe in the east rather than the usual wet winds blowing from the Atlantic in the west.
• consequences of the drought: farming

  -water shortages made it difficult to find crops for livestock

  -dry ground made it difficult to harvest crops in autumn 2011
• consequences of the drought: environmental damage


  - dry areas of moorland caught fire easily

  -wild fires raged across parts of south wales

  
  

  -river water used to boost the supply of water in some areas meant reduced river levels causing damage to plants + animals
• responses to the drought: water extraction


  permits were granted to allow companies to extract water from the rivers
• responses to the drought: Hosepipe Ban


  hosepipe bans were introduced to conserve the water that was available
• responses to the drought: Using less water


  campaigns got ordinary people to use less water in their homes
• what do we use water for the most

  toilets, washing machines and showers
• when did the Uk suffer from drought

  England and wales suffered from drought in 2012- worst drought on record.
• how much rainfall did England receive from april 2010 to May 2012

  85% on average rainfall with some areas only receiving 75% or less
• Droughts are linked to long periods of ............. ...................... what does this mean

  high pressure

  
  

  this means few clouds so less precipitation
• what may be the cause of droughts

  changing rainfall and evaporation patterns related to long-term climate change
• What areas were affected by the drought?

  -whole of East and South East England

  -West and North areas were only at risk

  -but central was at a higher risk to drought
• what were the causes of this drought?

  -Less Rain -Affected areas got only 55-95% usual rainfall between April 2010 and May 2012, because of dry winds from Europe rather than wet winds from the Atlantic

  -Warmer Temperatures -More water evaporated from reservoirs

  -Dry soils - Difficult for the rain that did fall to soak in the ground

  -High water usage- large amounts of water used in farming. Around 1.7 million liters of water are used every day. Water is also lost through leaky pipes
• Economic Consequences of the drought?

  -Bewl water resevoirs near sevenoaks was 60% empty

  -Farming was not profitable
• Social Consequences of the drought?

  -homeowners allowed to use their tap but hosepipe ban was placed

  -20 million people were not able to use water to wash or care their plants
• Environmental Consequences of the drought?

  -Dry areas of moorland caught fire easily

  -Wild fires raging across south wales,surrey and Scottish borders

  -River water was used to increase water supply which damaged ecosystems