WATER - Drought in Australia
- Created by: aliceoliviaaa
- Created on: 20-05-18 20:27
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- Drought in Australia
- Located in the southern hemisphere of the Australasian region
- Up to 30% of the country is affected by severe rainfall deficiency. (El Nino is a big contributor - 2002-2003 East Coast Drought SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND).
- becoming more frequent and severe. 2006 'The Big Dry'. (a 1 in 1000 year event associated with long-term CLIMATE CHANGE).
- Did not follow the same downward spiral that the Sahel did (desertification). This is due to management of scarce water resources and sorting demands of irrigation and urban dwellers.
- Large-scale recycling grey water, constructing desalination plants and creating water conservation strategies.
- The climate is dominated by sub-tropic, high-pressure belts.
- PHYSICAL CAUSES- less rainfall, global warming (increased evaporation), rivers dry up, vegetation dies.
- HUMAN CAUSES- increase in livestock (40%), overgrazing (soil depleted of nutrients), over-cultivation, deforestation, climate change.
- cattle prices fall as drought hits, so farmers go into debt.
- IMPACTS - less groundwater and carbon stores, loss of vegetation and plant growth, unable to maintain water quality, nd less resources are provided).
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