Water scarcity and stress
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Question
Define water scarcity.
Answer
When there is **not enough fresh water** to meet people's needs (measured per person per year).
Question
What is water stress (Falkenmark)?
Answer
Supply **below 1 700 m3 per person per year** — demand begins to strain supply.
Question
Physical vs economic scarcity?
Answer
**Physical** = the natural supply is too small (dry climate, low water table); **economic** = water exists but money/infrastructure stops people reaching it.
Question
List the three Falkenmark thresholds.
Answer
Below **1 700 m3** = stress; below **1 000 m3** = scarcity; below **500 m3** = absolute scarcity (per person per year).
Question
What is an aquifer?
Answer
An **underground rock store of groundwater**; over-abstraction is pumping it faster than it recharges.
Question
What is over-abstraction and one impact?
Answer
Pumping groundwater faster than rainfall refills it; it causes the **water table to fall** (also subsidence, saltwater intrusion).
Question
Name two physical causes of water scarcity.
Answer
Low/seasonal rainfall and drought (also rain shadow, falling water table, El Nino/La Nina, cold currents).
Question
Name two economic causes of water scarcity.
Answer
Lack of money for pipes/pumps/dams and rising demand from population, cities and irrigation (also weak governance).
Question
How does drought hit farming economically?
Answer
Crops fail and yields drop, so farmers lose income, food prices rise and people may migrate.
Question
Give a named case of physical scarcity.
Answer
The **Sahel** of West Africa — low, erratic rainfall and recurring drought leave little surface water.
Question
Give a named case of economic scarcity.
Answer
Much of **rural sub-Saharan Africa** — water exists but villages lack boreholes, pipes and funds to use it.
Question
What does a top [10] scarcity essay need?
Answer
Developed physical AND economic causes, a named example for each, weighing by place/scale, and a clear judgement.
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Topic 7.3 hub
Water scarcity and water quality
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