Teacher's Handout - Part 1

1. Prepared by Miss Lena Teo Teacher’s copy
EDGEFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL
SECONDARY ONE GEOGRAPHY
CHAPTER FOUR: WATER SUPPLY
Geographer’s name: _____________________ ( ) Class: 1 _____ Date: ____________
The Hydrological Cycle
The Uses of Water
 Agriculture uses the greatest amount of water globally.
 More and more water is needed to grow increasing amounts of crops to feed people as the
world’s population is growing rapidly.
o To meet the world’s increasing demand for food, more places are relying on
irrigation (the artificial application of water to the land or soil or to water crops).

2. Prepared by Miss Lena Teo Teacher’s copy
Water Footprint
 The total volume of water (in cm3
) used to produce the
goods and services for a person in a year.
 The water footprint varies largely across countries.
Water Shortage
 Water shortage occurs when the level of water usage exceeds the water supply available.
Meaning, water is being used at a faster rate than it can be replenished.
 There is an unequal access to clean water; not everybody has access to clean water.
Distribution of Water on Earth
 Although 71% of the earth’s surface is covered in water, most of the earth’s water is in the
oceans. Ocean water is too salty for human consumption (eg. to use or drink).
 Only 2.8% of the earth’s water is fresh water.
o Fresh water provides people and living
organisms with most of the water they
need.
did you know?
Research published in 2012 reveals that theaverage consumer in US has a WF of 2,842 m3
⁄y,whereas the average citizens in China and Indiahave WFs of 1,071 and 1,089 m3
⁄y respectively.
do you know
the where the
world’s five
oceans are
located?

3. Prepared by Miss Lena Teo Teacher’s copy
o Many countries (eg. India, China and the USA) use groundwater for irrigation.
• Although surface freshwater is easier to access than groundwater, people are
increasingly drawing from groundwater as surface freshwater is scarce and
sometimes insufficient.
o About 68.8% of the earth’s freshwater is locked up in ice caps and glaciers. But
they are inaccessible as ice caps and glaciers are usually located far from where
people stay.
Glacial Retreat on theTibetan Plateau
In the last 50 years, the averageannual temperature in theTibetan Plateau increased by
0.88
o
C. This shrank the glaciercoverage by 17% in the last 30years.
The average rate at whichglaciers are retreating is 10 timesfaster than it was 300 years ago.Currently, the glaciers in theHimalayas are receding at 10mto 15m yearly.
With global warming, glacialretreat will intensify and result inmassive flooding. Melting ofglaciers will destabilize hillsidesand result in landslides.
Severe drought will eventuallyfollow when perennial snowcover melts increasingly rapidlyand deplete.
Some fun facts about Antarctica:
§ It is the coldest place on earth. The annual
average temp is -58° F! The lowest temp ever
recorded there was -128.5° F (~ -89.16° C), in
1983.
§ Ocean levels across the world would rise by
200-210 feet if global warming melts away all
its ice sheets!
§ While it receives only about 10cm of
precipitation yearly, it holds about 70% of the
earth’s water…in the form of solid ice, of
course!
(Adapted from http://mentalfloss.com/article/29708/11-
cold-hard-facts-about-antarctica)

4. Prepared by Miss Lena Teo Teacher’s copy
Fresh Water Availability
Country’s total water resources (m3
)
Country’s total population=
Water scarcity
Water supplies
are no longer
adequate to meet
demands
When there is adequate
and sustainable
freshwater for human
consumption
Water stress Water vulnerability Water security
India’s rainfall is unevenly distributed throughout the year.
• Most rainfall is received between June and September (during the
southwest monsoon) while the rest of the months are rather dry.
⊗ In 2009, the monsoon rains did not come on time, leading to
widespread drought.
⊗ In 2012, the monsoon rains were below average in the first half
of the season. Cities such as New Delhi thus faced water
shortages.
⊗ Delay in the arrival of rainfall and droughts can negatively
affect crop harvests (and eventually, India’s economy) L
Eg. India
The city of Shijiazhuang is experiencing water shortage due to its
rising population
• From 1900 to 2007, the city grew from a group of farming
villages to a city with 2.3 million people.
⊗ Increase in number of people living there à increase
in water consumption à the city has to pump a lot of
groundwater to meet its increased demand for water.
Eg. Shijiazhuang, China
Know
your
examples!