Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology
Drainage basins and discharge
Rivers have water flowing in them (called discharge and measured in cumecs), which varies over time.
Use this spreadsheet to find out about the long profile of the Stour and it's underlying geologies.
Use this spreadsheet to find out about the discharge of the Stour and how it varies over time.
Rivers have water flowing in them (called discharge and measured in cumecs), which varies over time.
Use this spreadsheet to find out about the long profile of the Stour and it's underlying geologies.
Use this spreadsheet to find out about the discharge of the Stour and how it varies over time.
The (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology) describes and explains the conditions which have led to a drought being declared in parts of the U.K.
A recent article from The Guardian on water scarcity in Africa with a nice intercative map to play with. Sources for this include the UN's Aquastat tool and work by Bath-based company Maplecroft.
There is potential for water conflict where demand exceeds supply, and where several players use the same water system.
The Aral Sea (Kazahstan and Uzbekistan) and Lake Urmia (Iran) are graphic examples of the consequences of over-use of a water system.
This is a great NASA satellite image illustrating Lake Urmia's decline and this is a very good Al Jazeera report on Iran's water issues as well as Lake Urmia (from about 15 minutes in).
Increasingly water supply is a geopolitical issue, often with a trans-boundary dimension eg water trading along the Colorado between states of the USA, the rise in water treaties, and the political power associated with these.
California's water supply problem
How big is California? How does it compare with the UK - in terms of population and physical size?
What is the climatological background to California's water supply problem? Visit this page for information about at least two locations, one in the wetter north, the other in the drier south of California.
An outline the demographic pressures which are one aspect of California's water supply problem. Here are some further details. Where is population growth most rapid, or is population growth evenly spread across the state?
The California Water Crisis web site gives details about the nature of California's water supply problems. This article gives some infromation on where water comes from and about its quality. This is a useful source too.
Various players are attempting to address California's water problems. They do this through a water plan.
Who are the various players involved with keeping the water flowing in California?
2.2.4 There are environmental and political risks of developing pathways between areas of water surplus and of deficit nationally (eg in Australia) and internationally (eg between Israel and Turkey).
Israel's water security is an issue of internatinal importance, possibly impacting on peace in the wider Middle East, and at least with neighbours Jordan and Syria.
Water is unevenly distributed in Israel, with a complex system of aquifers and a seasonal rainfall pattern. The Golan Heights, captured in the 1967 Six Day War, are a major source of water.
National Geographic has an article on the theme of water and peace, as does the BBC.
There are technologiocal solutions to water shortages, as this article shows, and at least one company has built up a lot of expertise in this area.
Some agreements have been reached e.g. between Jordan and Israel, but there are many obstacles give the pressures of populaiton and water demand growth in this region. This excellent (though rather lengthy) article sums things up nicely.
A recent article from The Guardian on water scarcity in Africa with a nice intercative map to play with. Sources for this include the UN's Aquastat tool and work by Bath-based company Maplecroft.
There is potential for water conflict where demand exceeds supply, and where several players use the same water system.
The Aral Sea (Kazahstan and Uzbekistan) and Lake Urmia (Iran) are graphic examples of the consequences of over-use of a water system.
This is a great NASA satellite image illustrating Lake Urmia's decline and this is a very good Al Jazeera report on Iran's water issues as well as Lake Urmia (from about 15 minutes in).
Increasingly water supply is a geopolitical issue, often with a trans-boundary dimension eg water trading along the Colorado between states of the USA, the rise in water treaties, and the political power associated with these.
California's water supply problem
How big is California? How does it compare with the UK - in terms of population and physical size?
What is the climatological background to California's water supply problem? Visit this page for information about at least two locations, one in the wetter north, the other in the drier south of California.
An outline the demographic pressures which are one aspect of California's water supply problem. Here are some further details. Where is population growth most rapid, or is population growth evenly spread across the state?
The California Water Crisis web site gives details about the nature of California's water supply problems. This article gives some infromation on where water comes from and about its quality. This is a useful source too.
Various players are attempting to address California's water problems. They do this through a water plan.
Who are the various players involved with keeping the water flowing in California?
2.2.4 There are environmental and political risks of developing pathways between areas of water surplus and of deficit nationally (eg in Australia) and internationally (eg between Israel and Turkey).
Israel's water security is an issue of internatinal importance, possibly impacting on peace in the wider Middle East, and at least with neighbours Jordan and Syria.
Water is unevenly distributed in Israel, with a complex system of aquifers and a seasonal rainfall pattern. The Golan Heights, captured in the 1967 Six Day War, are a major source of water.
National Geographic has an article on the theme of water and peace, as does the BBC.
There are technologiocal solutions to water shortages, as this article shows, and at least one company has built up a lot of expertise in this area.
Some agreements have been reached e.g. between Jordan and Israel, but there are many obstacles give the pressures of populaiton and water demand growth in this region. This excellent (though rather lengthy) article sums things up nicely.
River management
In areas where rivers flood, and people live, hard and soft engineering strategies are used to reduce the impacts of flooding. This interactive powerpoint summarises the ones employed in Blandford.
Below is a time-lapse video showing the removal of the flood barrier in the Morrison's car park, that keeps out the water as shown in the image at the top of the page. The Environment Agency workers were there for about 15 minutes.
In areas where rivers flood, and people live, hard and soft engineering strategies are used to reduce the impacts of flooding. This interactive powerpoint summarises the ones employed in Blandford.
Below is a time-lapse video showing the removal of the flood barrier in the Morrison's car park, that keeps out the water as shown in the image at the top of the page. The Environment Agency workers were there for about 15 minutes.
