F4 em Hydrosphere (Water)
F4 em Hydrosphere (Water)
Water sustains human life on earth. It is needed for drinking, bathing, irrigation,
recreation, fishing, sewage disposal etc
Water also sustains plant life
Fresh water is the main resource on earth. Without it, there would be no plants and no
animals (no life)
Water globally is locked up in TWO major reserves, that is, ice or solid form and
liquid.
Oceans cover 71% of earth’s surface.
Oceans and seas contain 97% of all the water.
Only 3% is fresh water (non-salty/non-saline water)
Most of this freshwater is stored frozen in ice sheets
SOURCE PERCENTAGE/%
Water is used for different purposes that include Domestic, Industrial and Agricultural
Domestic Uses
Industrial Uses
Agricultural Uses
In irrigation of crops
Mixing with chemicals and vaccines
For cleaning animals and their shelters like pig styT
a(i) Name the two stores of fresh water labeled B and C on the section.
(ii) Why might it be possible for people to obtain fresh water, at point D, other than
from the river? How could people obtain this water [3]
Drilling borehole and then mount a bush pump to pump up the water to the surface for
use/ drilling a protected well and use a tin or manual pump
You can drill a borehole to the water table then connect pipes and a tape.
May come out naturally as springs
You may use animal power such as Persian wheel
(iv) Choose one of the sources from A–D which is likely to have water that will be safe
and clean for people to use. Explain your choice. [2]
D is safe because solid particles are filtered out as water passes through pervious
rock underground until the water settles in the layer of sandstone at D.
C is also another safe option because the snow and ice are high in the mountains where
no one lives and are maintained as pure rainwater.
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Lakes are better than rivers because there is a chance for impurities to settle out, but they are
affected by
what flows into them.
(v) Which one of the four sources is least likely to give clean water? Explain your choice. [3]
Rivers are almost impossible to justify since they tend to flow through settled areas and
are used for sewage disposal.
Also industries discharge their effluent into the rivers bringing pathogens and heavy
metals.
Also fertilisers from farms get washed into rivers so making the water contaminated.
(b) Dams are often built to hold back reservoirs for water supply.
(i) Give the name and location of a dam. [1]
(ii) Explain why the dam was built and what advantages it has brought to the local
people. [5]
Qstn: Explain more fully why the amount of water available for human use is so small. [3]
75% of fresh water locked up in ice and snow only available when these melt,
most located in cold places where few people live anyway,
easy to reach surface sources like rivers and lakes make up only 0.4 %,
more groundwater available but more difficult/costly to obtain than surface stores,
much of the groundwater is deep and out of the reach of humans,
comment about the value of rivers as water supply for people, yet they are only 0.1%,
high costs of desalination.
A water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the earth’s surface and the
atmosphere.
It is one of the Earth’s great natural systems.
It has inputs, outputs, stores, flows and transfers.
The water cycle operates as an open system, where there are inputs, processes and
outputs.
NB: SOLAR HEATING drives the whole system.
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INPUTS: Precipitation
Precipitation refers to the various forms of water falling from the atmosphere to the
earth’s surface. There are many different types of precipitation namely:
1. Rainfall- liquid water droplets falling to the ground
2. Snow- soft ice falling to the ground
3. Hail- small ice stones/pellets falling to the ground
4. Sleet
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Evaporation happens when water in oceans, lakes is heated and changes from liquid to
water vapour in the atmosphere.
Transpiration is loss of water from plants through stomata into the atmosphere
Evapotranspiration is the combination of water loss from water sources and trees
Interception is the when water is captured or trapped and held by plant leaves and
branches.
Surface Runoff is the flow of water over the surface downslope towards rivers and
seas.
Infiltration is the sinking of water into the soil
Percolation is the further downward movement of infiltrated water towards the water
table
Groundwater is the water stored between rocks underground below the water table
Water table is the top part of groundwater OR Top part of saturation zone
Groundwater flow is the horizontal flow of water through rock below the water table
towards rivers
Through flow is the horizontal movement of water through the soil just below the
surface
Condensation is when water vapour changes to liquid or solid through cooling.
1. Urbanisation
Construction of tarred roads and concrete pavements are impermeable so
reduce infiltration and increase runoff
2. Afforestation
Trees have roots that create more cracks and so increase infiltration hence less
runoff
Trees also intercept rainfall and reduce water reaching the surface so less runoff
When trees intercept rainfall, they reduce raindrop impact on the soil so increase
infiltration so reducing runoff
Tree roots also absorb water from the ground so reduce runoff
Trees also produce leaves that decay and so increase infiltration thus reducing
runoff
3. Deforestation
Clearing vegetation reduces interception so increases water reaching the surface
which increases runoff
There are also less tree roots to open cracks so less infiltration which gives high
runoff
Also tree roots which absorb water from the soil are no more so high surface
runoff
If the area is bare, the raindrops hit directly on the soil and compact soil which
reduces infiltration so increase runoff
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4. Cultivation
If a soil is cultivated, it is made loose and more pore spaces made which increase
infiltration so increase surface runoff.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process whereby green plants produce their own food (glucose)
using carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight.
Light energy is captured by plants ( by chlorophyll) and changed into chemical energy
through the process of photosynthesis
Plant roots absorb water containing soluble nutrients from the soil.
In the world, some areas receive high and reliable rainfall, eg the equatorial rainforests
eg Amazon Basin in Brazil, Congo Basin in DRC
Some high altitude/mountainous areas tend to have many perennial rivers and receive
additional rainfall. These areas are called WATER RICH COUNTRIES.
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However, some areas receive very low rainfall which is also unreliable, eg the Hot
Desert and semi-arid areas.
Some areas have insufficient, low and unreliable water for agricultural and industrial
uses.
In many LEDCs such as Kenya , Somalia, Ethiopia, water shortages are very common.
These countries lack enough capital to purify or chlorinate the water as well as high
population which usually makes the cities overpopulated
These countries are known as WATER POOR COUNTRIES
These are countries with plentiful fresh water supply. The world’s top ten water rich countries
are shown below:
COUNTRY AMOUNT
Some of the countries are found in the Tropical Rainforest which receive high rainfall
throughout the year like Brazil, Equador
Some countries have the world’s largest or greatest rivers flowing through them like
China’s Yangtze river, Mississippi River in USA etc.
Also some of these countries have large amounts of snow and have low temperatures
which reduce evaporation of water.
These are countries which have low, unreliable rainfall (deserts) and insufficient water
for domestic, agricultural and industrial use.
These countries are likely to suffer from WATER STRESS
Water stress refers to worries over the present and future water supplies.
One third of the world‘s population is estimated to be living in countries experiencing
medium to high water stress.
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However, there are variations within each country’s region , for example rural versus
urban.
The main reason for water poor is environmental/natural climate. Desert countries
receive very low rainfall and is poorly distributed and infrequent so not adequate to
use domestically, industrially and for agricultural purposes.
Moreover, the temperatures are very high causing high evaporation and drying up of the
few water sources.
COUNTRY AMOUNT
YEMEN 91
SAUDI ARABIA 95
ALGERIA 340
TUNISIA 450
EGYPT 700
KENYA 800
MOROCCO 900
SOUTH AFRICA 1000
DENMARK 1100
1. Desalinisation/desalination
It is the process whereby seawater is changed into freshwater by removing salt from the
seawater. It is done by coastal countries only since they have access to the sea or
ocean
Problems of desalinisation
Underground water reserves can be utilized for domestic use by drilling deep boreholes
to reach the water table.
Pipes are then installed
A pump is fixed and water is pumped out
The water can then be used for domestic, agricultural and industrial use
This is when a network of pipes is connected from a far-away river/glacier to the dry area
which is hundreds of kilometers away.
The water can be transferred through pipelines or canals. For example, State of
California in USA is dry but receives water from the Rocky Mountains that are far away.
QSTN: Describe ways of making fresh water safe to drink (potable). [2]
Average water use varies from country to country and also within the regions in a
country.
The majority of Africa lives in rural areas where water is scarce and given the dry desert
climate, water is scarce.
In contrast, in Europe, the countries use large volumes of water for domestic purposes
like flushing toilets and the water is made available
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Question: Why is domestic water use in MEDCs like UK higher than in LEDCs like Zimbabwe.
[3]
Aquifer
Qstn: Suggest problems with extracting water from an underground water store. Suggest
solutions to these problems.
Throughout the world many people settle near rivers countries like Bangladesh (Ganges), USA
(Mississippi), Egypt (Nile river) etc
These are dams which provide water for a variety of purposes to people.
Examples: Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe across Zambezi River, Three Gorges Dam in
China across Yangtze River, Aswan Dam in Egypt across Nile river.
1. Presence of a perennial river ----- This ensures continuous supply of water throughout
the whole year
2. Narrow Gorge ---- this is a narrow, deep, steep sided valley which reduces costs of
building the dam wall
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3. Impermeable resistant rock -------This rock gives a firm and stable foundation for the
dam wall. Moreover, impermeable rock prevents high infiltration and percolation of
stored water reducing losses.
4. Highland areas/ Mountainous areas ------ Highlands have cool temperatures so reduce
evaporation of water. Also relief rainfall increases the amount of rainfall received and
stored in the dam.
5. A natural Reservoir like a lake ------ This allows large volumes of water to be stored
for HEP generation
6. Sparsely populated area ----- This reduces the cost of relocating the people since they
need to be compensated. This is the main HUMAN FACTOR.
They provide water for irrigation purposes to increase crop yields like in Egypt
They provide water for domestic uses like cooking, watering livestock, etc
There is also water for industrial uses such as cleaning machine
They are also used to generate Hydro-electricity(HEP)
They promote tourism which creates employment as tour guides, hotel maids
Large dam also reduce flooding risks
They lead to the development of recreational activities like boat cruising, bungee
jumping
There is improved navigation
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A. On The Environment
There is massive deforestation as land is cleared and animal habitats are lost
There is breaking of food chains and reduced biodiversity
There is reduced water flow (discharge) downstream which threatens some aquatic life
with extinction. eg, the giant Panda on the downstream side of the Three Gorges Dam
Large dams may cause earth tremors
There is reduced silt deposited downstream so reducing soil fertility
Dam failure may cause worse flooding upstream and when the dam wall breaks.
Sediments are trapped and deposited in the dam causing siltation of dams
There is noise pollution during construction due to heavy vehicles and dynamites
Fish are trapped and cannot migrate
The local people are forced to relocate so affecting their way of life
People resettled are usually not fully compensated. Especially in developing countries
where funds are usually borrowed
There is an increase in water related disease like malaria
There is loss of fertile farmland leading to low crop production
Large dams are expensive to build so the country may end up in huge debts in repaying
the loan
There is reduced water flow (discharge) downstream.
Large dams may cause flooding in case of dam failure.
Qstn: A dam has been proposed to be constructed in a village. Suggest the reasons for
and against the proposal. [5]
Clean water refers to potable water which is water that is safe to drink or use for food
preparation.
Potable water is water suitable for human consumption
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Qstn: Suggest why MEDCs like UK have far much higher percentage use of water for
domestic purposes than LEDCs like Bangladesh. [4]
In UK there is high water use in watering their large home gardens which are small in
Bangladesh
There are also high volumes of water used in flushing toilets yet most people in
Bangladesh use blair toilets in the rural areas
High water use by machines doing dish washing
Also much water in laundry since the water is available and they use machine
(ii) Suggest why desalination is used to supply fresh water in some countries but not in
other countries. [3]
Some countries have plenty of fresh water supplies like rivers so no need for
desalinisation
Some countries have access to coasts/good access to oceans or seas so can do
desalinisation;
process is very expensive/cannot afford desalination;
process needs a lot of energy which may not be available for some countries;
requires high levels of technology;
some are water poor so need for desalinisation;
(b) (i) Explain why access to safe water and sanitation is often limited in rural areas of
developing countries compared to urban areas. [3]
people are poorer than urban areas so are unable to drill borehole and connect piped
water and sewer.
There is lack of technology and skills to treat water and sewage in rural areas yet in
urban areas, the technology to treat water and sewage waste is there
most government officials or politicians are based in urban areas so rural are too remote
from decision makers who are in the cities;
urban people are rich and can afford to buy clean water or drill their own boreholes.
government or people cannot pay for water infrastructure needed in all rural areas;
(large distances) difficult or expensive to provide pipes or sewers;
People are too dispersed/sparse in many rural villages so providing pipes is expensive
difficult unlike in towns where they are densely populated so cheaper to connect pipes
people in the rural areas cannot give/exert political pressure to get the water;
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(ii) Explain why it is important for developing countries to improve access to safe water and
sanitation. [2]
water is a basic human need so every person need to drink it for the body to function;
clean water prevents illness or death which would reduce the workers’ working hours
also clean water prevents water-related disease(s) caused by polluted water; e.g.
bilharzia/cholera/malaria/typhoid/diarrhoea;
irrigation water, improves farming and so increases crop yields;
encourages industrial and tourism development;
breaks poverty cycle or improve peoples’ productivity;
WATER POLLUTION
These include household waste, sewage waste discharge into rivers, dams
Human waste carries many pathogens and this adds to the river pollutants
Domestic waste also includes detergents, metals and many other manufacturing
products containing traces of toxic chemicals.
Industrial processing of metals in industries lead to heavy metals like mercury, copper
and lead being deposited into rivers and dams. Also leaching of metals from waste
heaps and dumps cause water pollution
The discharge of untreated industrial effluent into rivers and dams especially in
developing countries has dangerous effect on humans, animals and plant life.
NB: Domestic and industrial waste should be treated before being released into rivers and
dams. However, in many developing countries, sewage treatment plants cannot be afforded
since hundreds of millions of litres of sewage and toxic industrial waste is emptied into rivers
and seas every year.
Excess fertilizers are carried and deposited into rivers and dams. Also pesticides and
herbicides are also deposited into water sources. Amount of these chemicals has greatly
increased due to intensive farming methods used by farmers in order to increase crop
yields.
This causes the problem of eutrophication.
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Water pollution has impacts to both the people and the environment.
Untreated sewage deposited in rivers and dams contaminate the water with pathogens
which cause water borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery and diarrhea
causing dehydration and eventual death.
Toxic substances from industries may contain dangerous metals like mercury and lead
enter rivers and lakes. When lead is consumed, it causes brain damage
Fertilisers washed into water sources cause algal bloom. This is called eutrophication.
Other substance from industries like mercury cause the problem of bioaccumulation.
What is Bioaccumulation
Suggest the challenges that are faced in implementing the measures. [3]
Question: Explain how sinking of a new well can decrease disease, increase economic
output and improve the quality of life for everyone in rural areas in developing countries,
especially for the children and women.
Dirty water is a major cause of water related diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid
If people are sick, this reduces ability to work and produce so low production in
industries
Many millions of people in developing countries are affected so low quality of life due
to illnesses
This sickness is particularly severe for infants and elderly resulting in high death rates,
low life expectancy and poor quality of life
If a new well is sunk, women can engage in other productive economic activities (not
fetching like crafts, textiles, taking vegetables to market etc.
children are more healthy/have more time for education and study
This more time greatly improves their future prospects/chances of employment
Many of these diseases related to water are mainly found in the Tropics i.e
between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
Hot climates provide ideal conditions for a greater number of insects, bacteria
and virus which are harmful to human health.
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These are diseases that are spread by drinking contaminated water. Examples
are cholera, typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea. They are contracted/caught by
washing food, pots, putting hands in contaminated water.
More at coasts/coastal
None in deserts
Mainly malaria in the tropics
Small area down south below tropic if capricon
Far south in South Africa and South of Botwana have none
(ii) State which two which would be best for controlling malaria
EITHER drugs;
OR vector eradication:
Mosquitoes ( vector) breed in stagnant fresh water: swampy areas, stagnant water
ponds especially in the wet, warm season
Mosquitoes are mainly nocturnal
The parasite that causes malaria is called plasmodium
Female anopheles mosquito bites an infected person
Sucks up the parasite plasmodium
Mosquito then bites the next uninfected person
It injects plasmodium into the person
The plasmodium goes straight to the liver where there are good conditions for
multiplication
After about a fortnight the victim begins to feel feverish and becomes ill.
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High fever
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Loss of weight
General body weakness
Dehydration
Subsequent death
drain stagnant water from marshes or ponds to remove breeding sites of mosquitoes;
vector eradication by spraying of insecticide/chemicals, to kill the mosquito(vector)
sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets to prevent mosquito bites (vector
eradication)
taking anti-malarial drugs like quinine or chloroquine to develop resistance to the
disease;
wear clothes covering whole body to prevent mosquito biting;
pour kerosene oil on water to suffocate the larvae, to stop breeding;
use of fish, to eat larvae;
curing the patient
educating the people on ways of controlling malaria
Suggest reasons why it it difficult to control malaria in most developing countries/in rural
areas of most developing countries.
remoteness of population (inaccessibility of some areas) meaning the people are far
away from clinic to seek treatment;
lack of money for control methods like drugs or mosquito nets;
lack of health care and unavailability of malarial drugs;
lack of awareness amongst population about preventive and curative measures;
resistance to antimalarial drugs;
areas with lots of stagnant water present;
religious beliefs like some apostolic sects who consider seeking medical attention a
sin.
These are diseases that are spread by drinking contaminated water. Examples
are cholera, typhoid, dysentery, diarrhoea. They are contracted/caught by
washing food, pots, putting hands in contaminated water.
It is common in Sub Saharan Africa and South East Asia
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Cholera and malaria are some diseases that occur after natural disasters like
flooding, cyclones and earthquakes. This is due to lack of clean water supply
and poor sanitation than are experienced soon after these natural disasters
Causes of cholera.
Drinking water that is contaminated with the bacteria that causes cholera
Eating fruits that have been washed with contaminated water
Unhygienic practices like eating contaminated food o.r open defeacation
Qstn: Describe how cholera is spread from one person to another. [3]
Qstn: Describe government strategies that can help people in rural areas have access to
safe
drinking water. [5]
Question: Malaria and cholera are examples of water-related diseases that cause disease
epidemics after natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, killing many people.
Choose one of these diseases.
(i) Describe how and why every year it causes many deaths. [5]
MALARIA:
CHOLERA
Question: Why does the disease that you have chosen often occur after a natural
disaster, causing even greater numbers of deaths? Explain your answer. [4]
MALARIA:
CHOLERA:
earthquakes cause broken water pipes so that fresh/clean water supplies are disrupted;
can also break sewerage pipes leading to surface contamination/mixing with water
supply;
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water flooding everywhere washes away and carries sewerage from works and latrines,
normal water supply may be contaminated with flood waters without people living further
away not realizing it;
disruption in the aftermath of the disaster sometimes means people living close together
in emergency camps;
makes it easy for the disease to spread from person to person;
inadequate medical resources to treat it in time in the aftermath of the hazard;
END