IB Geography Freshwater

Through two wars and a half-century of suspicion and resentment, the Indus Waters Treaty has governed the sharing of a strategic river between the bitter nuclear rivals eager to control and to profit from it. But will India and Pakistan's treaty survive the emerging water crisis?

Nice storm hyrdograph visual footage from actual rain event. Nice to illustrate the lag time, peak flow and falling limb.

River Channel Management Strategies - evaluation

To what extent can groundwater resources be exploited without compromising the principle of sustainable development?

Dams and their impacts on the hydrological cycle.

"Hydraulic radius = cross sectional area / wetted perimeter. Hydraulic radius is a measure of the efficiency of the the river channel. The higher the hydraulic radius, the more efficient the river channel is. The more efficient the river is, the more energy the water will have to move downstream (so as hydraulic radius increases, velocity increases) carry load (so as hydraulic radius increases, the river's competence and capacity increases) increase the rate of erosion (in the upper course, as hydraulic radius increases, there is a higher rate of vertical erosion, so gradient increases; further downstream where the river is closer to base level, as hydraulic radius increases, there is a higher rate of lateral erosion)."

Demolition dam: Why dismantle a huge river barrier?

A related article to the recent news on the proposed dam on the Mekong river.

[Submitted by Ann Mair]

Changing balance between water stored in oceans and ice - Interactive Study. Activities 1-2 are particularly relevant.

Updated Nov 2011

Download MP3

[Submitted by Sara]

Climate change: a development challenge Climate change: building the resilience of poor rural communities Desertification Fighting water scarcity in the Arab countries Fighting rural poverty: the role of ICTs Food prices: Smallholders can be part of the solution The future of world food security Land tenure security and poverty reduction Linking land and water governance Remittances Rural finance: Small amounts making a big difference Women

useful background

India Drought

Drainage Basins revision

Inside Story - Sharing the Nile