IB Geography Topic A.3.1 Physical and Economic Water Scarcity Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Geography Topic A.3.1 Physical and Economic Water Scarcity Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Understanding Water Availability and Access

Imagine turning on your tap one morning and finding no water. What would you do?
This scenario is a reality for millions of people worldwide, underscoring the critical importance of managing water resources effectively.
Water is a finite resource, and its availability is under increasing pressure due to population growth, climate change, and unsustainable practices.
To address these challenges, water management must occur at multiple scales - personal, local, regional, and global.

Note

Water scarcity affects over 2 billion people globally, impacting health, agriculture, and economic stability.

Physical Water Scarcity

Physical water scarcity occurs when natural water supplies are insufficient to meet demand.

Causes of Physical Water Scarcity

Climate Variability
1. Uneven rainfall distribution leaves some regions arid.
Droughts
1. Prolonged dry periods reduce water availability.
Over-Extraction
1. Excessive use of rivers and aquifers depletes resources.

Example

The Colorado River Basin in the United States experiences physical water scarcity due to over-extraction and reduced snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains.

Impacts of Physical Water Scarcity

Food Insecurity
1. Reduced water for irrigation leads to lower crop yields.
Ecosystem Degradation
1. Rivers and wetlands dry up, vegetation becomes limited, harming biodiversity.
Economic Losses
1. Industries reliant on water, such as agriculture, suffer.

Note

Don’t confuse physical water scarcity with economic water scarcity. Physical scarcity is about natural limitations, while economic scarcity is about infrastructure and resources.

Economic Water Scarcity

Economic water scarcity occurs when water is available but unreachable due to lack of infrastructure or financial resources.

Causes of Economic Water Scarcity

Inadequate Infrastructure
1. Lack of pipes, pumps, and treatment facilities.
Financial Constraints

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Note

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Understanding Water Availability and Access

Imagine turning on your tap one morning and finding no water. What would you do?
This scenario is a reality for millions of people worldwide, underscoring the critical importance of managing water resources effectively.
Water is a finite resource, and its availability is under increasing pressure due to population growth, climate change, and unsustainable practices.
To address these challenges, water management must occur at multiple scales - personal, local, regional, and global.

Note

Water scarcity affects over 2 billion people globally, impacting health, agriculture, and economic stability.

Physical Water Scarcity

Physical water scarcity occurs when natural water supplies are insufficient to meet demand.

Causes of Physical Water Scarcity

Climate Variability
1. Uneven rainfall distribution leaves some regions arid.
Droughts
1. Prolonged dry periods reduce water availability.
Over-Extraction
1. Excessive use of rivers and aquifers depletes resources.

Example

The Colorado River Basin in the United States experiences physical water scarcity due to over-extraction and reduced snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains.

Impacts of Physical Water Scarcity

Food Insecurity
1. Reduced water for irrigation leads to lower crop yields.
Ecosystem Degradation
1. Rivers and wetlands dry up, vegetation becomes limited, harming biodiversity.
Economic Losses
1. Industries reliant on water, such as agriculture, suffer.

Note

Don’t confuse physical water scarcity with economic water scarcity. Physical scarcity is about natural limitations, while economic scarcity is about infrastructure and resources.

Economic Water Scarcity

Economic water scarcity occurs when water is available but unreachable due to lack of infrastructure or financial resources.

Causes of Economic Water Scarcity

Inadequate Infrastructure
1. Lack of pipes, pumps, and treatment facilities.
Financial Constraints

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

1 Changing Population3 subtopics

2 Global Climate - Vulnerability and Resilience3 subtopics

3 Global Resource Consumption and Security3 subtopics

4 Power, Places and Networks (HL only)3 subtopics

5 Human Development and Diversity (HL only)3 subtopics

6 Global Risks and Resilience (HL only)3 subtopics

Option A Freshwater - Drainage Basins4 subtopics

Option B Oceans and Coastal Margins4 subtopics

Option C Extreme Environments4 subtopics

Option D Geophysical Hazards4 subtopics

Option E Leisure, Tourism and Sport4 subtopics

Option F The Geography of Food and Health4 subtopics

Option G Urban Environments5 subtopics

IB Geography A.3.1 Physical and Economic Water Scarcity Notes

1 Changing Population3 subtopics

2 Global Climate - Vulnerability and Resilience3 subtopics

3 Global Resource Consumption and Security3 subtopics

4 Power, Places and Networks (HL only)3 subtopics

5 Human Development and Diversity (HL only)3 subtopics

6 Global Risks and Resilience (HL only)3 subtopics

Option A Freshwater - Drainage Basins4 subtopics

Option B Oceans and Coastal Margins4 subtopics

Option C Extreme Environments4 subtopics

Option D Geophysical Hazards4 subtopics

Option E Leisure, Tourism and Sport4 subtopics

Option F The Geography of Food and Health4 subtopics

Option G Urban Environments5 subtopics

Understanding Water Availability and Access

Physical Water Scarcity

Causes of Physical Water Scarcity

Impacts of Physical Water Scarcity

Economic Water Scarcity

Causes of Economic Water Scarcity

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Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

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Understanding Water Availability and Access

Physical Water Scarcity

Causes of Physical Water Scarcity

Impacts of Physical Water Scarcity

Economic Water Scarcity

Causes of Economic Water Scarcity

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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