A.5 Synthesis, Evaluation and Skills in IB Geography
Understanding System Connectivity in Drainage Basins
Let's dive into one of the most fascinating aspects of geography - how everything in a drainage basin is connected! Think of a drainage basin as nature's own water distribution system, where every part affects every other part.
CalloutKey Components of System Connectivity
- Upstream-Downstream Relationships
- Water flow patterns
- Sediment transport
- Nutrient distribution
- Energy transfer
- Vertical Connectivity
- Surface water-groundwater interactions
- Soil moisture levels
- Vegetation coverage
Interference Effects
This is where things get really interesting! Human activities upstream can create a domino effect of changes downstream.
Major Types of Interference
1. Deforestation Effects
- Increased surface runoff
- Higher erosion rates
- Changed flood patterns
- Altered water quality
2. Dam Construction
- Modified flow regimes
- Trapped sediments
- Changed water temperature
- Altered ecosystem dynamics
- Reduced sediment flow to downstream areas
- Changed local microclimate
- Affected fish migration patterns
- Modified flood patterns in the Yangtze River
The GERD Case Study: A Perfect Example of Spatial Interactions
The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) perfectly illustrates how upstream activities affect downstream regions.
Impact Chain:
- Reservoir Filling
