What are the causes and consequences of

extreme weather?
Learning Objective: To investigate the impact of El Nino on Australia and evaluate the attempts to reduce the impacts.
Friday 10 November 2023

Why might a drought occur? What impacts

will it have?
 What is Drought?
A drought is a prolonged period of time with below average
precipitation leading to a shortage of water which has a
negative effect on vegetation, people and animals.

Where do you think droughts occur and why?

Australia already prone to low levels of rainfall due

to latitude but El Nino can make the situation
worse.
 Causes of Drought
Classify factors into physical and human causes of drought

• A presence of high-pressure weather systems. • Water is needed to grow crops and so excessive
irrigation reduces water levels.

• Deforestation- which reduces transpiration and • El Nino leading to drought in Australia.

therefore rain

• Dam building- which deprives regions • Overgrazing which exposes soils leading to soil
downstream of water. erosion. This reduces the ability of the soil to
capture and store water.

• As global temperatures increase, more water is

lost from surfaces through evaporation.
Frequency of Drought
A 2013 report from NASA predicted that warmer
worldwide temperatures will lead to decreased
rainfall and more droughts in some parts of the
world.

The Met Office predicts that extreme drought

could happen once every decade in the UK in the
future (making them ten times more frequent than
they are today).
The Big Dry: Case Study
From 2002 to 2009, Australia experienced its worst drought
for 125 years- mainly affecting the south-east.

This became known as the ‘Big Dry’.

This drought was credited to El Nino.

The Big Dry: Case Study
 The Big Dry: Case Study
Why is Australia a drought prone
country?

Australia is located in a sub-tropical

area of the world that experiences
dry, sinking air, leading to clear
skies and little rainfall. (High
pressure systems)

For most of the country, rainfall is

low and irregular but El Nino can
reduce this rainfall further.

Describe the distribution of rainfall across Australia

between 2002-2003
 Causes
El Nino.

Australia cannot maintain its current population growth in

relation to access to water.

Eastern Australia is home to the Murray-Darling river basin

(covers part of New South Wales, Queensland and South
Australia).

The basin is home to over 2 million people and is under a lot

of pressure to provide the water needed for agricultural
production.

40% of Australia’s agricultural produce comes from this

region.
 Consequences
Consequences Soc/Eco/Env
People in rural areas left due to lack of water- increasing the pressure on cities

Rural suicide rates soared

The number of dairy farms reduced by half

Grassland turned to scrubland

Water bills rose 20% in 2008. Stream flows were lowered in Western Victoria by 80% -therefore
birds and fish lost their habitat and food supplies

Tourism was negatively affected- the Murray area in the South East also saw a decline in visitors
which meant a loss of revenue of 70 million (AUS dollars)

Food prices rose and Australia became more reliant on imports

Soil erosion and loss of vegetation

Farmers had to sell the cattle

10,000 people directly employed in the cotton-growing industry were affected

Increase in fossil fuels as energy from HEP was reduced- leading to more pollution
 Responses
Recycling waste water from showers, baths and wash basins (grey water)

Farmers claiming financial assistance of $400-600 per fortnight

How did each stakeholder
respond?
Subsidising rainwater storage tanks for homes

Legislation to ban car washing and limit showers to 4 minutes • Scientists and
A new multi-million de-salinisation system built in Sydney (removing salt environmentalists
from sea water so it can be safely used)
• National Government
Paying out $1.7 million a day in drought relief to farmers
More efficient irrigation systems (pipes that pump water to farms) • Individuals
Calculating the amount of water that could sustainably be used by states and
they had to make sure they did not go over that figure. Water could be • Local Government
traded within and between states.
 Responses
Individuals Recycling waste water from showers, baths and wash
basins (grey water)

Farmers claiming financial assistance of $400-600 per

fortnight

Local Government Subsidising rainwater storage tanks for homes

Legislation to ban car washing and limit showers to 4

minutes

National Government A new multi-million de-salinisation system built in

Sydney

Paying out $1.7 million a day in drought relief to

farmers

Scientists and Environmentalists More efficient irrigation systems

Calculating the amount of water that can be used

sustainably by a state to create a limit that could be
traded across states
 Exam Questions
Q1. Explain how El Niño/La Niña leads to drought in your case study area. [6]

Q2. CASE STUDY – Drought caused by El Niño/La Niña.

Discuss the effects of drought on people and the environment in your case study area.
[6]

Q3. Discuss how a drought caused by El Niño/La Niña can be responded to and
comment on its success. [6]
 Mark Scheme: Q1
Example of well-developed ideas (5-6 marks):
Australia is influenced by El Niño once every 5–7 years, although this is becoming more
frequent. El Niño caused drought from 2005-2007. The trade winds usually blow east to west
but El Niño caused them to blow the opposite way and so by the time they reach the east coast
they are very dry and bring drought conditions to areas like New South Wales.

Example of developed ideas (3-4 marks):

Australia is influenced by El Niño once every 5–7 years, this caused drought from 2005-2007.
The winds usually blow east to west but El Niño caused them to blow the opposite way. By the
time they reach the east coast they are very dry and bring drought conditions to the south east.

Examples of simple ideas (1-2 marks):

Australia is very dry once every 5–7 years, this is happening more.
There was no rain between 2005 and 2007.
The winds changed direction and didn’t bring rain so the east coast was very dry.
 Mark Scheme: Q2
Example of well-developed ideas (5-6 marks):

The ‘Big Dry’ was a drought in Australia from 2002 to 2009. Rainfall levels were 40-60 percent
lower than normal for most of the country because of El Niño. By 2007 agriculture accounted
for just 3.6% Australia’s GDP which was important for areas like the South East, South West
and Victoria. The effects of the drought meant sheep populations halved and for rice there was a
90% decline. This meant there was a loss of food supply and revenue for farmers. The Murray
area in the South East also saw a decline in visitors which meant a loss of revenue 70 million
(AUS dollars).

The effects on the environment included 70% of the Red river gum trees dying over extensive
areas in the Murray Darling Basin. This disrupted ecosystems and food chains. Stream flows
were lowered in Western Victoria by 80%, therefore birds and fish lost their lives due to a
loss of habitats and food supplies.
Resources
 Consequences
Consequences Soc/Eco/Env
People in rural areas left due to lack of water- increasing the pressure on cities

Rural suicide rates soared

The number of dairy farms reduced by half

Grassland turned to scrubland

Water bills rose 20% in 2008. Stream flows were lowered in Western Victoria by 80% -therefore
birds and fish lost their habitat and food supplies

Tourism was negatively affected- the Murray area in the South East also saw a decline in visitors
which meant a loss of revenue of 70 million (AUS dollars)

Food prices rose and Australia became more reliant on imports

Soil erosion and loss of vegetation

Farmers had to sell the cattle

10,000 people directly employed in the cotton-growing industry were affected

Increase in fossil fuels as energy from HEP was reduced- leading to more pollution
Recycling waste water from showers, baths and wash basins (grey water)

Farmers claiming financial assistance of $400-600 per fortnight

Subsidising rainwater storage tanks for homes

Legislation to ban car washing and limit showers to 4 minutes

A new multi-million de-salinisation system built in Sydney (removing salt
from sea water so it can be safely used)

Paying out $1.7 million a day in drought relief to farmers

More efficient irrigation systems (pipes that pump water to farms)

Calculating the amount of water that could sustainably be used by states

and they had to make sure they did not go over that figure. Water could be
traded within and between states.

Recycling waste water from showers, baths and wash basins (grey water)

Farmers claiming financial assistance of $400-600 per fortnight

Subsidising rainwater storage tanks for homes

Legislation to ban car washing and limit showers to 4 minutes

A new multi-million de-salinisation system built in Sydney (removing salt
from sea water so it can be safely used)

Paying out $1.7 million a day in drought relief to farmers

More efficient irrigation systems (pipes that pump water to farms)

Calculating the amount of water that could sustainably be used by states

and they had to make sure they did not go over that figure. Water could be
traded within and between states.
 Extreme Weather Conditions: Drought.
What is a drought?

Classify factors into physical and human causes of drought

• A presence of high-pressure weather systems. • Water is needed to grow crops and so excessive
irrigation reduces water levels.

• Deforestation- which reduces transpiration and therefore • El Nino leading to drought in Australia.
rain

• Dam building- which deprives regions downstream of • Overgrazing which exposes soils leading to soil erosion.
water. This reduces the ability of the soil to capture and store
water.

• As global temperatures increase, more water is lost from

surfaces through evaporation.

Frequency of drought
 The Big Dry: Australia 2002-2009.
Consequences Soc/Eco/Env
Causes
People in rural areas left due to lack of water- increasing the pressure on cities
El Nino.
Rural suicide rates soared
Australia cannot maintain its current The number of dairy farms reduced by half
population growth in relation to access to
water. Grassland turned to scrubland

Eastern Australia is home to the Murray-
Darling river basin (covers part of New
South Wales, Queensland and South
Australia).
Water bills rose 20% in 2008. Stream flows were lowered in Western Victoria by 80% -
therefore birds and fish lost their habitat and food supplies
Tourism was negatively affected- the Murray area in the South East also saw a decline in
visitors which meant a loss of revenue of 70 million (AUS dollars)

The basin is home to over 2 million people
and is under a lot of pressure to provide the
water needed for agricultural production.
40% of Australia’s agricultural produce
comes from this region.
Food prices rose and Australia became more reliant on imports
Soil erosion and loss of vegetation
Farmers had to sell the cattle
10,000 people directly employed in the cotton-growing industry were affected
Increase in fossil fuels as energy from HEP was reduced- leading to more pollution

Recycling waste water from showers, baths and wash basins (grey water)
Categorise the
Farmers claiming financial assistance of $400-600 per fortnight consequences above into
social, economic or
Subsidising rainwater storage tanks for homes
environmental.
Legislation to ban car washing and limit showers to 4 minutes

A new multi-million de-salinisation system built in Sydney (removing salt from sea water so it can be safely used) Decide whether the
responses in the table to
Paying out $1.7 million a day in drought relief to farmers the left are: individual,
More efficient irrigation systems (pipes that pump water to farms) local government, national
government or scientists
Calculating the amount of water that could sustainably be used by states and they had to make sure they did not go and environmentalists.
over that figure. Water could be traded within and between states.