Freshwater - issues and conflict

1. The water system
The hydrological cycle	Examine the inputs, outputs, stores and transfers of the hydrological cycle. Discuss the causes and consequences of the changing balance between water stored in oceans and ice.	3 hours
The water balance	Explain the concept of maximum sustainable yield of freshwater in terms of a balance between inputs and outputs.	3 hours
2. Drainage basins and flooding
Drainage basins	Examine the functioning of a drainage basin as an open system with inputs, outputs, transfers, stores and feedback loops.	2 hours
Discharge	Define stream discharge. Examine its relationship to stream flow and channel shape.	1 hour
Hydrographs	Describe the characteristics of a hydrograph. Examine the reasons for spatial and temporal (short-term and long-term) variations in hydrographs. Examine the role of hydrographs in forecasting the magnitude, spatial extent and timing of floods.	3 hours
Floods	Discuss the natural and human causes and consequences of a specific river flood.	3 hours
3. Management issues and strategies
Dams and Reservoirs	Examine the hydrological changes resulting from the construction of dams and reservoirs. Examine the costs and benefits of dams and reservoirs as part of multi‑purpose schemes.	2 hours
Floodplain management	Explain the stream channel processes (erosion, transport, deposition) and explain the resultant landforms found on floodplains. Examine the human modifications of a floodplain and their effect on the size and probability of floods. Evaluate the costs and benefits of alternative stream management strategies.	3 hours
Groundwater management	Explain the functioning and management of artesian basins and aquifers, distinguishing between natural and artificial recharge. Examine the environmental impacts of groundwater abstraction.	2 hours
Freshwater wetland management	Describe the role of wetlands as a water resource. Evaluate the effectiveness of the management strategies that have been adopted in a major wetland.	2 hours
Irrigation and agriculture	Examine the environmental impact of agriculture and irrigation on water quality: salinization, agro‑chemical run-off, the pollution of groundwater and the eutrophication of lakes, rivers and wetlands.	3 hours
4. Competing demands for water
Conflicts at the local or national scale	Examine the competing demands for water in a specific river basin. Evaluate the strategies that have been adopted to meet these demands.	6 hours
Conflicts at the international scale	Discuss an example of an international conflict related to freshwater.	6 hours

IB Freshwater issues and conflict defintions.doc