Feed The World

StarterDescribe at least 2 aspects of this photo, think about colours, vegetation, the atmosphere

and human activity

A Geographical Case StudyHow is Abu Dhabi trying to secure its future food supplies?

What Type Of Graph Of This?

Quick Skills Test1. What is the average daily maximum temperature in Jan?2. What is the average minimum temperature in August?3. Which is the wettest month?4. How many months have zero rainfall?5. What impact do you think the information above may have on agriculture (farming)?

Have scientists discovered how to create downpours in the desert?

Technology created 50 rainstorms in Abu Dhabi's Al Ain region last year. For centuries people living in the Middle East have dreamed of turning the sandy desert into land fit for growing crops with fresh water on tap. Now that holy grail is a step closer

after scientists employed by the ruler of Abu Dhabi claim to have generated a series of downpours. Fifty rainstorms were created last year in the state's eastern Al Ain region using technology designed to control the weather.

Most of the storms were at the height of the summer in July and August when there is  no rain at all. People living in Abu Dhabi

were baffled by the rainfall which sometimes turned into hail and included gales and lightening.

Building an ionising system is about £7 million while a desalination plant would be £850 million and costs a lot more to

run. Some scientists are treating the results in Al Ain with caution because Abu Dhabi is a coastal state and can experience natural summer rainfall triggered by air picking up moisture from

the warm ocean before dropping it on land. But the number of times it rained in the region so soon after the ionisers were switched on has encouraged researchers. Professor Peter

Wilderer witnessed the experiments first hand and is backing the breakthrough. The director of advanced studies on sustainability at the Technical University of Munich, said: 'We came a big step

closer to the point where we can increase the availability of fresh water to all in times of dramatic global changes.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

HOW TECHNOLOGY IS KICKING UP A STORM The Metro System scientists used ionisers to produce negatively charged particles called electrons. They have a natural

tendency to attach to tiny specks of dust which are ever-present in the atmosphere in the desert-regions. These are then carried up from the emitters by convection -

upward currents of air generated by the heat release from sunlight as it hits the ground. Once the dust particles reach the right height for cloud formation, the charges

will attract water molecules floating in the air which then start to condense around them. If there is sufficient

moisture in the air, it induces billions of droplets to form which finally means cloud and rain.

Lots of oil, but no food

Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is a major producer of oil,

producing over 2.7 million barrels a day. However it is a desert country. Abu Dhabi has very little rainfall or land that is suitable for growing crops. The emirate relies on the profits made from selling oil to import food resources for its people. There was a

global food shortage in 2008, coupled with prices rises in wheat and grain. This led the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD)

to search for a sustainable solution to its food security requirements.

The answer has been to develop 30 000 hectares (1 hectare = 2 football pitches approx) of farmland in the country of Sudan. The government of

Sudan has agreed to lease the land free of charge, in exchange for technological expertise in improving farming techniques. Sudan lies close to the Equator, but has plentiful water supply from the river Nile. It also

has large areas of land that are suitable for agricultural development. Crops such as wheat, potatoes, beans and alfalfa will be grown and

exported to Abu Dhabi.

The ADFD is worried about global warming and continued population growth. The time may come when, even if you have money, buying resources such as food may not be easy. Abu Dhabi is committed to

developing guaranteed food supplies, with similar projects in Uzbekistan and Senegal.Source: www.guardian.co.uk