Junior Cycle Geography CYCLONE 2. Read the article below and answer each of the following questions.
Humanitarian Crisis in Somalia Driven by Climate Change
Somalia has a hot desert climate with high temperatures and little rainfall. This makes any rain that falls very important. Climate change is leading to less rainfall in certain parts of the world, including Somalia. Between 2016 and 2018, Somalia experienced below average rainfall. This led to many problems for farmers including crop failure, widespread livestock deaths and loss of assets.
As well as farmers, the wider population of Somalia was affected as there was large scale population displacement, hunger and malnutrition. By 2018 the number of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance was estimated at 4.2 million.
Exam hints!
(i) Between what years did Somalia experience below average rainfall?
(ii) Name two effects of this below average rainfall on Somalia.
(iii) Study the two climate graphs below which show the monthly precipitation and average monthly temperature for two different locations. Which climate graph shows the monthly precipitation and average monthly temperature for Somalia?
For reading comprehension pieces such as this, you would expect to find the answers to the initial questions within the article. Use a highlighter to highlight the key points asked in the questions.
This question is asking you to draw on your knowledge across the topics of climate, weather and climate change. What do you know about precipitation levels in Somalia already? Use information given to you in the article if you are unsure. Then look at the climate graphs carefully to see what is shown on each axis, and use the key provided.