CONFLICT RESEARCH:
PHYSICAL
Driving question: What physical characteristics might lead to conflict?
(Do not answer now; answer as you pull your research of PEPC together at the end.)
1. What is the location of your area of conflict?
a. On which continent is your area of conflict located?
Asia
b. What is the latitude for your area of conflict?
31 o , 30minutes N; 34 o, 45minutes E
c. In what cultural region is your area of conflict?
Southwest Asia & North Africa
d. What countries and water bodies surround your area of conflict?
Israel is surrounded by the countries of
Egypt to the south,
Jordan and Syria to the east,
separated from Jordan by the Jordan River, the Dead Sea & the Sea of Galilee
and Lebanon to the north.
The Gaza Strip (Palestine) is are surrounded by
Israel on the north and east,
Egypt to the south,
Mediterranean Sea to the west.
The West Bank (Palestine) is surrounded by:
Israel to the west, north and south,
and separated from Jordan in the east by the Jordan River & the Dead Sea
2. What are the physical landforms (terrain) in your area of conflict?
The area of Israel is slightly larger than the size of New Jersey. The Gaza Strip
and the West Bask combined are the Palestinians Territories and are 45% the
size of Israel. Southern Israel and the Palestinian Areas are mostly covered by
the Negev desert region and is useable only because of irrigation and water
diversion. The region is generally rugged and there are some low mountains in
the eastern parts that rise to a height of 1200 meters (roughly 4000 feet). The
country has roughly 290 miles of coastline with the Mediterranean Sea. The
lowest point on the planet is located in Israel at the Dead Sea some 1200 ft
below sea level.
(www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html)
a. What important water supplies (if any) are in your area of conflict?
Freshwater sources are an issue in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Israel
controls most of the lake and river access to these areas. Israel also gets some
of its water supply from a desalination plant that takes the salt out of sea water.
The Palestinian areas are in constant need of additional water sources.
(www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html)
3. What climate type does this give the region?
a. Describe the climate of the region.
Latitude – the latitude of Israel and the Palestinians Territories is 31 o ,
placing them in the middle of the desert zones of the northern
hemisphere.
Winds – Winds for these two areas come from the east
Oceans – Though the regions are right next to the Mediterranean Sea, they
feel little to no ocean effect because the wind comes from the
east, overland. There are no cooling or moderating effects of the
ocean because the winds blow all ocean affects out to sea, not
inland over the regions.
Topography – These regions are on the western side of the “mountains”
and as a result they get little rain and are dry and warmer.
b. Create a climograph for the area closest to your conflict you are researching.
This climograph is a good generalized representation for Israel and the
Palestinian Territories. It is for Mount Carmel located in the center of
these areas.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X97000986)
c.
Explain how climate might affect your area of conflict.
The climate of the region is harsh and dry. Any place in this region would
have to be irrigated if it was to thrive. Some areas in the northern part of
Israel are more usable because it is flatter and rains would not just run off
into rivers or stream. The climate of this place makes it difficult for many
people to survive unless they could develop or obtain the necessary
sources of water. Struggle for water is a constant issue for many
Palestinians and since Israelis have control of the majority of fresh water
sources, water is a major source of conflict.
4. What physical resources are common in your area of conflict?
While Southwest Asia and Northern Africa know for its vast deposits of
oil and natural gas, Israel and the Palestinians Territories are not fortunate
enough to have any of these deposits. These two areas are not known for
having any significant natural resources.
(www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html)
5. Explain how people are changing your area of conflict, and how your area of conflict
affects the way people there live.
Israel and the Palestinian Territories have limited arable land and
natural freshwater resources. As people use more of these
resources, serious problems are occurring. People in many area s
do not have enough water. Additionally, since the water is being
used by people, less is staying in the immediate environment.
This is causing the deserts of the area to grow as areas dry up.
Only 15% of Israel is considered good enough to use for
agriculture. As the Israelis and some of the Palestinians try to
succeed in agriculture, groundwater is becoming polluted from,
chemical fertilizers, and pesticides.
Industrial and domestic wastes, air pollution from industrial and
vehicle emissions are also problems.
The area commonly is hit by sandstorms and droughts.
6. Copy and paste a good, readable physical map of the region (cite your source)
http://www.zonu.com/fullsize-en/2009-09-17-3010/Israel-Physical-Map-2001.html