Natural Factors
Geography: Cambridge International GCSE (2027 Exams), topic 10.3.2
Physical Factors Affecting Food Production
Drought, flooding, tropical storms and pests can impact food production
Drought
- Drought is when there is not enough precipitation so there are shortages of water.
- This means that plants may not grow properly or at all.
Flooding
- Flooding is caused by a river bursting its banks or by prolonged rainfall or snowmelt.
- This results in a lot of water on the ground.
- This can wash soil and crops away and drown livestock.
Tropical storms
- Tropical storms: the heavy rainfall during tropical storms can cause flooding.
- The salty water from storm surges (big waves from the sea) kills crops that like fresh water.
Pests
- Pests can eat crops in a short period of time, and are often insects e.g. locusts.