2.6 - UK 2020 Floods

Question 1

What Caused The UK 2020 Floods

Answer 1

A succession of 3 storms
3 times normal annual rainfall, creating wet conditions & overland flow.
Low-pressure depressions stalled over the UK in November
The River Severn floodplain was built on and deforested.

Question 2

Socio-Economic Impacts

Answer 2

40 people evacuated
Homes inundated
Factories cut-off
Shops without flood insurance had stock ruined

Question 3

Environmental Impacts

Answer 3

Floodwater degraded soil & ecosystem qualities causing eutrophication and sewage pollution
Animals are usually flooded away or they drown and the prices of food start to rise.

Question 4

Influence Of River Mismanagement

Answer 4

Reservoir capacity was exceeded making dams pointless, and river valleys vulnerable
Flood walls can be effective but can ruin smaller towns
Levees are expensive but embankments are bigger
If the water gets moved downstream quicker does it just become someone else’s problem
Could soft-engineering be the result.