4.7 River Landscapes And Human Activity

Question 1

What human factors can affect flood hydrographs.

Answer 1

Urbanisation - impermeable surfaces, increase disharge.
Deforestation - increase run-off.
Farms/Sheep - overgrazing, poor soil quality.

Question 2

Explain how physical and human factors cause river flooding in the River Eden.

Answer 2

Physical -

• cumbria, west coast of the UK, facing prevailing winds, mild and wet.
• wettest parts of the UK, intense rainfall.
• bordered by Lake District and North Pennines, hard, impermeable rock, run-off.
• snow on higher ground, melts adding water to channel.

Human -

• lots of development on floodplain, cannot absorb.
• poor soil and vegetation, little infiltration.
• natural woodland/heathland cleared, more water ends up quicker into the river.
• drainage ditches created, water flows rapidly to river channel.

Question 3

What are the effects of flooding on people and environment? What problems were caused?

Answer 3

People -

• killed or injured
• roads, bridges and rail lines can be damaged or destroyed.
• possessions can be damaged or lost.
• made homeless.
• businesses forced to shut down which leads to loss of livelihood.

Environment -

• contaminated with sewage and rubbish damage wildlife.
• farmland ruined by silt and sediment.
• river banks eroded changing landscape.
• kill trees and plants.