4.7 River Landscapes And Human Activity

Question 1

Explain how human factors can affect hydrographs

Answer 1

Urbanisation - water cant infiltrate into impermeable surfaces, eg. Concrete, so there is more surface run off. Discharge is rapidly increased through drainage systems taking water straight to the river.

Deforestation - Trees take up water from the ground and store it, which reduces run off. Cutting them down increases run off and causes more water to enter the river channel, increasing discharge.

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Physical ; Is in the west coast of the Uk in Cumbria, one of the wettest parts of the Uk, the river is bordered by the lake district and north pennines which are made from hard, impermeable rock which causes run off to join the main river channel and increase discharge.

Human ; Carlisle is a large built up area, development on the flood plain, no soil or vegetation increasing surface run off, natural woodland had been cleared from many upland areas causing more surface run off, and finally parts of the river eden had been drained to make them more suitable for farming. Drainage ditches mean more surface run off to the channel.

Question 3

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

Answer 3

People : People can be killed or injured, roads and transport links can be destroyed, floodwater can be contaminated with sewage, no drinking water, possessions damaged or lost, people are made homeless and businesses and shops shut down, loss of livelihood.

Environment : Contaminated floodwater can damage wildlife habitats, farmland can be ruined , riverbanks are eroded causing huge changes in the river landscape, the force of the floodwater can uproot vegetation.