4.8 Flood Risk And Management

Question 1

Why is flood risk increasing include global climate change and human activity in drainage basins

Answer 1

The frequency of storms is increasing this is a consequence of global warming. Storms are also becoming extreme more intense rainfall is increasing. More periods of wet weather means the soil will be more saturated.

Question 2

Compare how soft and hard engineering schemes work.

Answer 2

Hard engineering are man made structures built to control the flow of the sea and reduce flooding and erosion.
Soft engineering- schemes set up using knowledge of the sea and its processes to reduce the flooding and erosion.

Question 3

Explain what each hard engineering scheme is and how they work and the pros and cons

Answer 3

Sea wall- a wall made from a hard material and reflects waves back out to sea. Pro’s- prevents erosion of the coast and acts as a barrier to prevent flooding of the coast to prevent flooding. Cons- very expensive and creates a strong backwash

Groynes- wooden or stone fences that are built at right angles to the coast they trap material transported by LSD. Cons- they create wider beaches which slow waves snd give greater protection against flooding and erosion. Cons- starve beaches further down the coast

Question 4

Explain what a soft engineering scheme is and how they work and the pros and cons

Answer 4

Beach replenishment is when sand and shingle fro, elsewhere is added. Pros- creates wider beaches which slow waves. Cons- taking materials can kill organisms and sponges and coral. Slope stabilisation- slopes are reinforced by inserting concrete nails into the ground. Pros- prevents mass movement cons- very expensive and sometimes difficult to install.
Strategic realignment -removing an existing defence and land behind to flood. Pros- over time the land will become marshland creating new habitats flooding and erosion reduced. Cons- people may disagree over what land is allowed to flood