4.8 River Landscapes and Human Activity

Question 1

Why is river flooding increasing?

Answer 1

More storms due to climate change that are more extreme saturate the soil. More permeable surfaces have been removed meaning less places to store water

Question 2

Compare hard and soft engineering

Answer 2

Hard are man made structures to reduce flooding while soft are using the river to reduce effects of flooding

Question 3

Pros and cons of each hard engineering

Answer 3

Walls-expensive and ugly, help river store more water
Embankments-expensive and big risk if break, do protect buildings
Barriers-expensive hard to maintain, help stop floods well

Question 4

Pros and cons of each soft engineering scheme

Answer 4

Flood plain renevation- cant happen in urban areas, free

River restoration- can increase flood risk, little maintance needed