Case study MEDC flooding - Carlisle

Question 1

What date was the flooding? (Carlisle rivers)

Answer 1

9th January 2005

Question 2

What is the location? (Carlisle rivers)

Answer 2

Cumbria

Question 3

What were the causes of the flooding? (Carlisle rivers)

Answer 3

• Drainage basin had become very large (high discharge)
• Steep banks in the basin
• High surface run off
• Short time lag as many streams fed into the river

Question 4

What physical factors influenced the flood? (Carlisle flooding)

Answer 4

• 200 mm of rainfall over 36 hours

- Discharge was 1520 cumes (avg 52 cumes)

Question 5

What human factors influenced the flood? (Carlisle flooding)

Answer 5

• Large built up area

- 25% of flooding associated with overflown drains

Question 6

What were the social impacts of the flood? (Carlisle flooding)

Answer 6

• 3 died
• 3000 homeless for over a year
• 4 schools closed

Question 7

What were the economic impacts of the flood? (Carlisle flooding)

Answer 7

• £100 million in repairs
• 350 businesses closed
• 70,000 lost electricity

Question 8

What were the environmental impacts of the flood? (Carlisle flooding)

Answer 8

• increased erosion

- river become polluted with rubbish