Coastal Flooding Flashcards
What are the physical causes of flooding?
Low pressure atmospheric systems such as hurricanes, strong onshore winds, tidal currents and surges, High rainfall.
What is a tsunami?
A huge tidal wave caused when water is displaced by landslides, volcanic eruptions or submarine earthquakes that shake the ocean floor. When it travels in open water it has a very small wave height. As it approaches the coast, the bottom of the wave slows due to friction causing a increase in wave height.
How does management of river systems intensify coastal flooding?
Some management strategies trap sediment and so reduce the amount being deposited at the rivers mouth. This causes deltas and salt marshes to shrink , providing less protection against high tides and storm surges.
How does building on coast lowlands intensify flooding?
It restricts the sediment supply to protective beaches and marshes. Development of coastal lowland increases the impact of any coastal flood.
How does management of coastal flooding intensify coastal flooding?
Some strategies alter sediment movemnt , reducing the amount of protective beach material further along the the coast. E.G coastal defences at Barton in Hampshire have reduced sediment transportation. This allowed Hurst spit to be breached more, flooding low lands behind.
How does reclamation of coastal lowlands intensify flooding?
Draining the land to reclaim it causes the land to shrink to become lower than sea level.
