Coastal Flooding In Developed Countries Flashcards
What were the wind gust speeds recorded in Scotland during the surge and tides event?
Over 200 km/hr
This indicates the severity of the weather conditions experienced.
How many homes were flooded as a result of the surge and tides in the UK?
1400 homes
This flooding led to forced evacuations, particularly along the coast of Eastern England.
In which location did cliff erosion result in properties collapsing into the sea?
Hemsby (Norfolk)
This highlights the destructive impact of coastal erosion during the event.
What transportation services were affected by the surge and tides?
Bridges were shut and rail services in eastern counties were disrupted
This indicates the widespread impact on infrastructure.
How many fatalities occurred due to the surge and tides event?
Two people
This underscores the human cost of the disaster.
What measure was taken to protect London during the surge and tides?
The Thames Barrier was closed
This is an important flood defense measure for the city.
What was the estimated cost of the damage caused by the surge and tides?
£100 million
Insurers calculated this amount reflecting the economic impact of the event.
Fill in the blank: Hundreds of thousands of properties were protected by _______.
flood defences
This indicates the effectiveness of existing infrastructure in mitigating damage.
What is the main geographical feature of the North Sea that contributes to coastal flooding?
The North Sea allows strong northernly winds to push storm surges towards coastal cities
What weather phenomenon contributed to the extreme weather experienced in the UK from mid-December 2013 to early January 2014?
A powerful jet stream bringing low-pressure weather systems across the Atlantic
This led to a succession of major storms affecting the region.
When did one of the most significant storms occur that affected the UK coast?
5-6 December 2013
This storm brought with it a significant storm surge.
Which areas in the UK were particularly affected by the storm surge?
Norfolk and low-lying coastal areas including much of the Netherlands
Some of these areas are at or below sea level.
What atmospheric condition contributed to the storm surge on 5-6 December 2013?
Intense low pressure (976 mb deepening to 968 mb)
This condition was similar to the one that caused the deadly 1953 storm surge.
What role did high seasonal tides play in the storm surge?
They contributed to increasing the height of the storm surge
Higher tides can exacerbate the effects of storm surges.
What effect did strong northerly winds have on the storm surge?
They pushed the storm and the surge further south, increasing their height
This contributed to more severe flooding in affected areas.
True or False: The North Sea is deeper as it narrows towards the south.
False
The North Sea actually gets shallower as it narrows towards the south.
Fill in the blank: The storm surge that occurred in December 2013 was significant because it affected cities like _______ and _______.
Amsterdam, London
These cities are vulnerable to storm surges due to their geographical location.
What historical event is mentioned as a comparison to the storm surge of December 2013?
The 1953 storm surge
This earlier event resulted in the deaths of 307 people in the UK and 1800 in the Netherlands.
What natural events contributed to the impacts in the Netherlands?
Strong winds and a storm surge
The storm surge was predicted to be up to 2 metres high.
What was the height of the storm surge on the East Frisian coast?
3.74 metres above mean sea level
This height was recorded in Germany, near the Dutch border.
How many people died during the recent storm surge in the Netherlands?
No one died
What major infrastructure was constructed in the Netherlands in response to the 1953 storm surge?
Delta Works
What are Delta Works designed to protect against?
Flooding by the North Sea
What is the largest component of the Delta Works?
Eastern Scheldt storm-surge barrier
