coasts L14 storm surges & bangladesh

Question 1

what CAUSED the 1953 Storm Surge?

Answer 1

low lying land between Humber and Thames
some parts of The Wash are below sea level
Depression was moving south across the North Sea
reduced pressure (970millibars) on sea meant it rose by 0.5m
was spring high tide so the sea was up to 2m higher than usual
rivers flowing into North Sea were flooded but couldn’t discharge water due to high sea levels
anticyclone was occuring West of Ireland (high pressure 1032mb) meant a large pressure gradient so winds increased
severe northerly gale created 6m high waves
as extra water surged south it was unable to escape fast enough through narrow Straits of Dover & rose further by 2m

10.5m sea level rise

Question 2

What happened in ENGLAND as a result of the 1953 storm surge?

Answer 2

1600km of coastline damaged

sea walls breached
water inundated over 1000 sq km

24000 properties destroyed

0.1 % GDP spent on protection after that - ALL went to Thames barrier

Question 3

what happened in the NETHERLANDS (20% below sea level) as a result of the 1953 storm surge?

Answer 3

67 flood defences destroyed

1365 sq km flooded

30000 animals drowned

47000 buildings damaged or destroyed

1800 people died

built dams, levees, storm surge barriers
Delta Works project

havent been impacted by a storm surge ever since

Question 4

what CAUSED the 2013 storm surge?

Answer 4

combo of low pressure and strong winds
high spring tide along east coast of Scotland

Question 5

IMPACTS of 2013 storm surge

Answer 5

tides 2m above usual level
- 158 residential and 233 commercial properties flooded
- 1000 in Suffolk and 1200 in Essex lost power by 9pm
- large parts of sea wall obliterated
- homes washed out to sea
- sealife sanctuary flooded - power lost - 500 creatures had to be found temporary homes
- 2 dead

Question 6

RESPONSES to 2013 storm surge

Answer 6

• repair cost over £1 billion
• flood warnings issues across the region
• places evacuated

Question 7

millibars

Answer 7

more closer together = low pressure depression

less further apart = high pressure anticyclone

Question 8

why is BANGLADESH prone to coastal flooding?

Answer 8

1. low lying land (46% live 10m below sea level)
2. tropical climate - lots of rain - monsoon seasons
3. ria’s, estuaries, channels (floodplain of 3 major asian rivers - ganges)
4. himalayas - river comes from them - also glacial melt (climate change)
5. himalayas above cloud level - relief rainfall
6. dams built along rivers - traps water - creates reservoir - land starts to sink from weight
7. mangrove trees chopped down (71%)