Facts + SUDs Stuff

Question 1

Why flooding in urban areas (3+)

Answer 1

Impermeable surface = low infiltration = dry periods river discharge is low
Precipitation higher + storm more intense = increase SR
Runoff channeled to rivers through pipes

Question 2

Flooding - hydrograph of urban area (3)

Answer 2

Low infiltration + high SR + channeling = short lag time + high peak discharge + fast return to base flow

Question 3

What is catchment management (5)

Answer 3

Aims to minimise flooding, drought, water pollution, erosion + improve environment

Question 4

Methods to river catchment (2)

Answer 4

Hard - man made
Soft - land use management

Question 5

Example of hard engineering (3)

Answer 5

River levees/embankments
River straightening
Dams + reservoirs

Question 6

Example of soft engineering (3)

Answer 6

Floodplain zoning
River conservation - plant trees + bushes
Afforestation

Question 7

Negative about catchment management (2++)

Answer 7

Decisions made by experts not residents - what’s best for whole catchment may not be best for individual = feel ignored
Schemes = disruptive = three gorges dam in China flooded 13 cities, 140 towns and 1.2m had to move

Question 8

Example of catchment management (3)

Answer 8

Leeds - river aire
2015 = severe flooding
Leeds city council + environmental agency set up uks largest scheme

Question 9

River aire shceme involved what (2)

Answer 9

Increased vegetation along the river from the source in Malham down to Leeds city centre
Used natural processes to slow the flow of surface water.

Question 10

Impact of Leeds shceme (2)

Answer 10

Increased vegetation = more water moved as throughflow and groundwater flow
Gently released into the river so that lower areas are not overwhelmed by flood water

Question 11

What is are SUDs (2)

Answer 11

aim to imitate natural drainage sytem
Decrease flooding, water pollution + drought in Urbana read

Question 12

Why SUDs sustainable (2)

Answer 12

Work with natural environment to improve drainage and water quality
Vegetated trenches + roofs = new habitats + increased biodiversity

Question 13

Example of SUDs (4)

Answer 13

Detention ponds, Swales and basin
Vegetated roofs
Containers - water Butts
Permeable block paving

Question 14

What does container do - sud

Answer 14

Catches and stores rainwater = reduce drought

Question 15

What do vegetated roofs do - suds (2)

Answer 15

Intercepts rainfall
Increases evapotranspiration = reduce flood

Question 16

What is a vegetation trench + retention basin (2+)

Answer 16

VT = Intercept rainfall
Retention basin = store water
They help to increase infiltration (reduces pollutants) + water storage = reduced runoff + flow

Question 17

What is a bioswale garden (5+)

Answer 17

Firms part of SUD sytem
Sloped retention area = captures water allowing to infiltrate
Some after soaked up by vegetation = natural
Located = end of roof gutter = buffer between lawn and street
Depth = 6-9 inches = doesn’t pond