Flood Management

Question 1

Define hard engineering

Answer 1

Uses heavy machinery to build artificial structures which work against nature to reduce the risk of flooding

Question 2

Define soft engineering

Answer 2

Involves adapting to a river and learning to live with it. Cheeper but often less effective then hard engineering

Question 3

4 methods of hard engineering

Answer 3

1. Dams and reservoirs
2. Channel straightening
3. Embankments
4. Flood relief channels

Question 4

Name 4 methods of soft engineering

Answer 4

1. Flood plain zoning
2. Flood warning and precipitation
3. Afforestation
4. River restoration

Question 5

What do dams and reservoirs do to reduce flooding

Answer 5

There large concrete barriers built across a river to impede its flow. This causes valley behind the dam to flood forming an artificial lake called reservoir

Question 6

Whats a benefit of dams and reservoirs

Answer 6

It restricts supply of water downstream which makes no risks of flooding downstream

Question 7

Whats a problem with dams and reservoirs

Answer 7

If water is released not carefully then theres still a risk of flooding, its very expensive (176m)

Question 8

What is channel straightening

Answer 8

Meandering section of a river is engineered to create a widened straightened and re opened corse

Question 9

What are benefits of channel straightening

Answer 9

Improves navigation and reduces flood risk, faster flowing water removes sediments

Question 10

Problems with channel straightening

Answer 10

It can make the river more likely to flood if it flows through the straight end section too quickly

Question 11

How does embankments work

Answer 11

Artificially raised river bank, more water is contained in the channel

Question 12

Benefits of embankments

Answer 12

Reduces flooding, creates habitats, cheap , creates walking routes

Question 13

Problems of embankments

Answer 13

Requires high maintenance, deprives people of easy access to the river for fishing and boating

Question 14

How do flood relief channels work

Answer 14

Artificially made channel that is a backup for a river that frequently floods. It runs parallel to the main river

Question 15

Problems of flood relief channel

Answer 15

People living in the relief channels have to be moved causing disruption and destroyed habitats

Question 16

How does flood plain zoning work

Answer 16

Where land in a river valley is uses to minimise the impact of flooding

Question 17

Benefits of flood plain zoning

Answer 17

Risk of flooding is reduces, cheap, meadows by the river are protected

Question 18

Problems of flood plain zoning

Answer 18

Limited impact, difficult to get planning permission, habitats are destroyed, creates restricted buildings

Question 19

How do flood warnings work

Answer 19

EA and other agencies co-ordinate efforts to diverse and carry out action plans for at risk areas

Question 20

Benefits of flood warnings

Answer 20

Cheap way of protecting people and their property

Question 21

Problems of flood warnings

Answer 21

They are only effective if people listen, it doesn’t help people who live in places prone to flooding

Question 22

How does afforestation reduce flooding

Answer 22

Planting shelter belts if trees across slopes and woodlands in flood plains reduces the risk of flooding as trees intercept water through roots

Question 23

Benefits if afforestation

Answer 23

reduces water flowing downstream, more co2 is absorbed

Question 24

Problems of afforestation

Answer 24

Change in appearance, countryside wooded rather than open grass, loss of potential grazing land

Question 25

How does river restoration reduce flooding

Answer 25

When a river that has previously been hard engineered is restored to a natural channel

Question 26

Benefits of river restoration

Answer 26

Creates new wetland habitats and increases biodiversity , increases water storage areas

Question 27

Problems of river restoration

Answer 27

Loss of agricultural land and flooding of crops