Flooding

Question 1

What is a Flood?

Answer 1

• the inundation of water where there was none before. It is where water covers the land surface causing damage.
• It may also be described as an overflow of water where the land was dry.

Question 2

Types of Flood

Answer 2

There are many types of floods caused by many types of events.
Three main types of flooding occur-
-Riverine Flooding
-Coastal Flooding
-Urban or Flash Flooding

Question 3

Riverine Flooding

Answer 3

occurs where a river overflows its banks because the water cannot be contained in the river channel and flows onto the nearby flood plain.

Question 4

why would Riverine Flooding occur

Answer 4

This may occur because of heavy and prolonged rainfall over a period of time. It is often seasonal i.e. occurring during the rainy season or spring meltwaters. Trinidad has experienced quite a few riverine floods.

Question 5

Coastal Flooding

Answer 5

This is where the coastal area is covered by water from the incoming waves.

Question 6

When is coastal flooding common?

Answer 6

It is common when coastal areas experience high storm surges or hurricane type waves which move inland covering the land. Coastal flooding is more common during hurricanes or tropical storms.

Question 7

Urban or Flash Flooding

Answer 7

Flash flooding occurs when there are heavy showers in urban areas.

Question 8

Example of where urban flooding might take place

Answer 8

Urban areas such as Port-of-Spain are very built up. Their ground surfaces are covered with asphalt and concrete and there are many buildings that intercept rainfall instead of trees.

Question 9

Example of how urban/flash flooding may happen

Answer 9

These buildings as well as the concrete and asphalt do not allow water from rainfall to enter the soil and river systems. They, therefore, flow over the land surface, flooding them especially when the water is greater than the existing drainage. Port-of-Spain , San Fernando, San Juan and Arouca experience this type of flooding.

Question 10

Check out the table in the last 2 slides they’re really helpful

Answer 10

Check out the table naomi, please

Question 11

Effects of flooding physical-

Answer 11

• Buildings and houses are damaged
• Damage to transportation- roads and bridges may be impassable
• The land surface is covered with water
• Habitats are affected where animals may be displaced
• Agricultural lands are affected and crops may be lost affecting markets

Question 12

Effects of flooding Human-

Answer 12

• Lives may be lost Interruption of people’s way of life
• Disruption in transport can reduce people’s ability to go to work
• Loss of housing contents e.g. furniture, cars,
• Stress and anxiety where people are psychologically affected

Question 13

Causes of Flooding

Answer 13

-Heavy and prolonged rainfall such as in tropical storms - Damming of Rivers and blocked river courses
-Breaking of River Dams e.g. the Yellow River in China
-Rapid Urbanization
-Melting Snow and Ice especially during spring
-A lack of vegetation through deforestation
Storm surges from Hurricanes