MEDC Case Study: York Flashcards
What percentage of the U.K. Population live in flood prone areas?
5%
When can a flooding hazard occur?
When there are people present
When is vulnerability to flooding at its greatest?
Where there is both a high risk and inability of people to cope
What is the total assets at risk from flooding in the U.K.?
£238 million
What are the physical factors which increase flood risk?
- Climatic- storms, climate change, prolonged rainfall
- Geological- rock type etc
- Morphological- shape of the drainage basin etc
What are the human factors which can increase the risk of flooding?
- Sewers
- Culverts
- Bridges
- Impermeable surfaces
- Agricultural practices
- Deforestation
Has the chance of several days’ downpour increased since the 1960s?
Yes, it has doubled
How much more likely is it that there will be 5 or more days rain in a row in winter than in 1960?
50-60%
How has summer rain intensity changed since 1960?
It has remained about the same, though average rainfall is decreasing
What is leading to more evaporation and increased rainfall?
Higher temperatures and changes in the circulation of the North Atlantic
What century are U.K. Sewers from?
They’re 19th century sewers dealing with 21st century levels of waste
What does mainland Europe do which can protect its plugs from flood waters?
They have their plugs around waist height
What examples of public utility buildings have been built on floodplains which are at risk of flooding?
Electricity substations, water processing plants and sewage farms
In Sheffield what were intended to be hazard evacuation centres but were in the course of a potential flood?
Leisure centres
In Hull schools were meant to be evacuation centres yet in 2007 how many were flooded?
91 of the 98 schools
In 2000 when did the river Uck in East Sussex burst its banks?
9th October
When did the 2000 uk floods continue until?
Late November
Which river caused major problems in York?
The Ouse
How large is the catchment area of the Ouse?
3000 km^2
Which rivers feed the Ouse?
The Swale, Nidd and Ure
The bale of York is very steep, what does this lead to?
Fast run off
What type of rock in the vale of York allows water through its structure very quickly?
Permian limestone
What are the natural impermeable surfaces in the vale of York?
Clays
Why does the vegetation in the vale of York cause a flood hazard?
In the upper course there is heathers which offer low interception rates
In the lower corse much of the land is farmed meaning that there is little interception
In the upper course of the river Ouse what substance acts like a sponge and is full in the autumn meaning water trickles into distributaries?
Peat
How much rainfall does the vale of York get and how much is lost through evaporation?
Precipitation 640mm
Evaporation 540mm
Where does the water that floods the vale of York come from?
The dales area which receives heavy rain which means water enters into the Swale, Ure and Nidd
What are the common physical causes of flooding in the vale of York?
- Catchment area
- Relief
- Geology and geomorphology
- Vegetation
- Soils
- Climate
What are the human causes of flooding in the vale of York?
- Farming- pastoral (upper course) and arable (lower course)
- Urban developments- widening of the A1, new housing, industrial areas, industrial areas
York has a variety of flood management strategies, name them (6)
- Clifton Ings
- Leeman Road
- Almery Terrace
- General Accident Offices
- Foss Barrier
- Lower Ebor Street
What is the Clifton Ings flood management strategy (York)?
- Natural flood plain that can store 2.3 million m^3 of water
- Lowers peak flood level in the city by 150mm
- Constructed in 1982 at a cost of £1.25 million
- Flood banks raised and new embankments
- Sluice controlled for letting water in and out
- Designed for medium floods of up to 14 feet
Describe the Leeman Road flood defences (York)
- Embankments built from residue from the sugar beet factory
- They’re quite far away from the river’s edge, increasing the channel capacity
Describe the Almery Terrace flood defences (York)
- concrete flood walls with rubber sealed gates
- walls directly in front of houses offering a little protection
Describe the flood defence strategies at the General Accident Offices (York)
- bottom floor set aside for car parking
- prevents valuables from being lost in flooding
Describe the flood defence strategies at the Foss Barrier (York)
The Foss Barrier stops the river Ouse’s water backing up the river Foss causing damage to some of York’s most historical buildings. A rapid increase in the volume of water would cause the Foss to go back on itself and it to overtop its banks and flood
Describe the flood defence strategies at Lower Ebor street York
The area was flooded badly in 1978 and work had already begun to protect it when it flooded again in 1982. There is now a combination of concrete flood walls and steel trench sheeting. Valves have been installed to isolate the sewage system. incorporating a small pub to evacuate sewage when river levels are too high
In November 2001 the York floods the worst on record?
Yes since records began in the 17th century
How much higher than normal levels was the York 2000 floodwater?
It was 6 m higher than normal and came within 5 cm of breaching Yorks flood defences
What is the estimated return period on the York 2000 floods?
Around one in 80 or 90 years.
What date and time did The York 2000 floods reach their peak Height?
They reached a peak of 5.3 m above normal at 3:30 AM on 4 November 2000.
Was the autumn of 2000 the wettest on record in the UK?
Yes it’s called rivers across England and Wales to rise to record levels and burst their banks causing widespread flooding
What was the 2000 floods in the UK caused by?
A series of deep depression from the Atlantic caused by either global warming or extreme weather.
By how much will the U.K.’s average temperature rise in the next eighty years and what will this mean?
Do UK is average temperature will rise between one and 3°C meaning dryer summers and warm and wetter winters
How many homes were flooded in the York 2000 floods and name one area which was badly affected?
300 homes were flooded one of the affected area was Rawcliffe and residents were forced to leave their homes
Name two businesses near the river Ouse which flooded in the York 2000 floods and what were the affects of this?
The Kings head pub and the city screen cinema this cause the loss of revenue and costs in terms of tackling the damage caused
What were flooded which cause difficulties for shoppers and businesses in the city centre (York 2000)?
Carparks
The site of which landmark then being constructed was flooded in York 2000?
The millennium footbridge
What park in York was closed for months due to flooding?
Rowntrees park
How many roads were closed in the York 2000 flood?
25
How much did the York City council spend in the autumn of 2000 dealing with flooding?
£1.3 million
What was the single biggest expense in preparing for the York 2000 flooding?
Protecting properties with sandbags
How much of the flood of preparation costs were the York City council able to obtain from the government?
They were able to octane half of them but the city still had to find £772,000 from its own resources
Maintenance work to what public transport had to be postponed because of the York 2000 flood?
The rail network
What was happening 12 months after York 2000 floods?
People were still nervous they also faced higher insurance premiums
What did the Royal institution of chartered surveyors warn after the York 2000 floods?
That the floods could have a severe impact on house prices
What new rules will put in place with regards to home selling after the York 2000 floods?
Homebuyers had to be informed about the flood risk which made it more difficult for people in high-risk areas to sell their houses
What services helped to distribute some bugs in the York 2000 floods?
Emergency workers
What did the police fire ambulance and army do in the York 2000 floods?
They rescued stranded families from the homes by gangplank or boat
How many people will move from the homes and what was opened up in the city centre for flood victims?
To rest centres were opened up in the city centre and 40 people move from their homes
Who flew in to meet flood victims after the York 2000 floods?
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott he said he had “great sympathy” for the flood victims
How much of the repairs that the government promised to pay for your 2000 floods?
100% rather than just 85%
How much was promised to improving the defences over the four years after the York 2000 floods?
£51 million
What was first held in York in 2002 which aim to give advice about defending properties from flooding?
National Flood Forum
What was organised by the environment agency to the householder see measures put in place by officials?
A flood fair
Who was criticised by the York flood security panel?
The police, the city of York Council and the environment agency
Did environmentalist suggest that Britain needs to protect from future flooding?
Thousands more trees
