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Intro to Physical Geography Unit 3 > Rivers and People > Flashcards

Rivers and People Flashcards

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1
Q

Can rivers run north?

A

Yes

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2
Q

Why are rivers important to society?

A
  • Drinking, washing
  • Transportation
  • Agriculture (fertilization, irrigation)
  • Recreation
  • Wildlife habitat
  • Electric power
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3
Q

Why are rivers important to agriculture (2 reasons)?

A
  1. Rivers provide fertile cropland (flood deposits are
    nutrient rich) and water for irrigation
  2. Rivers provide water for irrigation, which is especially important in arid or semi-arid regions
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4
Q

What is a flood?

A

temporary overflow of a stream onto adjacent lands typically not covered by water

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5
Q

What causes flooding?

A

3 Main (sometimes related) Causes

  1. High precipitation
  2. Saturated ground
  3. Stream alteration by people
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6
Q

What are the 3 main type of floods?

A
  1. rising flood
  2. flash floods
  3. wind-driven flood tides
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7
Q

What is a rising flood?

A

a rising flood which occurs because of heavy prolonged rain or melting snow or both.

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8
Q

What is a flash flood?

A

flash floods which are characterized by quick rise and fall of flood levels (lots of those around here!).

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9
Q

What are wind-driven flood tides?

A

wind-driven flood tides that combine wind and tides to flood coastal areas.

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10
Q

What river in the world has killed the most people?

A

The Yellow River

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11
Q

What are nearly all flood deaths related to?

A

Auto-related

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12
Q

How can human alteration of river and landscapes affect flooding?

A

Increases flooding

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13
Q

Why does urbanization change natural flood regime?

A
  1. More impenetrable surfaces like concrete and asphalt cause rapid runoff and reduce absorption into ground
  2. Channelization and human-made levees
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14
Q

What is channelization?

A

Straightening of stream channel for efficient movement of floodwaters downstream away from urban areas or to drain farmland.

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15
Q

Why are artificial levees built?

A

To protect property such as croplands, homes, businesses

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16
Q

How are artificial levees both good and bad?

A

Channelization and artificial levees combined prevent local flooding, BUT cause dramatically increased erosion and flooding DOWNSTREAM

17
Q

How are urbanized rivers bad?

A
  • Higher floodwaters

* Shorter lag time (less warning)

18
Q

What are some negative ecological impacts caused by channelization and built levees?

A

Channelization and built levees also cause negative ecological impacts such as degradation and loss of “riparian” zones (special area between land and river) and wetlands in general

19
Q

What do wetlands do to river levels?

A

Wetlands keep river levels normal and purify and filter water

20
Q

Is alluvium fertile?

A

Yes, very!

21
Q

In Egypt, where do the majority of its people live?

A

95% live within 12 miles of the nile

22
Q

Why build dams?

A

They generate electricity

23
Q

What are some advantages to the Aswan Dam in Egypt?

A

slide 36

24
Q

What are some disadvantages to the Aswan Dam in Egypt

A
  1. 90,000 Nubians had to be relocated, some as many as 350 mi. from home
  2. Had to relocate the ancient temple, Abu Simbel
    -many other artifacts were lost under water
  3. Sediment deprived delta = erosion, shrinking of delta,
    and decreased shrimp harvest in Mediterranean

Slide 41

25
Q

What is the worlds largest dam? What river is it on?

A

Three Gorges, China
20 years, $26 billion to construct

Yangtze River

26
Q

What is some controversy over the Three Gorges Dam?

A

The reservoir has/will submerge the three world-famous gorges, along with their cultural (villages/cities) and archaeological sites.

Slide 44

27
Q

What are some advantages to the Three Gorges Dam and dam power in general?

A
  • Cleaner than coal
  • May prevent catastrophic flooding (will saves thousands of lives)
  • Economic benefit—large ships will be able to reach inland

Dam has 26 generators, EACH similar to medium nuclear reactor

28
Q

What are some disadvantages to the Three Gorges Dam and dams in general?

A
  • Loss of best farmland and some villages/towns
  • Reduced fertilization downstream from silt
  • Loss of spectacular scenery, and archaeological sites - Tourism
  • Unknown consequences for river flora and fauna
  • Pollution from cities upstream, Schistosomiasas
  • Economic strain for China in the cost of the project

Intro to Physical Geography Unit 3 (8 decks)

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