RIVERS - flooding and river management

Question 1

give examples for natural causes of flooding + explain

Answer 1

intense/prolonged rainfall
snowmelt
impermeable rock
steep slopes

Question 2

give examples for human causes for flooding + explain

Answer 2

urbanization
deforestation
agriculture (ploughing + overgrazing compact soil)

Question 3

give examples for short-term impacts of flooding + explanation

Answer 3

destruction of property
displacement of people
disruption of transport

Question 4

give examples of long-term impacts of flooding + explanations

Answer 4

loss of agricultural land (farmland can become unusable - soil erosion)
habitat destruction

Question 5

2 types of river management strategies + explanation + example

Answer 5

hard engineering
soft engineering

Question 6

give examples of hard engineering + explanation

Answer 6

dams and reservoirs
levees (embankments)
channel straightening
flood relief channels

Question 7

give examples of soft engineering + explanation

Answer 7

afforestation
floodplain zoning
riverbank conservation

Question 8

describe some advantages of hard engineering

Answer 8

provides immediate and highly effective flood protection
protects urban areas and infrastructure
some methods (e.g.dams) have multiple benefits (hydroelectric power, water storage, flood prevention)

Question 9

disadvantages of hard engineering

Answer 9

expensive to build and maintain
distrust ecosystems and habitats
often lead to increased risk of flooding downstream (e.g.: channel straightening)

Question 10

give some advantages of soft engineering

Answer 10

sustainable and environmentally friendly
cheaper
require less maintenance later
improve biodiversity and don’t ruin ecosystems

Question 11

state some disadvantages of soft engineering

Answer 11

take a long time to become effective (e.g.: afforestation)
may not be effective in extreme floods
don’t actually really prevent the floods but only minimize the impacts (e.g.: floodplain zoning)