Rivers Hard vs Soft Engineering

Question 1

What are 4 examples of hard engineering for rivers?

Answer 1

Dams and reservoirs

Channel straightening

Embankments

Flood relief channels

Question 2

How does hard engineering work?

Answer 2

By using man-made structures to actively prevent and control natural processes from taking place.

Question 3

What are 2 advantages of dams (including reservoirs)?

Answer 3

1. Water can be reserved in the reservoir and released when rainfall is low.
2. They are often multi-purpose.

Question 4

What are 2 disadvantages of dams (including reservoirs)?

Answer 4

1. The reservoir for dams often floods huge areas of land.
2. Many people are relocated.

Question 5

How does channel straightening work?

Answer 5

By cutting through meanders to create a straight channel.

Question 6

What are the disadvantages of channel straightening (using concrete)?

Answer 6

1. May increase the flood-risk further downstream.
2. Can damage wildlife habitats.

Question 7

What is an embankment?

Answer 7

A raised riverbank.

Question 8

What are flood-relief channels?

Answer 8

A man-made river channel that bypasses an urban area.

Question 9

How does soft engineering work?

Answer 9

By working with natural river processes to manage flood risk.

Question 10

What are the 5 types of soft engineering for rivers?

Answer 10

Planting trees

Wetlands used as flood storage

Floodplain zoning

River Restoration

Flood warnings