The Eden Basin Case Study Flashcards
Where does the River Eden flow?
Through Cumbria
Where is the drainage basin located?
In north-west England
Between the mountains of the Lake District and the Pennines
Which areas does the river drain?
North-east Lake District and the north-west Pennines
Where is the River Eden’s source?
In the Pennine hills in south Cumbria
In which direction does the river flow?
It flows north-west through Appleby-in-Westmorland
Where is the River Eden’s mouth?
Solway Firth at the Scottish border
Explain the rural and urban characteristics of the river
Mainly rural
Does flow through the city of Carlisle
What can cause flooding downstream?
The upland areas that drain into the River Eden can experience extreme weather.
Why is Carlisle particularly vulnerable to flooding?
Urban area- urban surfaces
At the confluence of the Eden, Petteril and Caldew rivers
Fairly low-lying
What is the rainfall like over the Eden basin?
It is higher than the national average
Why is there so much rainfall over the Eden basin?
Due to the relief of the area- the mountainous terrain encourages orographic rainfall.
What shape is the Eden basin?
It is long and narrow
Why is the lag time of the river long?
The basin is long and relatively narrow
What reduces the lag time and increases the peak discharge?
The slopes within the basin are very steep.
Where is the igneous rock found?
On the highest ground, to the west of the basin
Explain how igneous rocks reduce the lag time
Igneous rocks are impermeable and therefore infiltration is slow and surface runoff is high in these areas
What is type of rock is the majority of the basin made of?
Limestone and sandstone
Explain how sandstone and limestone increase the lag time
Infiltration is quick and there is little runoff
What is a benefit of sandstone and limestone?
Infiltration allows the amount of water in ground stores to increase.
What has happened to soils?
Soils have become compacted due to intense farming
Why has intense farming compacted soils?
Heavy machinery and livestock have put pressure on the soil, compacting it.
By what percentage did the amount of cattle in the Eden Valley increase between 2000-2009?
30%
How does compaction of soil affect the local water cycle?
It reduces infiltration so surface runoff is higher and river levels rise faster, leading to flooding.
How does grazing in upland areas affect the local water cycle?
It reduces the amount of vegetation that can intercept rainfall, more water can therefore reach rivers.
Give an example of a development in Carlisle
Eden Gate
Whereabouts is the Eden Gate development?
In the north of Carlisle
Give an example of a construction plan in Carlisle
A huge “garden village” will be built to the south of the city
How many homes will be built as a result of the new development?
Up to 10,000
How does the construction of new urban areas affect infiltration?
Urban surfaces tend to be impermeable which reduces the size of infiltration flows and greatly increases the size and speed of surface runoff flows.
What have some new developments near Carlisle been built of?
Floodplains
What has had to be used to protect homes?
Flood defences
What problem does building on floodplains cause?
It can cause flooding downstream because water that wold naturally infiltrate on the floodplains flows downstream instead.
What has been removed from the Eden Basin?
Much of the original forest cover.
What has replaced the original forest cover?
Large areas of open grassland and heathland
How do trees affect infiltration and runoff?
They increase infiltration and decrease runoff
What happens to a hydrograph due to increased runoff?
It becomes flashier
What is predicted to change rainfall patterns in the UK?
Climate change
How much more winter rainfall could the western UK see by 2080?
Parts of the western UK could get up to 355 more winter rainfall by 2080.
What happened in December 2015?
Storm Desmond
What did Storm Desmond cause in Cumbria?
Flooding
What record did Storm Desmond bring to some parts of Cumbria?
Record rainfall
How much rain fell in Shap?
262.6 mm of rainfall fell in 48 hours
When did the village of Shap receive record rainfall?
4th- 6th December
What is the average rainfall for December?
50mm
Name two areas of the Eden Basin that were particularly badly affected?
.Appleby-in-Westmorland and Carlisle
How many homes were flooded in Carlisle alone?
2000
Where is the gauging station for the River Eden?
Linstock, just upstream of Carlisle
What agency regularly publishes river flow readings from its gauges on its website?
The Environmental Agency
