The Somerset Levels Flood 2014 Flashcards
Where are the Somerset Levels?
-County in South-West England
-The Somerset Levels & The Somerset Moors from an area of low-lying farmland and wetlands bordered by the Bristol Channel and Quantock Hills to the west and the Mendip Hils to the north
-The area is drained by several rivers, most notebly the
Tone and the Parrett, which flow to the Severn Estuary via Bridgwater.
Where are the Somerset Levels?
-County in South-West England
-The Somerset Levels & The Somerset Moors from an area of low-lying farmland and wetlands bordered by the Bristol Channel and Quantock Hills to the west and the Mendip Hils to the north
-The area is drained by several rivers, most notebly the
Tone and the Parrett, which flow to the Severn Estuary via Bridgwater.
What caused the floods in 2014?
-It was the wettest January since records began in 1910.
A succession of depressions (areas of low pressure) driven across the Atlantic Ocean brought a period of wet weather lasting several weeks. About 350mm of rain fell in January and February, about 100mm above average.
-High tides and storm surges swept water up the rivers from the Bristol Channel. This prevented fresh water reaching the sea and it spilled over the river banks.
-Rivers had not been dredged for at least 20 years, and had become clogged with sediment.
What were the impacts of the flood?
Between December 2013 and February 2014, the Somerset Levels hit the national headines as the area suffered extensive flooding. It was the most severe flooding ever known in the area.
