UK Evolving physical landscape - 4 - Sheffield Floods case study

Question 1

What caused it

Answer 1

Heavy and prolonged rainfalloverwhelmed the city’sdrainage systems​, and the River Don - which flowsthrough Sheffield -​burst its banks​

Question 2

effects

Answer 2

​2 people died​,
over​ 1,200 homes were flooded,​
1,000 businesses were affected
and​13,000 people had no power​ for two days.

Question 3

Physical processes:
What rainfall occured on the 25th of June in Sheffield?

Answer 3

Nearly​ 100mm fell in Sheffield in​24 hours​, the highest daily rainfall on record for Sheffield.

Question 4

Physical processes:
How wet was June?

Answer 4

June was the​ wettest month recorded in sheffield​ since 1882

Question 5

Physical processes:
How did hills around sheffield affect the distribution of rainfall?

Answer 5

Rainfall flows rapidly down the surrounding hills as run-off and drains into Sheffield’s river systems, filling them quickly.

Question 6

Human processes:
What did the urban landscape cause rainfall to do?

Answer 6

These​impermeable surfaces stop water from infiltrating into the ground; and instead water is directed into ​urban drainage systems.

Question 7

Human processes:
What happened to drains?

Answer 7

​drains began to be overwhelmed with rainwater
drainage systems could not take any more water​

Question 8

Human processes:
Where was the most damage?

Answer 8

Next to the natural floodplain

Question 9

Human processes:
What increased the flooding risk?

Answer 9

Poo rriver management​ and weak​building
regulations have limited the ability for rivers to naturally overflow and drain into floodplains​, which has increased flooding risk.

Question 10

Human processes:
What has urbanisation caused?

Answer 10

Urbanisation ​in Sheffield has left the River Don and its tributaries with​ no space to naturally expand and flood​, which is important for flood risk reduction.

Question 11

Human processes:
What happened to the flood defenses?

Answer 11

Some flood defences​were simply not strong enough and were breached, such as at Meadowhall Shopping Centre. Officials say they were not designed for flooding events as severe as the one in 2007​.