W&C CS: River Eden & Storm Desmond Flashcards
location of Eden
North West England between Pennines and Lake District
geology of Eden
High ground in West of basin is igneous rock which is impermeable reducing infiltration.
Lower ground made of permeable rocks like limestone and sandstone so increased infiltration.
Farming in Eden
heavy machinery and livestock conpacts soil.
between 2000 and 2009, livestock levels increased by 30% so compaction increased more.
Grazing sheep decrease vegetation so reduces interception so decreasing lag time.
Urbanisation in Eden
New housing estates in Carlise and plans to build 1000 new homes in a new ‘garden village’ so less permeable ground leading to increased flood risk.
Climate change and Eden
In 2018, due to climate change, West of England received 35% more rainfall causing increased flood risk.
When storm Desmond
December 2015
Causes storm Desmond
a frontal depression where warmer air from topics met cool air from poles and warm rose above cool air and cooled and condensed causing increased rainfall and as air was pulled in due to low pressure, increased wind was created.
How much rainfall
340mm
How many schools closed
40, over 3000 kids couldn’t go to school.
How many homes lost power
43,000
How much money in insurance claims
£1.2 billion
how many homes flooded
6500
future strategies to prevent
more vegetation planted to store water and increase interception.
gravel removed from river beds to allow for increased storage of water.
