Water On The Land: Case Studies

Question 1

BOSCASTLE: when?

Answer 1

16th August 2004

Question 2

BOSCASTLE: weather?

Answer 2

• Remnants of hurricane Alex
• High pressure cold air from North
• Low pressure hot air from South

Question 3

BOSCASTLE: antecedent conditions

Answer 3

Hot summer so baked ground (saturation was quick). This meant an increased surface runoff and a reduced lag time.

Question 4

BOSCASTLE: How much water?

Answer 4

Over 60mm in 2 hours. In total, 310million Gallons. All frontal rainfall

Question 5

BOSCASTLE: topography

Answer 5

• High drainage density (small drainage basin with 3 tributaries).
• Lack of vegetation and impermeable rock underneath
• Steep valley
• High tide meant water backed up in the harbour

Question 6

BOSCASTLE: physical effects

Answer 6

58 properties flooded
4 foot bridges destroyed
1000 lives effected
100 cars washed away
Sewage pipes burst creating unsanitary conditions

Question 7

BOSCASTLE: rescue effort

Answer 7

The flash flood forced people onto their rooftops, over 120 people were winched to safety (biggest peacetime air evacuation). Only 1 broken thumb

Question 8

BOSCASTLE: economy?

Answer 8

£2million of damage, HOWEVER!!! tourism increased. A new scuba diving business to see the cars in the harbour

Question 9

BOSCASTLE: response?

Answer 9

As it was a 1 in 400 year event and there was no loss of life, no drastic action has occurred.

A new 400m culvert has been built to divert a tributary and protect the Wellington Hotel.

Question 10

PAKISTAN: when?

Answer 10

July-September 2010

Question 11

PAKISTAN: which river?

Answer 11

River Indus

Question 12

PAKISTAN: moist?

Answer 12

Wettest monsoon ever, the previous record was 313mm in one day

Question 13

PAKISTAN: why was it moist?

Answer 13

An extremely hot summer meant a bigger pressure gradient that sucked in more water quickly. Also global warming has heated the Indian Ocean so that it carries more precipitation. There were also LA NINA conditions

Question 14

PAKISTAN: what happened in the uplands?

Answer 14

In upland areas the moisture that had been sucked north began to condense due to RELIEF RAINFALL. This combined with icemelt from the Himalayas.

The steep valleys, dry ground and sediment build up all increased the DISCHARGE VELOCITY DOWNSTREAM

Question 15

PAKISTAN: (as we go through) what else worsened the problem

Answer 15

• Deforestation and Farming = surface runoff
• A lack of preparation from the government
• Poor quality bridges and dams burst, releasing surges downstream
• Barrages and Urban Draining moved the problem elsewhere

Question 16

PAKISTAN: effects (humanitarian)

Answer 16

• 20 million effected
• Death toll 1877
• Millions displaced
• 1/5 of Pakistan underwater
• Rich poor divide increased
• Schools closed

Question 17

PAKISTAN: effects (economic)

Answer 17

5.3 million jobs lost
Pakistan's GDP decreases by 2%
Debt increases to $55 billion
Acres of farm destroyed (cotton prices soar) and millions of livestock washed away
11000km of roads lost

Question 18

PAKISTAN: aid

Answer 18

International aid from USA, UK, Norway ect

Question 19

PAKISTAN: aid (problems)

Answer 19

Slow and disorganised, some areas were inaccessible. Flood defences not erected downstream. Remote settlements never reached. In refugee camps food was stolen and resold due to a chaotic ID card system.

Question 20

PAKISTAN: future?

Answer 20

Country set back
Flood defences
Warning systems
Preventive measures

Question 21

KIELDER WATER: unnecessary?

Answer 21

The NW of England has never had water shortages, it has never been less than 90% full.

Question 22

KIELDER WATER: pros

Answer 22

Reservoir feeds homes and industry up to 80miles away AND generates HEP for the national grid (20,000 MWh per year = 8,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide saved per year). It is a flood defence which also has cycle paths and a ferry

Question 23

KIELDER WATER: economics

Answer 23

7years to build and cost £167 million, it sells water and electricity to the rest of the country and has created jobs in tourism.

Question 24

KIELDER WATER: the environment

Answer 24

Flooded an “area of outstanding natural beauty” . 1.5million trees cut down.

However the largest man made forest in Europe now, the new lake is a new ecosystem and the area is still a national park