Wetlands and flooding

Question 1

What are wetlands?

Answer 1

Areas where water covers soil all year round

Question 2

(1) colonise to make the soil nutrient-rich

Wetlands vary due to regional and local differences in (2), topography, (3), hydrology, (4) and human factors

Answer 2

1 - Hydrophytes
2 - soil
3 - climate
4 - vegetation

Question 3

Wetlands:

• (1) people live close to and depend on wetlands
• Trap (2) water and distribute it across the (3)
• Natural protection against (4)
• Supports the (5) cycle, recreational use and habitat

Answer 3

1 - 300-400 million 
2 - flood
3 - floodplain 
4 - coastal erosion and storm surges 
5 - carbon

Question 4

What is the Pantanel?

Answer 4

The largest wetland area in Central South America in the Upper Paraguay river basin

Question 5

Drought increases tree (1) which reduces (2) ranching, even intended (3) can get out of control, usual January rainfall is (4)

Answer 5

1 - mortality
2 - cattle
3- wildfires
4 - 210mm

Question 6

What is the difference between fluvial and pluvial flooding?

Answer 6

F - river flooding

P - caused by excessive rainfall not as a result of a river

Question 7

What is the usual cause of flooding in the UK, SE Asia, Iceland and Bangladesh? (Spacial variations)

Answer 7

UK - Prolonged heavy rain with low pressure systems in a progressive cycle during autumn and early winter
SE A - monsoon season July-Sept
I - Glacial ‘jokulhaup’
B - Flood plain

Question 8

What are the physical causes of flooding?

Answer 8

• Meteorological (short-term weather event) or climatic causes
• Depression sequence e.g. succession of intense storms has a cumulative effect on the drainage system causing high pressure
• Low lying land
• Melting snow or ice

Question 9

What are the human causes of flooding?

Answer 9

• Ploughing (compacts the soil)
• Deforestation
• Impermeable surfaces and drains

Question 10

What are the socio-economic impacts of flooding?

Answer 10

• Deaths and homelessness
• Cars washed away
• Houses collapse
• Dangerous animals in floodwater
• Crops and livestock damaged
• Insurance more expensive
• Business disruption

Question 11

What are the environmental impacts of flooding?

Answer 11

• Recharge groundwater
• Moves sediment
• Damages wildlife habitats