A river in northern Nigeria, on the edge of the Sahel. Found inside – Page 72Why do rivers flood ? Understanding the causes of flooding Finding out what happens to the excess water / runoff in urban and rural surfaces WHEN DO FLOODS HAPPEN ? Humans change the ways in which land is used -. DRAFT. By early 2005, power and water was back up. An influx of funding to a less developed area from charities and NGOs after a flood can result in new infrastructure being constructed that is substantially better than the previously existing infrastructure. able to produce crops or sustain agriculture. Today, southern Florida is criss-crossed by runoff canals that redirect the flow of the Everglades, the “River of Grass” that runs from Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. GCSE Geography – Case Study – Flooding, The Somerset Levels 2014. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited. While the recurrence interval’s accuracy increases as you add more data, the reliability decreases because the river’s flooding patterns will have changed over time. Sediment, transported by the river from the upper stages, is deposited in the reservoir where the velocity of the river reduces. the art, science, and business of cultivating the land for growing crops. substance an organism needs for energy, growth, and life. area of grassland next to a river or stream, intentionally flooded to maintain fertility and dissipate floodwaters. In 2007, these defences were put to the test and a much smaller, more controlled flood occurred. A 100-year flood, for example, is an extremely large, destructive event that would be expected to happen only once every century. Rising in southeastern Qinghai province, … Floods are a natural part of the water cycle, but they can be terrifying forces of destruction. Wetland vegetation, such as trees, grasses, and sedges, slow the speed of flood waters and more evenly distribute their energy. In 2008, the Grand Canyon was deliberately flooded. shark able to survive in freshwater habitats. National Geographic Headquarters When discussing floods, it’s important to understand what they are. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. process of raising the level (grade) of a stream or river through the deposit of sediments. Geography. Wadis can be dangerous during flash floods because they rarely have riparian zones to slow the flood’s energy. In Bangladesh, for example, melting snow in the Himalayas triggers annual floods in the summer. business that uses surplus funds to pursue its goals, not to make money. Industrial zones, which can include factories with. the art and science of cultivating land for growing crops (farming) or raising livestock (ranching). In other words, flooding occurs when a river is so full that it is unable to hold any more water, and therefore any excess water will flow out of the river and onto land. organ in an animal that is necessary for breathing. to leave or remove from a dangerous place. Also called a food cycle. money paid in good health to guarantee financial or physical health if injury or damage occurs. food for livestock consisting of whole plants. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was on a flood plain at the meeting of the Stony Creek and Little Conemaugh rivers. Pedologists, or soil scientists, work with hydrologists to determine how much water a region’s earth can absorb. Privacy Notice |  Doppler radar, for example, shows scientists where a storm is most severe. "The Hero of Haarlem"A popular story concerns a young boy from the town of Haarlem, Netherlands, who notices a leak in the town's dike. Levees may also be made of blocks of wood, plastic, or metal. conditions that surround and influence an organism or community. Yu studied data from previous Yellow River floods, noting where the flow was the strongest and flood plains were most vulnerable. property and the business of buying, selling, and developing land. New bridges and roads were constructed to a higher standard than those that had previously been constructed. GCSE Geography – Human causes of climate change ... GCSE Geography – River erosion processes, transportation & deposition. This Geography quiz is called 'Flooding' and it has been written by teachers to help you if you are studying the subject at high school. Andrew Turgeon, Mary Crooks, National Geographic Society Conversely, if a basin is sparsely vegetated then there will be no interception and so more water will enter a river. You seem to have disabled JavaScript. The bright-red sludge was responsible for at least four deaths, as well as the relocation of hundreds of Hungarians. Strong dikes or levees, as well as regulated channels for irrigation, are required. tropical storm with wind speeds of at least 119 kilometers (74 miles) per hour. body of water that serves as a route for transportation. The most common is when rivers or streams overflow their banks. Also called a wadi. This improves the fertility of the floodplain and can improve agricultural yield in an area (assuming the floodwater wasn’t polluted). Floods can occur for a variety of reasons, and their effects can be minimized in several different ways. A floodplain consists of two parts. Levees, runoff canals, and reservoirs can stop water from overflowing. The permeability of the soil and rock in a drainage basin is a big factor in flooding. The first is the main channel of the river itself, called the floodway. Nobody was killed thanks to the rescue efforts but some people suffered from broken bones & hypothermia. Levees protect New Orleans from the Mississippi River. person who plans the building of things, such as structures (construction engineer) or substances (chemical engineer). Rivers are found on every continent and on nearly every kind of land. The vegetation cover in a basin will affect flooding. If the floodwater isn’t polluted though, flooding can create wetlands that can help introduce new habitats for many species of animals. An example of a flooding event often used at AS level is that of the Boscastle 2004 flood. The river valleys are steep and composed of shale, an impermeable rock. In fact, in a LEDC, floods can lead to positive economic effects in the long term. movement of people or goods from one place to another. ↩. The Barotse floodplain of the Zambezi River, for example, is a, Some rivers have very narrow floodplains. This can lead to people being displaced (have to move away). 11 Days after the flood people were allowed to return to their homes to salvage their belongings. Found inside – Page 1330 Precipitation ( mm ) 1 River basins and their management 30 + 10 Why do rivers flood ? Run - off discharge ( cumecs ) A flood occurs when the river 50 Peak discharge level rises higher than the river banks and it spills on to its 1 ...