Dams, Switzerland - Glaciated Flashcards
1
Q
Grande Dixence
A
- On the Dixence river
- Highest dam in switz (285m high, almost as tall as Eiffel tower)
- 695m wide
- 8 year construction completed 1961
- Tallest gravity dam
- Provides HEP
- Optimises water level
- Maximise profits
2
Q
Uses
A
- HPE
- Grand Dixence fed by 12 glaciers to huge reservoir for electricity generation
- Pump storage
- Irrigation
- River flood control
3
Q
Construction
A
- Fluvio glacial deposits easy to quarry
- Bulldozering of landforms like eskers for material
- Increases run off
- Decreases soil stability
Stausse Mattmark scheme
- Cost of 60 lives
- Built 40 years ago
- Reworked medial & lateral moraine from glacier
- Not made from reinforced concrete
- Build to adjust position from earthquakes
4
Q
Tourism
A
- Scenery
- Attracts huge numbers annually
- Tourist industries developed
- Climbing, bird watching, walking
- Ski lifts / other infrastructure
- Upsets balance
- Hazardous
5
Q
Hazards
A
Vulnerable to
- Floods
- Mass movement
- Avalanches
6
Q
Floods
A
- Result from avalanches, snow melt & outburst
- Accumulation and sudden release of melt water
- Global warming increasing likelihood of floods
- Canalisation to increase capacity & hydraulic efficiency, cope with overflows, prevent further damage
7
Q
Mass movement
A
-Mud slides, rock fall
-Aka: Mass wasting
-Glacial erosion steepens valley slopes
-Unstable especially during heavy rain / earthquakes
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8
Q
Avalanches
A
- Uncontrolled rapid movement of snow
- High mountain areas, heavy snow fall & steep slopes
- Natural hazards compounded by deforestation, acid rain & more
- Triggered by vibrations from cars to skiers
- Reforestation halves damage
- Small expositions to trigger controlled falls
- Villages protected by snow bridges
9
Q
Ground avalanches
A
- Move rapidly over ground
- Push a powder avalanche of snow in front
- Destructiveness depends on free movement or confinement
