Paper 1: River flooding

Question 1

which flow of water is the fastest

Answer 1

-SRO
-less steps to follow to reach river
-not as dense as soil/rock

Question 2

flooding

Answer 2

when a river bursts its banks
-or when water cannot infiltrate into the ground = sits on ground

Question 3

How forests reduce flooding

Answer 3

-trees intercept rain
-plant uptake = reduces soil saturation

Question 4

felling

Answer 4

chopping down

Question 5

Felling causes flooding

Answer 5

-reduces interception
-more water reaches river via SRO
-soil is exposed = saturation
or washes soil into river which build river bed and reduces discharge of river

Question 6

Removing hedgerows

Question 7

hedgerows

Answer 7

-rows of bushes used to divide farmer’s fields

Question 8

More arable farming causes

Answer 8

-after harvests
-fields are bare
-no interception

Question 9

arable farming

Answer 9

crop growing farming

Question 10

polythene tunnels cause flooding

Answer 10

-used to grow crops
-intercept less than field
-More SRO

Question 11

Increase in infrastructure causes flooding

Answer 11

-more roads/buildings
-more impermeable surfaces
-less infiltration
-more SRO
-greater flood risk

Question 12

Less floodplain area due to increased population causes flooding

Answer 12

-homes built on floodplains
-increases impact of flood

Question 13

Uses of drains/gutters causes flooding

Answer 13

-enters rivers faster
-flows into these

Question 14

Heavy rainfall causes flooding

Answer 14

-climate change
-more rain = flooding
-saturated soil - sro

Question 15

Sudden snow melt causes flooding

Answer 15

-release of stored water
-flows as SRO
-as ground beneath is frozen

Question 16

Sudden heavy rain causes flooding

Answer 16

-water cannot infiltrate fast enough
-SRO
-increases discharge = flash flood

Question 17

flash flood

Answer 17

flooding with little warning

Question 18

Drought causes flooding

Answer 18

-ground is baked
-no infiltration

Question 19

Mountainous areas cause flooding

Answer 19

-high relief
-rain cannot infiltrate fast enough
-rock is impermeable = less percolation

Question 20

Flat relief causes flooding

Answer 20

-no gradient for water to flow into river
-build up on land

Question 21

flood hydrograph

Answer 21

-graph that shows a river’s discharge changing in response to precipitation event

Question 22

peak rainfall

Answer 22

-highest amount of rain per time unit

Question 23

peak discharge

Answer 23

highest recorded discharge following rainfall event

Question 24

lag time in hydrographs

Answer 24

-difference between peak rainfall and peak discharge

Question 25

cumecs

Answer 25

cubic metres per second

Question 26

rising limb in hydrographs

Answer 26

-shows how quickly the discharge rises after rainstorm

Question 27

falling limb in hydrographs

Answer 27

-shows reduced discharge once the main effect of surface runoff has passed

Question 28

which areas are more likely to have a flash flood

Answer 28

-urban areas
-more impermeable surfaces

Question 29

Social impacts of river flooding (7)

Answer 29

-drowning/electrocution
-unemployment
-homes lose power
-evacuations
-destroys personal belongings
-contamination of water supplies
-lack of services

Question 30

Economic impacts of flooding (4)

Answer 30

-farming lands destroyed
-lack of work
-damage to property
-increase in insurance costs

Question 31

Environmental impacts of flooding

Answer 31

-animals starve = no prey
-animals drown
-contamination of waters