Lesson 9 - The impacts of flooding

Question 1

Give four environmental impacts of flooding?

Answer 1

• Intense flooding can lead to over supplies of sediment and nutrients; with possible eutrophication and destruction of aquatic plants
• Floods can recharge groundwater systems, fill wetlands, increase connectivity between aquatic habitats and move sediment and nutrients around the landscape
• Intense flooding can lead to pollution from nitrates, chemicals and heavy metals, all of which degrade aquatic habitats
• Flooding can trigger breeding of species and encourage migration and dispersal

Question 2

Give three socioeconomic impacts of flooding?

Answer 2

• Between 1900 and 2010, the Emergency Events Database recorded over 3,000 flood disasters worldwide
• 90% of all flood deaths and 50% of economic damage occurs in Asia
• In developed nations, property prices are significantly impacted in flood prone areas
• Floods between 1900 and 2010 were responsible for 200,000 deaths and 3 billion people were impacted in some way