Rivers Flashcards
Brief summary of Tewkesbury?
- Rivers Severn and Avon join into Tewkesbury, with a large drainage basin and high rainfall.
- Flooding took place May to July 2007 and was England’s wettest since records began.
- Average rainfall in June was 140mm which is double normal June average.
- Human activities that did NOT help the flooding: developments in floodplain areas, impermeable surfaces, poor drainage systems.
- Physical activities that took place: 1 trillion litres of water flows through Tewkesbury, permeable soils soaked up some of the water but became very saturated, damages cost £25 million.
- Management by: Environmental Agency, who..
have increased the channel capacity through the town by building up and securing levees on banks. - EA also ensure: there’s sufficient water supply for all users, water quality is maintained for human use and for healthy eco-system, river discharge is controlled to help prevent flooding.
Why was Tewkesbury vulnerable to flooding? (3)
- Set at sea level, floodplains surrounding
- Area of high rainfall
- Lots of water in drainage basin as it drains Wales
When were the Tewkesbury floods and how much rain actually was there?
May to July 2007, England’s wettest summer on record. Average rainfall in England in June was 140mm which is DOUBLE the usual June average.
What human activities made the flooding worse in Tewkesbury? (4)
- Developments in floodplain areas
- Impermeable surfaces, causing water to just run off
- Poor drainage systems
- Flooding almost every year due to floodplain areas
What physical activities came out of the Tewkesbury floods? (4)
- River reached 5.43m
- Usually 1 trillion litres of water flows through Tewkesbury
- Permeable soils, so soaked up water, but then became highly saturated
- Damages cost £25 million
How is Tewkesbury (rivers Severn & Avon) now managed?
Managed by the ENVIRONMENT AGENCY:
They have increased the channel capacity through the town by building up and securing levees on banks.
EA are responsible for ensuring:
- There’s sufficient water supply for all water users.
- Sufficient water for natural environment.
- Water quality is maintained for human use and for a healthy eco-system.
- River discharge is controlled to prevent flooding and draught.
Brief summary of the River Nile?
- One of the world’s largest river basins.
- Provides most of Egypt’s freshwater.
- 9 million tourists visited Egypt in 2005 and govt. wants to increase to 16 million by this year.
- Nile is used for multiple uses, including: cruises, Great Pyramids (Giza), hydroelectricity (Aswan Dam), irrigation, commercial fishing (Lake Nasser).
Management:
-Egypt and Sudan own the river and have the power to control developments in the catchment area. - However, states such as Ethiopia use up to 86% of the river yet don’t own any.
- 10 countries along the Nile, all LEDCs with growing populations, increasing needs to for food and water and energy.
- Arguments over: pollution, out of date colonial agreements, other countries now want their fair share of the Nile and management.
- Nile Basin Initiative 1999: set up and funded by UN, all 10 countries met to discuss future and management of Nile, however slow progress and breakaway group formed in 2010 - political fall out.
- Nile water use:
Tanzania - river’s flow been threatened by pollution coming from Kenya
Uganda - Two hydro power dams to try and meet energy demands
Ethiopia - use basin to solve hunger problems with irrigation
Facts about Egypt on the River Nile? (3)
- Nile provides most of Egypt’s fresh water for agriculture and human consumption.
- 9 million tourists visited Egypt in 2005 and govt. hopes to increase to 16 million by this year.
- Aswan Dam provides 15% of Egypt’s electricity needs.
What is the River Nile used for? (6)
- Cruises
- Valley of the Kings
- Great Pyramids (Giza)
- Hydroelectricity (Uganda)
- Irrigation (Ethiopia)
- Commerical fishing (Lake Nasser)
What are the management challenges of the River Nile? (5)
- Egypt and Sudan own the river and have the power to manage any developments in the catchment area.
- States such as Ethiopia use 86% of the river, yet don’t own any.
- 10 countries on the river, all LEDCs with growing populations, increasing needs for drinking water/ irrigation water and energy.
- Issues over pollution between Kenya and Tanzania.
- Out of date colonial agreements, other countries now want their fair share of the Nile. Political disagreement and mistrust.
What does Tanzania have a problem with on the River Nile?
Pollution from Kenya is threatening their flow of water, causing environmental destruction.
What does Uganda use the River Nile for?
Two hydro electric dams to try and meet growing energy demands.
What does Ethiopia use the River Nile for?
Use the basin for irrigation to help solve hunger problems.
What was the Nile Basin Initiative?
- Meeting set up and funded by the EU in 1999.
- All 10 countries met to discuss decisions on development, scientific research and management on the Nile.
- Slow progress however and accusations that Egypt and Sudan were not engaged with change.
- Break away group formed in 2010, proposed new treaty without Egypt and Sudan = political fall out.
Brief summary of the Dutch Floodrisk Management?
- Have the highest standards of flood protection in the world.
- £9 billion invested in raising and strengthening dykes over the past decade.
- New strategy created: ‘living with water’…
- Reallocated 1.2 million acres of dry land as flooding zones.
- Rivers widened.
- Houses have to be ‘flood compatible’.
- Floodplain of Maasbommel they’re building permanently floating homes, where they’re anchored to mooring piles rather than fixed into foundations. Concrete based homes. Rise and fall with floodwater levels.
