Unit 1 - Essays - Flood Reduction of Impact and Prevention

Question 1

With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which it is possible to reduce the impacts of river floods

Answer 1

With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which it is possible to reduce the impacts of river floods

Point: Dams can significantly reduce the impacts of river floods.
Point: Levees are effective in preventing river floods, but they can exacerbate impacts when they fail.
Point: Afforestation is an effective long-term strategy for reducing flood risks.
Point: River restoration can improve natural flood management by reintroducing natural floodplains and wetlands.

Question 2

‘Soft engineering is more effective than hard engineering in the prevention of river floods.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree?

Answer 2

‘Soft engineering is more effective than hard engineering in the prevention of river floods.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree?

Soft engineering methods like afforestation can be more effective than hard engineering solutions in the long term.
Hard engineering solutions like dams can provide immediate flood control but often have significant drawbacks.
Soft engineering techniques, such as floodplain zoning, are effective in preventing flood damage by managing land use in flood-prone areas.
River restoration, another form of soft engineering, is a powerful tool in reducing flood risks by reintroducing natural river functions.

Question 3

With the aid of examples, discuss the view that river floods cannot be prevented but their effects can be reduced

Answer 3

With the aid of examples, discuss the view that river floods cannot be prevented but their effects can be reduced

Dams such as the Farakka Barrage in Bangladesh help store water, reducing downstream flooding.
In Bangladesh, afforestation in the Sundarbans mangrove forest has proven effective in reducing the impact of river floods by acting as a natural barrier​
Urban areas like Dhaka, Bangladesh, face severe flooding due to poor drainage systems and rapid urbanization​
The Kissimmee River restoration in the USA aimed to remove channelized structures and restore the natural flow of the river, reducing flood risks

Question 4

With reference to a recent river flood event, assess the causes of the flood and evaluate attempts to reduce its impact.

Answer 4

With reference to a recent river flood event, assess the causes of the flood and evaluate attempts to reduce its impact.

Point: Heavy and persistent rainfall was a primary cause of the 1998 Bangladesh flood.
Point: Human activities, such as urbanization and deforestation, contributed significantly to the flood.
Point: Hard engineering measures like dams and levees have been used to manage floodwaters in Bangladesh.
Point: Soft engineering measures, such as floodplain zoning and afforestation, have also been used to reduce flood risk.