What Causes Flooding?

Learning Outcomes:
1.
To be able to describe (grade C) and give an explanation for (B)
the causes of Flooding applying examples (A)
2.
To be able to identify where flooding has occurred in the UK
Literacy Target : Think connectives as a result of, consequently, due to etc.

Physical vs Human
The causes of flooding can be divided into either
Physical Causes or Human Causes
What do you think this means?
Last lesson we looked at factors that affect a
rivers discharge. What we are looking at today
is a bit different.
Can you suggest how?
With your partner come up with a list of as
many physical and human causes of flooding
as you can

What the Specification says you need to know

The specification says you need to know

and understand how the following factors
increase the likelihood of flooding:
Physical prolonged rain, heavy rain,
snowmelt and relief
Human deforestation, building construction
and river management.

Complete the Fill in the Gaps sheet

Prolonged Rain
After a long period of rain, the soil
becomes saturated. Any further rainfall
cant infiltrate, which increases runoff into
rivers. This increases discharge quickly,
which can cause a flood

Relief
If a river is in a steep-sided valley, water
will reach the river channel much faster
because water flows more quickly on
steeper slopes. This increases discharge
quickly, which can cause a flood.

Snowmelt
When a lot of snow or ice melts it means
that a lot of water goes into a river in a
short space of time. This increases
discharge quickly, which can cause a
flood.

Heavy Rain
Heavy rain means there will be a lot of
surface runoff because the water isnt
given a chance to infiltrate. This increases
discharge quickly, which can cause a
flood.

Deforestation
Trees intercept rainwater on their leaves,
which then evaporates. Trees also take
up water from the ground and store it.
This means cutting down trees increases
the volume of water that reaches the river
channel, which increases discharge and
makes flooding more likely

Building Construction
Buildings are often made from
impermeable materials (e.g. concrete) and
theyre surrounded by roads made from
tarmac (also impermeable). Impermeable
surfaces increase runoff and drains quickly
take runoff to rivers. This increases
discharge quickly, which can cause a
flood.

River Management
Although the main aim of river
management is to reduce the likelihood of
flooding, in some situations it can lead to
increased risk of flooding. For example,
straightening a river channel and lining it
with concrete can mean that an area
further downstream becomes at a greater
risk of flooding because water reaches it
more rapidly.

Assessment
Question
Study Figure 10,
which shows
flooding in
Carlisle, a city in
northern
England, in
January 2005.
With the help of
Figure 10,
suggest why
Carlisle flooded in
January 2005
(4 marks)

Assessment for Learning

Look at the two answers you have been
given for this exam question
Read through each answer in turn
Read the mark scheme.
Decide what level you would give each answer
and how many marks it is worth
Suggest any ways the answer could be
improved

Go back and Improve your answer in

Green pen

Is the frequency of flooding increasing?

The specification also says that you need to know:

The frequency and location of flood events in the UK in the last 20

years.
This doesnt mean you have to be able to name every flood thats
happened in the UK over the last 20 years.
Instead it means you should have an idea of the general pattern and
should be able to give a couple of examples to back up what you are
saying
Look at the table you have been given

On an outline map of the UK, use an atlas to mark and label the
places that flooded

Add the major rivers to your map

Summarise the key points about the locations of flooding shown in

your map

Present evidence that suggests that the frequency of flooding in the

UK is increasing

Major Flood Events, 1988-2008

Alternatively, there is an up to date sheet

Plenary Sentence Making - Round 3

Your teacher will divide you into two teams.
Each team will take it in turns to create a sentence. That
sentence must include one of the words (in the correct
way) found on the next slide.
If the sentence is legitimate that person scores a point
for their team and then gets to choose a member of the
opposition to create the next sentence and also the word
they must use within it.
If the sentence is not legitimate then the word is passed
over to the other team for a bonus point.

The Words

Hard Rock
Gorge
Soft Rock
Waterfall
Retreats
Undercutting
Overhang
Plunge Pool
Cap Rock
Upper Course
Middle Course
Lower Course
Cross Profile
Long Profile
Floodplain
Alluvium
Levee
Meander Migration

Meander
Thalweg
River Cliff
Slip-Off Slope
Meander Neck
Ox-Bow Lake
Discharge
Rising Limb
Falling Limb
Peak Rainfall
Peak Discharge
Lag Time
Base Flow
Permeable
Impermeable
Saturated