Flood Engineering Solutions

Question 1

What are Dams and resovoirs

Answer 1

Trap water which builds up behind it and water can be released in a controlled way
-hard

Question 2

What are advantages of dams and resolves

Answer 2

-Can be used to make electricity
-attracts tourists

Question 3

Disadvantages of dams and reservoirs

Answer 3

-very expensive
-traps sediment (can’t hook as much water)
-floods habitats

Question 4

What is channel straightening

Answer 4

Straightening the river to speed ho water do higher volumes of water can pass through and area quickly
-hard

Question 5

Advantages of channel straightening

Answer 5

-more water can be held in the channel
-reduces flood risk

Question 6

Disadvantages of channel
Straightening

Answer 6

-can cause floods down stream due to an increase in kinetic energy

Question 7

What are river enbanmkments

Answer 7

Artificial levees that hold more water
Hard

Question 8

Advantages of river embankments

Answer 8

-cheap with a one off cost
-allows flood water to be contained

Question 9

Disadvantages of river embankments

Answer 9

-looks unnatural
-water so ends up and increases flood risk down stream
-constant need for maintenance

Question 10

What are flood relief channels

Answer 10

-flood water flows in these channels and takes it to an area where it can be stored and reconnected further down stream due

Question 11

Advantages of river embankments

Answer 11

-removes excess water
-reduces flooding

Question 12

Disadvantages of flood relief channels

Answer 12

-expensive
-can flood at the river confluence
-

Question 13

What is flood plain zoning

Answer 13

Avoids building high value land uses in the floodplain
-dormant stop flooding just decreases economic effect of the flooding

Question 14

Advantages of flood plain zoning

Answer 14

-no building means no impermeable surfaces do water is soled up by permeable ground
-low cost
-more free space and recreational land

Question 15

Disadvantages of flood plain zoning

Answer 15

-housing shortage in uk
-flat land is often on the flood plain
-habitats on greenfield sites are destroyed
-limited use where flood plain is already built on

Question 16

What is flood warning and prepartstjon

Answer 16

Warning if a food via text

Question 17

Advantages of flood warnings and preparation

Answer 17

-cheap and easy
-people are warned so thy can prepare or evacuate

Question 18

Disadvantages of flood warnings and preparation

Answer 18

-Only effective if people listen and act
-doesn’t stop the flood
-clear up is expensive
-insurance is high

Question 19

What is afforestation

Answer 19

Planting trees

Question 20

Advantages of afforestation

Answer 20

-trees intercept rainfall reducing surface runoff off
-Co2 is absorbed
-biodiversity
-cheap

Question 21

Disadvantages of afforestation

Answer 21

-takes years for trees to mature
-land could be used for other things like grazing and farming
-int one type of tree is planted

Question 22

What is river restoration

Answer 22

Retuning rivers meanders and natural processes to store more water

Question 23

Advantages of river restoration

Answer 23

-create new wetlands-more diverse
-looks good
-opportunity for more water storage

Question 24

Disadvantages of river redo

Answer 24

-expensive
-not effective in built up areas
-loss of agricultural land