River Channel and River

Valley

River Channel and River

Valley

River Channel and River

Valley

Gentle
Sloping
Valley

Wide Valley
Floor

Narrow
Channel

Narrow
neck of a
Meander
Meander

Flat Valley

River Channel and River

Valley
V-Shaped
Valley

Steep
Valley

Deep Valley

Narrow
Channel

Bare Rock

Straight
Channel
Slight Bend
in the
channel

Rapids

Fast Flowing
River

1- Which
place is
most
likely to
flood?
Why?
2- Which
place is
least
likely to
flood?
Why?

Wednesday, 04 May 2016

Causes and impacts of Flooding

Lesson Objective:
To establish the human and physical causes of flooding
To explain how different factors cause flooding
To assess the impacts of flooding

Starter:

In your books, (on

your own) create a
spider diagram to
suggest reasons
why rivers flood

Why do rivers
flood?

Now add to your spider diagram

using the images to help you

Challenge: Explain why there are

more physical causes of flooding

Causes of flooding
Task: Complete the sheet, using your knowledge from GCSE and using the
key terms below.

Key words
Saturated ground ground is full of water
Infiltrate water can soak into the ground
Impermeable rock hard rock which does not let water through
Urban a city
Interception stopping water reaching the ground e.g. Leaves
Surface runoff water travels over the ground straight to the river and
ich do does not soak into the ground
is the Tree roots root take in water from the soil
use of
Discharge the amount of water in a river
g and
River channel where the river flows
?
Challenge: Deforestation is the worst
cause of flooding. Discuss.

1. Make a copy of the sketch above.

2. Add the following labels to show how a river floods;
River level rises
Water quickly reaches river
River floods
Water runs over surface
Heavy rain falls
Rain soaks into ground

No vegetation:
No take up of water
or holding water on
leaves.

Urbanisation: The
building of roads and
buildings means that
water goes quickly to
the river.

Very dry soil:

This prevents water
from soaking in.
Rock type:
Impermeable rock
stops water soaking
into the soil

Steep slopes:
The rain can run quickly
downhill to the river.

Very wet soil:

Once full the soil cant
let anymore water in

Put these events in order 1-6

The river floods
The ground gets soaked
Lots of rain falls for a long time
More rain runs over the ground and
into the river
The water comes up over the banks
of the river
The water cant infiltrate into the
ground

Put these events in order 1-6

The river floods
The ground gets soaked
Lots of rain falls for a long time

6
2
1

More rain runs over the ground and

into the river

The water comes up over the banks

of the river
The water cant infiltrate into the
ground

5
3

Can you identify the factors that would cause the river to flood?
You can describe at least 2
factors that will cause the
river to flood.

You can explain at least 2

physical and 2 human
factors that will cause the
river to flood.

You can evaluate the flood

risk to the village,
explaining at least 5
factors.

Point

Explain
Example

Explain the risk of flooding to the village.

The flood risk to the village is high. There are many
physical and human factors that have caused this risk.
For instance there is impermeable rock near the river and
village. This increases the risk of flooding because when
it rains the water will not be able to soak into the ground.

Point

Explain
Example

Explain the risk of flooding to the village.

The flood risk to the village is high. There are many
physical and human factors that have caused this risk.
For instance there is wet soil near the river and village.
This increases the risk of flooding because when it rains
the water will not be able to soak into the soil and will go
straight to the river. Furthermore, an additional physical
factor is that there is steep slopes surrounding the river.

Point

Explain
Example

Explain the risk of flooding to the village.

The flood risk to the village is high. There are many
physical and human factors that have caused this risk.
For instance there is wet soil near the river and village.
This increases the risk of flooding because when it rains
the water will not be able to soak into the soil and will go
straight to the river. Furthermore, an additional physical
factor is that there is steep slopes surrounding the river.

Causes of flooding
Causes

Heavy rainfall

Steep slopes

Urban/built
up area
Deforestation
(cutting down
trees)
Saturated
ground
A confluence

Snow melt in
mountainous
areas

Physical
or
human

Explanation

Flood protection methods

Impacts of Flooding
Using your own research complete the Case Study Summary.

Case Study: Yangtze River China

Impacts of Flooding
Use bullet points to summarise the
impacts of the flooding and the
management. Remember, this will
be your EVIDENCE in exam
questions. Make it clear if you are
writing about social/ economic/
environmental.

Causes

Impacts Social/Economic and

Environmental

Management

Exam Question
Risks from flooding owe more to physical
factors than human factors. How far do you
agree with this view? 30 marks
General guide:
1) Introduction define key terms and concepts.
Introduce argument
2) Use PEEL to present argument. The link is essential for
A02. Use the link to analyse, evaluate. Include at least
three points
3) Conclusion Summarise your argument

Homework
Create a case study summary sheet, like the
ones we use in class for 1 of the following flood
events:
1. Tewkesbury Flood 2007
2. Boscastle 2004
3. Mississippi 1993
4. Carlisle 2005

Ask 5 questions about this picture

in your books
WHE
WHO
?

WHA
T?

WHER
E?

N?

WHY
?

HOW
?

Card Sort
1. Which effects might be worst on
people in the short term?
2. Which effects might have the
worst longer terms effects?
3. Which causes happened over a
longer period of time?