River Channel and River River Channel and River

Valley Valley
 River Channel and River
Valley

Gentle
Sloping
Valley
Narrow
Channel

Narrow
Wide Valley neck of a
Floor Meander

Meander
Flat Valley
 River Channel and River
Valley

V-Shaped Deep Valley

Valley

Steep
Narrow
Valley
Channel

Bare Rock

Straight Rapids
Channel

Slight Bend
in the
channel Fast Flowing
River
1- Which
place is
most
likely to
flood?
Why? A B

2- Which
place is
least
likely to
flood?
Why? C D
 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 Why do rivers
spider diagram to flood?

suggest reasons
why 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: Urbanisation: The Steep slopes:
No take up of water building of roads and The rain can run quickly
or holding water on buildings means that downhill to the river.
leaves. water goes quickly to
the river.

Very dry soil: Very wet soil:

This prevents water Once full the soil cant
from soaking in. let anymore water in

Rock type:
Impermeable rock
stops water soaking
into the soil
 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 6
The ground gets soaked 2
Lots of rain falls for a long time 1
More rain runs over the ground and 4
into the river

The water comes up over the banks 5

of the river
The water cant infiltrate into the 3
ground
 Can you identify the factors that would cause the river to flood?

You can explain at least 2 You can evaluate the flood

You can describe at least 2
physical and 2 human risk to the village,
factors that will cause the
factors that will cause the explaining at least 5
river to flood.
river to flood. 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 Physical Explanation
or
human

Heavy rainfall

Steep slopes

Urban/built
up area

Deforestation
(cutting down
trees)

Saturated
ground

A confluence

Snow melt in
mountainous
areas
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 Management

Environmental
 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
N?
WHO
?

WHY
?
WHA
T?

HOW
WHER
?
E?
 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?