Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss. An examination of the causes, effects, and options available to mitigate natural disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunami, landslides, subsidence, flooding, severe weather, and meteorite impacts. Occasionally, floating debris or ice can accumulate at a natural or manmade obstruction and restrict the flow of water. Result from tropical storms, dam failures or excessive rain and snow. A flood is a natural event that can have far reaching effects on people and the environment. If you thought that floods are natural disasters that happened only in poorer continents like africa and asia, then you are wrong. Water held back by the ice jam or debris dam can cause flooding upstream. Learn how to prepare for a flood, stay safe during a flood, and protect your health when you return home after a flood. In january 1974 tropical cyclone crossed the coast about 150. A critical analysis revealed that many cases of flooding experienced in this country are caused by dam. Consequently, scientists have long tried to perfect their ability to predict floods. Flooding is experienced all over the globe and for a variety of reasons but why exactly does flooding occur. Flooding happens in many ways due to overflow of streams, rivers, lakes or oceans or as a result of excessive. The causes of flooding are varied, but the effects of most causes can be managed if not prevented.
You can greatly lessen the impact of a flood by taking the time to prepare in advance. Floods are the most frequent natural hazards in canada, and the. In nigeria, though not leading in terms of claiming lives, flood affects and displaces more people than any other disaster. In this video lesson, you will study floods, their causes and their effects. Floods are the most frequent natural hazards in canada. Pdf causes and consequences of flooding in nigeria.
Mar 07, 2016 while there are naturally caused floods that would have occurred from time to time that natural systems could mostly handle, our development of a lot of the worlds landscape and our consumptive lifestyles have led to an increase in floods. The worst cases of flooding may occur if there is a combination of storms, spring tides and low atmospheric pressure. Economic losses due to the effects of damaging floods have increased significantly around the world integrated flood risk management in asia, 2005. Those kinds of rainfalls usually trigger flash floods in mountainous watersheds, which cause significant damages on human infrastructure, livestock and. Floods are part of the earths natural hydrologic cycle. Here are eight of the most common causes of flooding, both natural and humaninduced. While the risk of flooding is much lower in certain areas, the right combination of causes and conditions can still lead to serious flooding that can result in property damage. Pdf causes and consequences of recent floods in the golestan. They also can cause extensive damage to human development and loss of life. While there are naturally caused floods that would have occurred from time to time that natural systems could mostly handle, our development of a lot of the worlds landscape and our consumptive lifestyles have led to an increase in floods. Floods occur most commonly when water from heavy rainfall, from melting ice and snow, or from a combination of these exceeds the carrying capacity of the river system, lake, or the like into which it runs. Causes and consequences of recent floods in the golestan catchments and caspian sea regions of iran. Floods in the who european region world health organization.
Nature and causes of floods and associated secondary hazards throughout history people have been attracted to the fertile land of the flood plains where there lives have been made easier by virtue of close proximity to sources of food and water. Presently there are widely discussed of disasters and its results to enhance the public awareness and greater destruction caused by disaster flood. Natural hazards and flood events are part of nature. You will learn to identify various methods that are used to prevent floods and explore how preventing natural flood. This process maintains an overall balance between water in the air, on the surface and in. Pdf flood has been considered as one of the most recurring and frequent disaster in the world. Everyone has a responsibility to protect their homes and their families. Jan 21, 2020 floods also cause food prices to spike, depending on how fast the flood waters recede. Usually the combined flow of several waterswollen tributaries causes flooding along a river bank or shoreline. The following is a list of some of the human causes of floods. Follow the links below to material related to this course. Over 200 floodrelated fatalities are reported each year with over half being vehiclerelated when people try to drive through floodwaters. An analysis of the causes and circumstances of flood. The floods of 1893 actually a series of three flood peaks over a period of three weeks and 1974 were both caused by rainfall from decaying tropical cyclones.
That increases costs to farmers but provides a benefit to fertilizer companies. Floods are among earths most commonand most destructivenatural hazards. In australia, floods are the most expensive type of natural disaster, but also one of the most manageable. Floods are one of the leading causes of death from natural disasters in the united states. Settlement of floodplain areas is a major cause of floodplain areas is a major cause of flood damage. Subsequent flash flooding can occur downstream if the obstruction should suddenly release. Causes and effects of flooding in global and thailand. Find out more about this type of natural disaster, what causes it, and the devastating effects it can carry long after floodwaters recede. There are many causes of floods, some are natural and some are humanmade. Reading comprehension read the essay and then answer the questions.
Apr 04, 2019 floods are among earths most commonand most destructivenatural hazards. Main cause of flooding in thailand is heave rain in monsoon season, overloaded capacity of dam, river. Usually the combined flow of several waterswollen tributaries. Floods 101 no other kind of natural disaster in america has caused more death and destruction than floods. Floods are second only to fire as the most common of all natural disasters. One area might receive a lot of rain and wont flood while in other areas the same amount of rainfall can wreak havoc, destroying homes, businesses and the natural environment. Floods inland flooding inland flooding is the major hazard facing ghana especially urban floods informal settlements. Floods occur when large volumes of runoff flow quickly into streams and rivers. There are several human causes of flooding, including poorly designed infrastructure.
Floods, big or small, can have devastating effects on your home and your family. List of books and articles about flooding online research. One reason for this increase in disaster risk is the vulnerability of many communities. Causes include heavy rains from monsoons, unexpected drainage obstructions such as landslides, ice, or debris can cause slow flooding upstream of the obstruction. Learn about different kinds of floods and what causes them. You can take steps to reduce the harm caused by flooding. They occur almost everywhere in the world, resulting in widespread damage and even death. Nature and causes of flooding and associated secondary hazards. Throughout the human civilization, floods have been part of his destiny. Rises in sealevel and storm surges, which cause coastal flooding, will. Most communities in the united states can experience some kind of flooding.
Most towns and cities are prone to floods and in the cities virtually every rain causes floods in the informal settlements. A river flood occurs when high water rises above a rivers banks and overspills them. Floods lead to an overfull and huge spread of water but are not considered safe for the purpose of drinking. Coastal areas are also at risk from sea flooding, when storms and big waves bring seawater onto the land. They have always existed and will continue to exist. No other kind of natural disaster in america has caused more death and destruction than floods. The floods thus had a direct and indirect impact on human, environmental, and economic losses. Floods have been occurring throughout earth history, and are expected so long as the water cycle continues to run.
Objectives after studying this lesson you will be able to. This process maintains an overall balance between water in the air, on the surface and in the ground. Causes of flooding from a geological perspective, floods are a natural consequence of stream flow in a continually changing environment. Floods definition and different causes of floods toppr. Most flash flooding is caused by slowmoving thunderstorms, thunderstorms repeatedly moving over the same area, or heavy rains from hurricanes and tropical storms. Find out what to do before, during, and after a flood.
When you picture flooding, the word natural disaster probably comes to mind. Causes and effects of flooding in global and thailand causes of flooding. Such floods are natural and often yearly events in many river systems and help sculpt the landscape and ecosystems of river basins. Aug 06, 2018 floods are among the most common natural occurrences on the planet.
Put simply, a flood is too much water in the wrong place. Geographical of thailand, northern thailand is hill side, when there is heavy rain the water flow from northern river such as ping, wang, yom, nan to chaopraya river, floodplain area which is central area. And second, even countries like the usa and the uk get floods that cause huge losses to life and. Floods and floodplains floods are part of the earths natural hydrologic cycle. The cycle circulates water throughout the environment figure 11. As much as 90 percent of the damage related to all natural disasters excluding droughts is caused by floods and associated debris flows. Flood waters also strip the ground of needed nutrients. Floods are a natural phenomenon that occur when a great flow of water into the river overflows the river banks and floods the nearby land. Floods are among the most devastating natural disasters in the world, claiming more lives and causing more property damage than any other natural phenomena. Floods are the most common natural disaster in the european region, which has. In this chapter we will study five natural disasters i.
Flooding is experienced all over the globe and for a variety of reasons both man made and natural. Thus floods bring with them a number of diseases such as typhoid, cholera and many others. Over 200 flood related fatalities are reported each year with over half being vehiclerelated when people try to drive through floodwaters. Floods are as destructive as hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes. Effects of urban development on floods hydrologic effects of urban development streams are fed by runoff from rainfall and snowmelt moving as overland or subsurface flow. Although deep snow alone rarely causes floods, when it occurs together with heavy rain. Some of the causes of floods include the following. Floods are natural phenomena, and may be expected to occur at irregular intervals on all stream and rivers. In simple terms, flood can be defined as an overflow of large quantities of water onto a normally dry land.
Here, we shall discuss the various causes of floods. It is important to know how natural floods occur as well as the most common causes of flooding so you can protect yourself and your property. A flood is caused by a combination of heavy rainfall causing river oceans to over flow their banks, and can. The number of reported homeless persons following floods. A contribution towards more consistent recording of natural disaster fatalities is made by focussing on individual fatalities in specific. Nature and causes of flooding and associated secondary. Floods also cause food prices to spike, depending on how fast the flood waters recede. According to parker8 and the hut 2010, floods cause natural threats to life, health and population. Accordingly, drought is a natural event arising due to less precipitation than expected thus defining the intricacies witnessed when the demands for water supply are higher than the available water for some activity, humans, or the environment. Soybeans, corn, rice, and cotton are planted in the mississippi river area in the spring when flooding occurs. When floods occur they bring with them numerous problems, ranging from the physical impact of water damage to the problems of disease and famine that can follow such disasters. Flood hazard ironically, the same river or stream that provides.
Unfortunately, sometimes they turn disastrous, killing people and destroying property, forcing humans to come up with countermeasures against flooding. Originally perceived and idolized by the natives of new guinea and discovered by europeans in the sixteenth century, birds of paradise have long enchanted observers with their extraordinary beauty. Learn how the two compare in terms of likelihood and potential damage. Floods are natural occurrences where an area or land that is normally dry abruptly becomes submerged in water. Tsunamis tsunamis are longperiod waves generated by disturbances such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and. With the exception of some floods generated by dam failure or landslides, floods are climatological phenomena influenced by the geology, geomorphology, relief, soil.