Welcome to FloodWorld
Welcome to FloodWorld! The main purpose of this website is to provide viewers with an insight towards the concepts of flooding and how various countries are affected by such hazards. Here, we will be focusing on 2 main countries: Netherlands, and Bangladesh. Well known for their annual floods and highly advanced flood control technology, flooding has impacted on these two countries in various ways. Here, we will be comparing them both, and hopefully, allow readers to realize the extent of natural and human impact on our drainage basin systems.
General Overview - What is Flooding?
Flooding occurs when the discharge of rainfall and water exceeds the drainage capacity of an area. It is when an area where the rivers in a particular drainage basin collects more water than it can hold, causing water to flow into the river banks and surrounding areas. In many cases, cities and homes are submerged as a result of flooding, leading to many problems such as death, evacuations, loss of vegetations, loss of homes and economy strains. The increase in water discharge mainly roots from heavy rain, snow and ice melting. However, due to both natural and human causes, there are many factors that can affect the water discharge a drainage basin can hold. Some of the factors are listed below:
Impermeable Rock
Impermeable rock formations prevents water from soaking into the ground. This increases the chances of surface runoff and also prevents water from going back to the river by through flow or groundwater flow.
Impermeable rock formations prevents water from soaking into the ground. This increases the chances of surface runoff and also prevents water from going back to the river by through flow or groundwater flow.
Hard Dry Soil
When the soil is exposed to intense sunlight, it is baked hard and becomes dry. This makes it less permeable, hence increasing the surface runoff, and decreases the through flow and groundwater flow in the area.
When the soil is exposed to intense sunlight, it is baked hard and becomes dry. This makes it less permeable, hence increasing the surface runoff, and decreases the through flow and groundwater flow in the area.
Very Wet Soil
Soil becomes fully saturated and water cannot seep through. Clay and mud forms on the surface, swelling and sealing out rainwater trying to infiltrate the ground.
Soil becomes fully saturated and water cannot seep through. Clay and mud forms on the surface, swelling and sealing out rainwater trying to infiltrate the ground.
Steep Slopes
Velocity of water will increase as a result of the steep slopes. This means it has no time to infiltrate the ground, hence increasing the surface runoff and the water discharge within the river.
Velocity of water will increase as a result of the steep slopes. This means it has no time to infiltrate the ground, hence increasing the surface runoff and the water discharge within the river.
Cutting Down Trees
Cutting down trees decreases the interception, evapotranspiration of rainfall, and also makes the soil prone to erosion. Water flows into the soil faster, hence making the soil more likely to get saturated.
Cutting down trees decreases the interception, evapotranspiration of rainfall, and also makes the soil prone to erosion. Water flows into the soil faster, hence making the soil more likely to get saturated.
BangladeshWant to learn more about the country that is famous for annual flash floods? Feel free to click here and read more.
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NetherlandsWant to learn more about the highly advanced flood control technology in the Netherlands? Click here and read more.
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ComparisonWant to learn more about the similarities and differences between Bangladesh and the Netherlands? This page will provide an in depth comparison between these two, focusing on the causes and impacts of flooding in both countries. Click here and read more.
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