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Questions and Answers
What is the definition of a floodplain?
What is the definition of a floodplain?
- A region prone to earthquakes and landslides
- A high-lying area of land adjacent to a body of water that often floods
- An area of land far from any body of water that rarely floods
- A low-lying area of land adjacent to a body of water that often floods (correct)
What is the primary cause of flooding during tropical storms and hurricanes?
What is the primary cause of flooding during tropical storms and hurricanes?
- Excessive rain (correct)
- Failures of infrastructure like levees or dams
- Melting snow
- River overflow
Why do people building in unmitigated floodplains often have high insurance premiums?
Why do people building in unmitigated floodplains often have high insurance premiums?
- Due to the high likelihood of wildfires in those areas
- Because of the high likelihood of tornadoes in those areas
- Due to the high likelihood of earthquakes in those areas
- Because of the high likelihood of destruction caused by floods (correct)
What is the minimum land area temporarily covered to be considered a flood?
What is the minimum land area temporarily covered to be considered a flood?
What type of water can floods consist of?
What type of water can floods consist of?
What is a storm surge as mentioned in the text?
What is a storm surge as mentioned in the text?
What can lead to flooding and flash flooding during tropical storms and hurricanes?
What can lead to flooding and flash flooding during tropical storms and hurricanes?
What is the most costly tropical storm in United States history?
What is the most costly tropical storm in United States history?
What is the defining characteristic of a flash flood?
What is the defining characteristic of a flash flood?
What type of flooding often brings excellent agricultural benefits?
What type of flooding often brings excellent agricultural benefits?
What is the defining feature of groundwater flooding?
What is the defining feature of groundwater flooding?
What infrastructure is built around bodies of water to raise their shorelines and prevent flooding?
What infrastructure is built around bodies of water to raise their shorelines and prevent flooding?
What is the significant determining factor for the amount of destruction caused by coastal flooding?
What is the significant determining factor for the amount of destruction caused by coastal flooding?
What is the primary cause of river flooding?
What is the primary cause of river flooding?
What type of flood is often much smaller in scale than other types of floods and poses a risk of spreading disease?
What type of flood is often much smaller in scale than other types of floods and poses a risk of spreading disease?
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Study Notes
Floodplains and Flooding
- A floodplain is a low-lying area adjacent to a body of water that is prone to flooding.
- The primary cause of flooding during tropical storms and hurricanes is heavy rainfall and storm surges.
- People building in unmitigated floodplains often have high insurance premiums because of the high risk of flooding.
Characteristics of Floods
- A flood can be considered as a minimum of 1 square meter of land area temporarily covered with water.
- Floods can consist of freshwater, saltwater, or a combination of both.
- A storm surge is a rise in sea level due to strong winds and low atmospheric pressure during tropical storms and hurricanes.
Types of Flooding
- Flash flooding is characterized by a rapid rise in water level, often caused by heavy rainfall, storm surges, or dam failures.
- The most costly tropical storm in United States history is Hurricane Katrina.
- River flooding is primarily caused by heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or dam failures.
- Groundwater flooding is characterized by the overflowing of groundwater onto the surface.
- Urban flooding often brings a high risk of spreading disease and is typically smaller in scale than other types of floods.
Flood Prevention and Mitigation
- Levees are built around bodies of water to raise their shorelines and prevent flooding.
- The significant determining factor for the amount of destruction caused by coastal flooding is the storm surge height.
- Floodplains can bring excellent agricultural benefits due to the rich soil and nutrients deposited by floodwaters.
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