L7: Hydrological Extremes

6 important questions on L7: Hydrological Extremes

Name the types of floods caused or influenced by precipitation

  • Fluvial floods
  • Flash floods
  • Pluvial floods
  • Groundwater floods
  • Urban floods

What characterises a fluvial flood?

  • Rain or snowmelt cause water level and river discharge to rise above baseflow
  • Large river floods typically occur after extended periods of rain over large areas
  • In Norway we distinguish between
    • Spring floods (or snow-melt floods)
    • Autumn floods (or rain floods)

What characterises a flash flood?

  • Extreme precipitation (or rapid snowmelt) generate large amount surface runoff (stormwater)
  • Sm,all streams may turn into torrential rivers
  • Typically occur on smaller spatiotemporal scales than river floods
  • Higher grades + faster learning
  • Never study anything twice
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Discover Study Smart

What characterises a pluvial flood?

  • Ponding of water due to rainfall intensities exceeding infiltriation capacity of the ground
  • Can occur anywhere in the terrain (water collects in depressions, away from usual water sources)
  • May lead to overland flow/ surface runoff - also along ''unexpected paths

What characterises a flgroundwater flood?

  • Flooding of low areas (or basements) due to emergence of water table

What characterises a urban flood?

  • Failure of urban stormwater management system (not able to evacuate large amounts of stormwater)
  • Associated with intense rainfall and limited infiltration (impervious surfaces)
  • All types of floods can occur in an urban setting

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

  • A unique study and practice tool
  • Never study anything twice again
  • Get the grades you hope for
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
Trustpilot Logo