Quiz on Natural Causes of Flooding

What is the process where water is lost from the ground surface?

• Evaporation

• Precipitation

• Transpiration

• Condensation

What type of floods are caused by sudden heavy downpours of rain?

• Snow melt floods

• Drought floods

• Flash floods

• Slow building floods

Why do steep slopes increase the likelihood of flooding?

• They facilitate surface runoff

• They reduce water flow

• They enable quick infiltration

• They prevent rainfall

Which type of rock does not allow water to pass through it?

• Chalk

• Clay

• Limestone

• Slate

What caused the highest ever rainfall total recorded in the UK?

• Sudden snow melt

• Slow building floods

• Flash floods

• Storm Desmond

What is the main cause of flooding?

• heavy rainfall

• snowmelt

• urbanisation

• relief

When in the year is snowmelt likely to cause flooding in the northern hemisphere?

• Spring

• Winter

• Summer

• Autumn

How do impermeable geologies lead to flooding?

• Decrease infiltration and therefore increase surface run-off

• Allow precipitation to pass through increasing water in the river

• Erosion causes rock to move into the river decreasing the capacity

What is infiltration?

• Water entering the soil surface
• Plants absorbing nutrients from the soil
• Air entering the soil surface
• Water leaving the soil surface

What is the link between surface run-off and flooding?

• Increased surface run-off = increased flooding

• Flooding is reduced by surface run-off

• Flooding only happens due to surface run-off