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Surpluses in the Hydrological Cycle (Environmental Impacts (Aswan Dam,…
Surpluses in the Hydrological Cycle
Physical Causes
prolonged and heavy rainfall due to low pressure systems
seasonal monsoon rainfall that allows large volumes of water to cause intense flooding
lack of vegetation reduces interception, storage and evapotranspiration
snow and ice in cold mountainous regions during the spring cause melting nearer the source whilst the mouth remains frozen, reducing infiltration
soil type and depth affects infiltration volume and rate
relief affects how quickly water flows to the channel
rock type affects the rate and volume of water that percolates
Human Causes
change in land use associated with agricultural development increases surface runoff due to more compact soil and sediment level increases
urbanisation allows set up of impermeable surfaces and storm drains, increasing surface runoff and rate at which water reaches the channel
mismanagement of rivers, such as realignment, increases rate of flow
Socioeconomic Impacts
Big Dry, Australia 2006
escalation of food prices due to shortage of key products
Cockermouth, Cumbria
destruction of a key bridge made transport and communication difficult
flooded electricity substations left homes without power for up to 3 days
Mumbai
mega cities experience great loss of infrastructure
Carlisle
factories shut for up to 6 months due to flooding causing a temporary loss of 1000 jobs
Cumbria
loss of tourism for up to a year due to flooding
Environmental Impacts
recharged groundwater systems
fill wetlands
increase connectivity between aquatic habitats
move sediment and nutrients
trigger breeding and migration fro certain species
eutrophication causes destruction of aquatic plants
animals residing within the soil can be poisoned by polluted waters
Aswan Dam, Nile Basin
forced sardine populations away due to lack of nutrients
affected subsistence farmers and sardine fisherman
attempt to control flooding of the Nile