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Carlisle Case Study: Activities

Investigate the flood event using these activities - you could do so individually, or share the main tasks around a group:

  • Investigate the hydrology of the flood
  • Investigate the meteorology of the flood
  • Investigate land use and the options for flood management
Finish by together completing the concept map activity. You may also choose to do some of the extension activities.

Hydrology

Activity resources:

Use the resources to follow these investigations:

  • Annotate the hydrograph to show you understood these terms: rising limb, falling limb, peak flow rate, lag time, antecedent flow rate.
  • Read the text: What was the hydrology of the January 2005 flood? and run the animation. Then add text boxes to the hydrograph with brief notes about key aspects of the flooding - use the dates on the hydrograph to help you.
  • The peak flow was recorded as 1520 m3/s near Carlisle. Check you understand the meaning of return period and annotate that information on your hydrograph.
Extend your work:

  • Why do you think the peak flow of 1520 m3/s does not show on this hydrograph?
  • Use the flood map to estimate the area of Carlisle flooded by this peak flow in January 2005. Then add a note with details of the extent of the flood to your annotated hydrograph.

Meteorological background

Activity resources:

Use the resources to follow these investigations:

  • Use textboxes or callouts to annotate the hydrograph using notes taken from what caused the heavy rainfall? (use the dates to help you).
  • Check the synoptic charts to find the different low-pressure systems and fronts which caused the extreme conditions and link this information to the timeline on your hydrograph. The satellite images may help you.
  • Produce a short summary of how the rainfall sequence between 6 and 8 of January links to the flood event at Carlisle.
Extend your work:

Open these resources and add details to your notes:

Land use planning

Activity resources:

Use the resources to follow these investigations:

  • On the map of the flood hazard zone or map of the flooded area, identify land uses which are appropriate and inappropriate for an area at risk of flooding - annotate a copy of the map.
  • Read the assessment of flood risk and add to your map some details of the risk in Carlisle (look at the Carlisle-Carlisle row).
  • Study the aerial photo of the planned flood defences - which land uses will be protected?
Extend your work:

Concept mapping

  • Produce a concept map to summarise your understanding of the Carlisle flooding event - start with these four main categories:
    • causes/effects
    • responses/solutions
  • Add specific details from the resources on this site, adding connections between different factors that help explain the severity of the flood event.
  • Present your findings including a short summary of the future flood risk at Carlisle.

Extend your thinking

  • Is the UK becoming a more hazardous place? If so, why? Start your thinking by investigating the Met Office and Environment Agency websites.
  • Consider the links between people's perception of flood risk and the range of responses to the flood hazard.
  • What are the alternatives to engineering solutions to flood hazards? Evaluate their value in the shorter- and longer-term.

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1 Comment

Guest

Josie Luff

Guest

19:28 - 15/11/11

Thank You for saving me so much time. I could never have found this information by myself. My Year 12's and I will be for ever grateful and I'm using the meteorology information for the Year 13's in their Weather and Climate unit. 2 Case Studies for the price of one.

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