GEOL-312

Geology
River and Flood Hazard
Dr. Bandar Alqahtani
River and Flood Hazard
 Terminology
● Watershed-the entire area drained by a river or stream
system
● Divide-The high area or ridge that separates one
drainage area from another
 A TYPICAL RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. THIS IS THE CATCHMENT AREA
FOR ALL THE RAIN THAT FALLS WITHIN THE WATERSHED

Confluence
(a place where two rivers
meet)

Source
(the place where a river
begins -a river system
will have numerous
sources, such as springs)

Tributary stream (a smaller river that flows into a larger river)

Running water causes four types of Erosion:

 Scouring-removal of loose fragments

 Breaking and lifting-Moving water lifts
sediments
 Abrasion-Sand and silt water is like a
sandblaster and abraids channels
 Dissolution-Water dissolves minerals
chemically
 Sediment Load-three types

 Dissolved load-Chemically dissolved soluble

minerals
 Suspended load-Tiny grains of material that
swirl along with water
 Bed load-The big chunkers that move along the
bottom (the faster the stream the bigger the
chunkers)
Development of River valley and floodplains
How are V-shaped valleys formed ?
 Development of River valley and flood plans

River uses its meanders to

The river starts cut from side to side eating
to meander into the valley Floodplain starts to form

The river cuts downward to form a ‘V’ shaped

valley.
 Development of River valley and flood plans

Floodplain
River bluffs
Alluvial
deposits

River cliff
Flood
 Floods
Floods-Two Types

 Seasonal Floods-Gradually submerge a

floodplain; usually during rainy season; last for
days or weeks
 Flash Floods-Happen very quickly; people
can’t escape; more of a problem in narrow
canyons or deserts;
 Flood Types

Seasonal Flood

Flash Flood
 Why do rivers flood?

To understand why some rivers flood.

Key Words
o Precipitation
o Permeable
o Land Use
o Deforestation
 Flood Plains

Flood plain: Meanders, oxbow lakes, levees and point bars can all be
found on a flood plain. The valley is wide and flat, forming rich farmland.
 Causes of Flood

Precipitation
The most common cause of flooding is an increased amount of rainfall.
The ground becomes saturated and run-off increases. This causes FLASH
FLOODS and are common in Britain after summer thunderstorms.

Type of Soil and Underlying Rock

Surface run-off is much greater in river basins where the soil and
underlying rock is impermeable.
 Causes of Flood
Land Use
Deforestation increases the risk of flooding. This is
because trees intercept rainfall, delaying the time and
reducing the amount of rainfall reaching the river.
Human Activity
As urban areas grow, tarmac and concrete replace fields
and woodlands. Surface run-off is increased.
The increase in drains can cause flash floods as the water
reaches the river quicker.
?What is a flood
.When water in a river channel overflows the banks
Impermeable
soil or
bedrock
Impermeable Sudden
road surfaces heavy rainfall

Long periods
Dams
Why do of rainfall

floods
Deforestation ?occur Snowmelt

Insufficient
Industry vegetation
Intensive cover
drainage
systems
How can
the risk of
flooding
be
?reduced
 Flood Areas

Along regulated waters there are two distinct and

overlapping areas of jurisdiction:
1. The flood hazard area
A flood hazard area exists along every regulated water that has a drainage area of 50 acres
or more

2. The riparian zone

A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream.
Flood Areas
 Flood Hazard Area

● The flood hazard area is comprised of the floodway and flood fringe
 Key ideas

 A river floods when it exceeds its bankfull discharge.

 Flooding can be a result of both physical and human factors.
 Physical factors include climatic conditions and drainage basin
characteristics.
 The effects of flooding are short-term and long-term.
 Flood management schemes can aim to prevent flooding or reduce its
impact.
 Flood management schemes can have both positive and negative effects.
Questions?