Hobbies And Interests
Flood-Related Landforms
Weathering, erosion and deposition lead to landforms, such as valleys. Some low valleys can create floodplains, which often fill up with water during storms. The floods can create their own landforms, such as back swamps, which form when floods carry water-holding sediment. Soils vary in composition. Some soils hold water, such as clay soils, while other soils drain water, such as sandy soil. Soils that do not drain well are more prone to flooding, but the worst soils are those that hold water, especially those with high organic content.
Overflowing
Floods occur most often near bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes and streams. Heavy rains cause the water bodies to overflow, leading to floods. Water bodies give the moisture needed for heavy rains, which are the main causes of floods. Areas with large amounts of warm water tend to have heavy rains that cause flooding. Global warming can increase floods by heating water more quickly. Water evaporates faster, leading to more precipitation in a short period, which leads to flooding.
Deposition
Weathering leads to erosion on mountainsides, which can cause deposition near a body of water. This can cause bodies of water to become blocked, leading to flooding. This can also raise the floor of the body of water, causing more water to spill out. The flood also increases the size of particles deposited by the flood, since the flood conditions will cause streams to flow faster, carrying larger quantities of sediment. Deposition can also redirect the flood. Erosion can gradually lead to landslides, including falling rocks and shallow debris flows. These landslides lead to new deposition, which can create new floods or prevent floods, depending on where the deposition rests.
Water Erosion Cycle
Weathering and water both influence each other, creating conditions for floods. Water erodes the earth, both through rains and through water bodies, such as streams. Erosion can create depressions in the earth, creating places that can fill up with water. These new bodies of water can then flood. Erosion processes continually create and destroy landforms.
Flood Barriers
Landforms can create barriers for floods. For example, sediment can deposit on the edge of bodies of water and form natural levees, which reduce the likelihood that the area will flood. Larger landforms, such as mountains, can completely block floods.
Tsunamis
Landforms under the earth can develop faults due to underwater erosion and moving tectonic plates. These faults cause earthquakes, which cause tsunamis. Tsunamis bring large amounts of water inland, which causes coastal floods.