2014 Somerset Levels Floods: Causes and Future Strategies

2014 somersault levels Floods Causes and Future StrategiesFollowing the 2014 Somerset Levels fountains, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles publically apologised for the lack of dredging of the Levels and criticised the environs Agencies management strategy. Examine the causes of the Somerset Levels floods, and evaluate the flood management solutions.During the autumn and winter of 2013 2014, an unusually high frequency of depressions travel crossways the Somerset Levels, causing both fluvial and pluvial implosion therapy on a prodigious scale. The two chief(prenominal) rivers which flow through the Levels, The River relish and Parrett, burst their banks, spilling into the already heavily saturated flood plain. A major(ip) incident was declared and subsequently allowed the Somerset council to request financial, and physical, aid to the sphere ( theatre of operations of Commons, 2014).This essay highlights the key reasons the Somerset Levels flooded, as well as evaluating th e main management solutions that were put onward during the peak of the flooding.The autumn to winter catch saw a record-breaking jet-propelled plane Stream, fuelled by a descend cold Polar Vortex across the United States. With this, brought powerful storms across the United Kingdom (MetOffice, 2014). As the Polar Vortex moved southward, it interacted with the Jet Stream. This caused powerful Jet Streaks to radiation pattern, thus producing rapid cyclogenesis in the mid-Atlantic. This pattern lasted some(prenominal) months, exacerbating the flooding issues across the Somerset Levels.As the storms became to a greater extent frequent, the water supply t adapted filled up exp acentially, as the majority of the soil inner in the Somerset Levels consists of clay and, further inland, peat (North Somerset Council, 2008). Ein truth twelvemonth the area experiences pluvial flooding due to its impermeable calcareous clays, which drains water very slowly (Soilscapes, n.d.). In places, parts of the rivers that run through the Levels sit above tilth, which allowed broken river banks to spill water onto the neighbouring fields. Combined with the waterlogged land, it makes the area end slightly prone to flooding (House of Commons, 2014).The flooding eventually became a serious brat to residents and farmland which coerced the establishment to initialise flood management in the area, introducing ample dredging upon the main rivers (Hartwell-Naguib and Roberts, 2014). This process takes silt deposits out from the river bed to increase the passel of the river. There has been a divide amongst the government and the Environment Agency as to whether this is a feasible and financially secure approach to flood management. The Environment Agency rejects that dredging rivers is the most important approach, as Lord Smith, chairman of the EA, claims that dredging the rivers would but make a small difference and that other management solutions would consider to be applie d (Guardian, 2014). The Environment Agency (Environment Agency, 2014) retains the sentiment that dredging would only figure on a short-term home, and the silt on the riverbed would short return and need to be dredged once again, adding to the growing financial court. Dredging withal has a detrimental effect on the ecosystems that run within the river, as the UK Marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) adds that dredging causes a range of potentially negative environmental effects on our rivers (UK Marine, n.d.). These effects include the removal of certain species and poor quality of water for those species, primarily caused by suspended alluviation after(prenominal) the dredging process (UK Marine, n.d.). Although there appears to be a strong basis of negativity towards the process of dredging, it can also reduce the time that flooding occurs due to the increase of water conveyance within the river (CIWEM, 2014). other idea to limit river levels was to introduce natura l filter strips vegetation is introduced to the banks of rivers to slow protrude rain water from running into the river. This could in turn slow cut the rise of river levels, and limit the amount of water that breaks the river bank (North Somerset Council, 2008).Another flood management solution that was recommended by the Environment Agency during the superlative of the floods was the use of high-capacity pumps from Holland. These pumps can drain up to 7.3 million tonnes of water individually day out of the worst affected areas, into the River Sowey which then feeds into the River Parrett (CIWEM, 2014)(BBC News, 2014). The idea was to scavenge pressure on the River Tone, as the surrounding areas were completely underwater. This system was passing effective at reducing water levels, however it unfortunately resulted in the displacement of water to other areas. This concluded in the areas, which previously were less affected, now being at a potential risk of flooding which caus ed a disposition in government.The government had been heavily criticised by the media, organisations and local anaesthetic residents for not acting sooner. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) had warned the government that cuts to annual flood risk management had left a hollow in financial investment in flood management across the UK, and in particular, Somerset (Hartwell-Naguib and Roberts, 2014). The Environment Agency also commented that the 10-15% cut in funding could overshadow the Somerset Levels as its not seen as a main threat (Alex Marshall, 2014). Responding to these concerns, the government have recently proclaimed that a number of temporary flood defences and pumping sites will be make permanent by supporting farmers to manage flood risk better, to go through all impudent developments in the area have suitable drainpipe systems. (Department for Environment, 2014).In summary the flood management solutions that were used to alleviate the Somerset floods came in far too late. The Somerset Levels are prone for flooding, up to now only a small amount of preventative measures were put onward to protect those who were in potential danger. The dredging process has been the most popular form of flood management in the area, but due to its high cost and small effect on flood levels, it remains an issue as to whether it can continue as the main preventative system. A more permanent solution will need to be put forward that is both financially economic and suitable for the area, to ensure both residents and farmland are better protected.ReferencesEnvironment Agency. (2014).Dredging and Flood Risk.Available www.ourcityourriver.co.uk/downloads/Dredging Leaflet.pdf. Last accessed 07/12/2014.House of Commons. (2014).Winter Floods 2013/14.Available www.parliament.uk/briefing- document/SN06809.pdf. Accessed 06/12/2014.North Somerset Council. (2008).Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 1.Available https//www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Environment/Planning_policy_an d-research/researchandmonitoring/Documents/Level 1 study of North Somerset (pdf).pdf. Accessed 06/12/2014.Department for Environment. (2014).New action plan to protect Somerset from flooding.Available https//www.gov.uk/government/ intelligence activity/new-action-plan-to-protect-somerset-from-flooding. Accessed 30/11/2014.BBC. (2014).What are the Somerset Levels?.Available http//www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-26080597. Accessed 28/11/20.BBC. (2014).UK floods Somerset Levels Dutch pumps start work.Available http//www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-26167818. Accessed 25/11/2014.UK Marine. (n.d.).Dredging and governing body Suspended sediments and turbidity.Available http//www.ukmarinesac.org.uk/activities/ports/ph5_2_3.htm. Accessed 27/11/2014.Landis. (n.d.).Soilscapes.Available http//www.landis.org.uk/soilscapes/. Accessed 27/11/2014.Meteorological Office. (2014).MetOffice.Available http//www.metoffice.gov.uk/ humour/uk/interesting/2014-janwind. Accessed 22/11/2014.Hartw ell-Naguib, S Roberts, N. (2014).Winter Floods 2013/14.Available http//www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/briefing-papers/SN06809/winter-floods-201314. Accessed 24/11/2014.CIWEM. (2014).Floods and Dredging a reality check.Available http//www.ciwem.org/media/1035043/floods_and_dredging_-_a_reality_check.pdf. Accessed 26/11/2014.Alex Marshall. (2014).Environment Agency cuts living the surgeons knife.Available http//www.endsreport.com/41653/environment-agency-cuts-surviving-the-surgeons-knife. Accessed 29/11/2014.Guardian. (2014).Lord Smith EA staff slam 100 times more than any politician about flooding.Available http//www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/10/lord-smith-ea-staff-know-100-times-more-on-flooding. Accessed 30/11/2014.PointersStructure your paragraphs One point per paragraph. retain the essay flow. Every paragraph should link to the following(a). Theoretically you should be able to read it backwards and itll make sense.Point make your point leaven g ive your evidenceExplain explain its relevanceLink- link to the next paragraphBe careful with abbreviations. You can abbreviate only after you have written it in full once with the abbreviation after i.e. United Kingdom (UK). Then later you can use UK.Be careful not to be too chatty, be formal Youre not talking to a friend.Dont add new points in your conclusion paragraph. This is a summary of what youve already discussed. Summarise support sure your referencing everything You cant just know something, you have to lift how you know it and who its from. Try to use credited references from research papers/articles, dont use Wikipedia or web pages, BBC news isnt great either.Write all numbers in long hand, i.e. one hundred not 100.Remember 10% of your mark is in presentation. How does your uni require your essays presented? Font. 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