The Eden Basin - Water and Carbon Cycle Case Study
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?- Created by: IssyCalderwood
- Created on: 02-03-19 13:12
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- The Eden Basin - Water & Carbon Cycle Case Study
- Facts
- Eden drainage basin = Northwest England
- Between mountains Lake District & Pennines
- Source = Pennine Hills, South Cumbria
- Mouth = Solway Firth (Scottish Border)
- Flows through Appleby- in - Westmoreland & Carlisle
- Basin is rural but flows through Carlisle (City)
- River drains North-east Lake District & North-west Pennines
- Upland areas = extreme weather = downstream flooding
- Carlisle = particularly vulnerable because at confluence of Eden, Petteril & Caldew rivers & city is fairly low lying
- Eden drainage basin = Northwest England
- Characteristics of Eden Basin affect the water cycle
- Rainfall = higher because relief is mountainous = orographic rainfall = lots rainfall enters channels
- Orographic rainfall = when warm air meets. mountains= forced to rise = cooling
- Basin = long, narrow = increased lag time
- However, slopes in basin = steep = reduced lag time, increased peak discharge
- Igneous rock = west of basin = impermeable = slow infiltration, high surface run off = reduced lag time
- Limestone & Sandstone= much of the basin = permeable= quick infiltration = little surface run off = increased lag time = increased groundwater storage
- Rainfall = higher because relief is mountainous = orographic rainfall = lots rainfall enters channels
- Changes in water cycle have affected the risk of flooding
- Farming
- Intense farming = more cattle trampling = compacted soils
- 2000-2009 = 30% cattle increase in Eden Valley
- Compaction = reduced infiltration = high surface run off = river water levels rise quick = increased risk of flooding
- Hill farming of sheep = reduced vegetation = reduced interception = more water reaching rivers
- Intense farming = more cattle trampling = compacted soils
- Construction
- Built up areas in Eden basin = increased = new impermeable surfaces = increases size & speed run off flows
- E.g. Eden Gate Development,'Garden village', 10000 new homes
- Some new developments built on floodplains = flood defences = more floods downstream
- Built up areas in Eden basin = increased = new impermeable surfaces = increases size & speed run off flows
- Deforestation
- (Forest removed) Trees increase infiltration & decrease runoff so fewer trees = more run off, flashier flood hydrographs & greater risk of flooding
- Climate change = 35% more winter rainfall by 2080 = increase runoff and flood risk
- Farming
- Storm Desmond
- Dec 2015 flooding in Cumbria
- Village of Shap 262.6mm rain in 48 hours, 4th-6th Dec (50mm more than average rainfall for whole of Dec)
- Appleby -in - westmoreland & Carlisle badly affected = 2000 properties flooded = people homeless
- Facts
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