Test of AI; Geography: Hard And Soft Engineering

• What are dams and reservoirs built across rivers used for?


  To hold back rivers and create reservoirs that store water
• What environmental benefit do dams and reservoirs provide?


  They may have areas around them that can be planted with forests
• How many trees were planted around the Kielder dam/reservoir?


  1,500,000 trees
• What type of new habitats can dams and reservoirs promote?


  They can promote new habitats for species like rare red squirrels
• What negative impact can dams and reservoirs have on soil downstream?


  They can cause soil to become less fertile due to the lack of floods
• How can dams and reservoirs affect fish populations?


  They can disrupt fish and prevent them from migrating
• What geological events can be triggered by dams and reservoirs?


  They can trigger earthquakes and create landslides
• What area did the Kielder dam/reservoir flood, leading to loss of trees and farmland?


  1,500,000 trees and 2,700 acres of farmland
• How do dams and reservoirs economically benefit tourism?


  They are attractive and boost tourism
• How many tourists does the Kielder dam/reservoir attract annually?


  300,000 tourists
• How much does the Kielder dam/reservoir boost the economy?


  By £6,000,000
• What is a disadvantage of building dams and reservoirs?


  They are very expensive
• What was the cost of the Kielder dam/reservoir?


  £167,000,000
• What social benefit do dams and reservoirs provide?


  They may provide hydroelectric power
• How much energy does the Kielder dam generate?


  6 megawatts
• What is one source of water provided by the Kielder reservoir?


  It supplies 200,000,000,000 litres of water to North-East England
• What social issue can arise from the construction of dams and reservoirs?


  They can displace people, usually farmers, from their homes
• How many families were displaced by the Kielder reservoir?


  58 families
• What is channel straightening?


  It is when a meander section of a river is engineered to create a straighter course
• What is one environmental benefit of channel straightening?


  It reduces flood risk by moving water out of the area quickly
• How does channel straightening affect the ecosystem?


  It changes the ecosystem due to alterations in hydrology
• What is a negative consequence of channel straightening on pollution?


  It increases pollution as agro-chemicals cannot drain into the river easily
• How does channel straightening affect flooding downstream?


  It increases flooding downstream due to decreased velocity and sedimentation
• What was the cost spent on dredging after the 2014 floods?


  £5,800,000
• How can channel straightening affect homeowner confidence?


  It can increase confidence by reducing flood risk
• What is a social disadvantage of channel straightening?


  It can be visually unattractive due to concrete linings
• What are embankments?


  They are artificially raised river banks
• What environmental benefit do earthen embankments provide?


  They provide habitats for river bank animals such as water voles
• What is a disadvantage of gabions and concrete linings in embankments?


  They can displace river bank animals from their habitats
• What is the purpose of flood warnings and preparation?


  To ensure people's safety without investing in high-cost hard engineering
• How can flood warnings help people?


  They allow people to prepare earlier and store their valuables safely
• What is a limitation of flood warnings and preparation?


  They are only effective if people listen and take action
• What is a disadvantage of flood warnings for those living in prone areas?


  They do not necessarily help with the distress of clear-up operations
• How do planting trees help reduce flooding?

  They intercept water by taking it up with their roots
• How many trees does Wales plan to plant over the next five years?

  10,000,000 trees
• What is one environmental benefit of planting trees?

  It creates new habitats and increases biodiversity
• How do trees affect carbon dioxide levels?


  They absorb more carbon dioxide
• How do trees impact water flow downstream?


  They reduce water flowing downstream, decreasing surface run-off
• What is a disadvantage of planting trees?


  It can cause a loss of potential grazing land
• How does planting trees affect the landscape?


  It adds variety to the landscape but can appear artificial