River Clyde-Distinctive Landscapes

• The river clyde is the longest river in scotland
• Describe the location of the River Clyde. (3)

  The River Clyde is a major river in the southern uplands of Scotland, in the British Isles, off the north-west coast of mainland Europe. It is in south-west Scotland and flows north-west through Motherwell Glasgow into the Irish Sea.
• mouth?


  an estuary on the west coast of Scotland
• length of river?

  about 160km
• the main waterfalls?

  The Falls of Clyde
• highest waterfall name?

  Corra Linn
• height of highest waterfall?

  about 27m
• other key feature of the main waterfall group?

  a gorge has been created by the retreat of waterfalls
• interlocking spurs?

  at Crawford, near the source
• height of the interlocking spurs?

  300-500m
• meanders?

  between Motherwell and Glasgow
• ox-bow lakes?

  one forming near Uddingston, but not fully separated off
• floodplain?

  Glasgow is built on the Clyde floodplain where the land either side is about 5m above sea level
• estuary?

  about 34km west of Glasgow and 3km wide - it joins the Firth of Clyde which eventually becomes the Irish Sea
• number of properties at risk of flooding?

  9600
• average annual flooding damage costs?

  £22m
• percentage urban/rural land in the Clyde catchment area?

  86% rural, 14% urban
• number of people living in the urban area of the catchment area?

  1.6m
• average annual rainfall in the Clyde catchment area?

  1124-1717mm
• number of at-risk community facilities in urban areas?

  10
• number of at-risk utility assets in urban areas?

  110
• number of at-risk airports in urban areas?

  1
• number of at-risk cultural heritage sites in urban areas?

  108
• area of at-risk agricultural land in urban areas?

  92 square kilometres
• number of flood warning systems?

  17
• name of project that encourages people to have an emergency flood kit?

  Resilient Communities Initiative
• what does SUDS stand for?

  Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
• what does SUDS involve?

  sustainable techniques to reduce flooding, such as more greenery to increase interception
• Why does The River Clyde require protection?

  • cost of managing it cheaper than repairing damages
  • -9600 properties would be damages maybe losing priceless items
• Example of Hard Engineering on River Clyde? How does it work?

  • Hydrobrake
  • Large funnel that creates back pressure forming a vortex in the hydrobrake and only works if flow greater than usual
• Stats of Hydrobrake?

  • protects 1750 homes and businesses
  • 3 flood storage areas
  • 2.59bn litres of water stored
  • largest in world (5 in glasgow)
• Where on the river clyde is it prone to flooding?

  • White Cart Water flash floods increase 6m in level in 12 hours
  • since 1908 inflicted 20 serious floods
• Example of soft engineering along River Clyde?

  • Floodplain Warnings - 3 hours advance warning
  • covers River Clyde, Kelvin and Irvine
• Who controls the flood warnings?

  • SEPA -Scottish Environment Protection Agency
  • covers 12,000 properties
  • Operates 17 river flood warning systems
  • CHEAP AND FREE