An Introduction to the Effects of Flood
Flood is the most frequent type of natural calamity that may be caused by heavy rainfall or some other factors. It can have various disastrous impacts. The flood may lead to a scarcity of clean drinking water. Drought is the opposite of flood; it is also a natural calamity.
Flood
A flood is usually an excess of water that drowns usually dry land. Usually, there are five types of floods.
River flood occurs when the water level of the sea rises above the top of the banks of the river.
A coastal flood is an inundation of dry land areas along the coast of seawater.
Strome surge is an abnormal increase in the water level in coastal areas.
Inland flooding is flooding that does not occur in coastal areas or occurs inland.
A Flash flood is a flood that begins after 3-6 hours of heavy rain.
Causes of Flood
There may be many causes of floods. The main causes are given below.
Ice and Snow Melt - Some mountains have ice caps on them. When this icecap melts in the summer season, it results in huge releases of water into the places that are usually dry.
Lack of Vegetation - vegetation can interrupt the flow of water. If there will be no vegetation, there will be nothing to slow down the flow of water.
Broken Dams - When heavy rain comes, the water level increases in the dams and ageing dams can break and can unleash overflows of water in the household.
Heavy Rains - Whenever there is heavy rain and the drainage system is not proper, it may result in a flood or flood-like conditions.
Climate Change - Climate changes occur mainly due to human practices. Due to deforestation, there will be more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which may lead to the melting of glaciers.
Emission of Greenhouse Gases - The burning of fossil fuels can lead to the emission of greenhouse gases which increase the atmospheric temperature and hence there will be melting of the glaciers.
Effects of Flood
A flood can harm wildlife.
Flood carries contamination and can cause disease.
A flood can trigger breeding events and migration.
There may be a loss of goods and life in the flood.
A flood can cause soil erosion.
Drought
Drought is defined as the prolonged period of dryness in the natural climate cycle.
Causes of Drought
There are natural causes as well as human causes of drought.
Human Causes Include the Following:
Overpopulation if too many people living in any particular area and using too much water can lead to scarcity of water.
Over cultivation of planting too many plants can use too much water.
Deforestation of plant roots can hold some amount of water, but cutting down them may lead to the condition of drought.
Natural Causes Include the Following:
Less rainfall for weeks and years may be a major cause of the drought.
Effects of Drought
Drought can have various serious impacts on health, economy, and politics.
It may result in hunger.
Due to lack of water, there will not be enough food crops. Same conditions with the poultry and feed livestock.
Wildfire: Due to the drought, there will be a lack of moisture in the soil and environment and if there would be a hotter environment, it may lead to a fire in the forests.
The wildlife would be damaged due to a lack of enough water.
Water is essential to survive, if there would be a lack of drinking water, people may have various health-related issues such as dehydration.
Conclusion
Flood and drought both are natural calamities. We can prevent these calamities or can reduce the impact of floods and drought by following certain measures. These calamities were majorly due to natural reasons but nowadays we can see an increase in flood and drought due to human interference. Humans are over-exploiting natural resources such as deforestation which causes an imbalance in rain.
FAQs on Flood and Drought
1. What are floods and droughts?
A flood is a natural event where an excess of water submerges land that is usually dry. It is often caused by heavy rainfall, melting snow, or overflowing rivers. In contrast, a drought is a prolonged period with abnormally low rainfall, which results in a severe shortage of water in a region.
2. What is the main difference between a flood and a drought?
The primary difference between a flood and a drought lies in the availability of water. A flood is characterised by an excess of water, leading to inundation. A drought is the exact opposite, defined by a scarcity of water over an extended time. While both are natural calamities, they represent two extremes of the water cycle.
3. What are the common causes of floods?
Floods can be triggered by several factors, including:
- Heavy Rains: When rainfall is too intense for drainage systems or the ground to handle.
- Ice and Snow Melt: Rapid melting of snow and ice in warmer seasons can cause rivers to overflow.
- Broken Dams: The failure of dams can release a massive, uncontrolled volume of water downstream.
- Lack of Vegetation: Trees and plants help absorb water and slow its flow. Deforestation increases runoff speed and volume.
- Coastal Storm Surges: High winds from storms can push seawater onto coastal lands.
4. What are the major problems caused by a severe drought?
A severe drought has wide-ranging negative effects on a region. Key problems include a critical lack of drinking water, widespread crop failure leading to hunger and economic loss, and death of livestock. Environmentally, it increases the risk of wildfires due to dry conditions and damages natural habitats for wildlife. It can also lead to health issues from poor water quality and dust.
5. How can human activities like deforestation contribute to both floods and droughts?
Deforestation creates a critical imbalance in the environment that can lead to both extreme conditions. By removing trees, we reduce the soil's ability to absorb and hold rainwater, causing faster surface runoff which triggers floods. At the same time, trees release water vapour through transpiration, a key part of the water cycle. Widespread deforestation disrupts this cycle, which can lead to reduced regional rainfall and eventually cause droughts.
6. Why is a flood not just the result of heavy rainfall?
While heavy rain is a primary trigger, it doesn't solely determine if a flood will occur. Other critical factors include the ground's saturation level (if the soil is already waterlogged), the efficiency of man-made drainage systems, and the natural landscape. For example, urban areas with extensive concrete surfaces prevent water absorption, increasing flood risk. Conversely, areas with healthy wetlands and forests can absorb large amounts of rainfall, preventing floods.
7. What are the different types of drought?
Droughts are generally classified based on their impact:
- Meteorological drought: Occurs due to a prolonged period of below-average precipitation.
- Hydrological drought: Refers to low water levels in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
- Agricultural drought: Happens when there isn't enough soil moisture to support crop growth.
- Ecological drought: An episode of water deficit that damages a natural ecosystem, affecting plant and animal life.
