Carlisle Case StudyCarlisle Case Study

Using an Atlas, describe the location of Carlise.

Using the Key geography textbook pages 81+82; Identify the location of the River Eden.

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Carlisle Case StudyCarlisle Case Study Carlisle is situated on the flood plain of the River Eden with three rivers Carlisle is situated on the flood plain of the River Eden with three rivers

meeting in the city. The meeting in the city. The catchmentcatchment covers approximately 2400km2 and is covers approximately 2400km2 and is home to approximately 244,000 people. The catchment is mainly rural, with home to approximately 244,000 people. The catchment is mainly rural, with only 1% classified as urban: the main urban areas are Carlisle, Penrith and only 1% classified as urban: the main urban areas are Carlisle, Penrith and Appleby.Appleby.

Carlisle has a history of flooding with flood events recorded as far back as Carlisle has a history of flooding with flood events recorded as far back as the 1700s. In recent years there have been significant floods in 1963, 1968, the 1700s. In recent years there have been significant floods in 1963, 1968, 1979, 1980, 1984, and recently in 2005. 1979, 1980, 1984, and recently in 2005.

Across the catchment, the January 2005 flooding affected 2,700 homes. In Across the catchment, the January 2005 flooding affected 2,700 homes. In Carlisle three people died, 1,844 properties were flooded and there was Carlisle three people died, 1,844 properties were flooded and there was significant disruption to residents, businesses and visitors. The cost of the significant disruption to residents, businesses and visitors. The cost of the flooding was estimated at over £400 million. The flooding followed flooding was estimated at over £400 million. The flooding followed prolonged heavy rain, and was caused by a combination of floodwater from prolonged heavy rain, and was caused by a combination of floodwater from the Rivers Eden, Pettereril and Caldew and localised flooding from sewers the Rivers Eden, Pettereril and Caldew and localised flooding from sewers and road drainage.and road drainage.

Carlisle Case StudyCarlisle Case Study

The catchment of the River The catchment of the River Eden is in Cumbria, rising in Eden is in Cumbria, rising in the hills of the Lake District. the hills of the Lake District. It reaches the sea at the It reaches the sea at the Solway Firth. The catchment Solway Firth. The catchment is made up of the Rivers is made up of the Rivers Eden, Eamont, Irthing, Eden, Eamont, Irthing, Petteril and the Caldew, as Petteril and the Caldew, as well as smaller rivers and well as smaller rivers and streams draining into the streams draining into the Eden estuary.Eden estuary.

Carlisle Case StudyCarlisle Case Study The upper parts of the catchment are dominated by the mountains of Skiddaw and the The upper parts of the catchment are dominated by the mountains of Skiddaw and the

surrounding fells. The surrounding fells. The rocksrocks here are hard and volcanic, soils are thin and the here are hard and volcanic, soils are thin and the gradientsgradients of many of many tributaries are steep, so these watercourses have a rapid run-off response to flooding. In the tributaries are steep, so these watercourses have a rapid run-off response to flooding. In the lower reaches rivers flow through wide, shallow valleys. lower reaches rivers flow through wide, shallow valleys.

The Eden channel itself has a steep gradient upstream of Kirkby Stephen. The head of the The Eden channel itself has a steep gradient upstream of Kirkby Stephen. The head of the catchment is around 690m, falling rapidly to 160m at Kirkby Stephen. Below Kirkby Stephen, the catchment is around 690m, falling rapidly to 160m at Kirkby Stephen. Below Kirkby Stephen, the Eden's glaciated valley opens out and the channel gradient reflects this change: the River Eden Eden's glaciated valley opens out and the channel gradient reflects this change: the River Eden steadily loses height at around 1.8m per km to Appleby at 123m some 21km downstream. steadily loses height at around 1.8m per km to Appleby at 123m some 21km downstream.

From Appleby, the Eden continues through the lowland valley to Carlisle, 9m, falling at a fairly From Appleby, the Eden continues through the lowland valley to Carlisle, 9m, falling at a fairly constant rate of 1.4m per km over its 80km journey from Appleby. The valley floor is over 2.5 km constant rate of 1.4m per km over its 80km journey from Appleby. The valley floor is over 2.5 km wide in many places. This forms extensive areas of floodplain washlands which are an important wide in many places. This forms extensive areas of floodplain washlands which are an important feature of the catchment. feature of the catchment.

Hydrology Hydrology In the Eden catchment there is a significant contrast in mean annual rainfall between the In the Eden catchment there is a significant contrast in mean annual rainfall between the

upstream and downstream ends of the catchment, related to the topography of the catchment.upstream and downstream ends of the catchment, related to the topography of the catchment. In the upland tributaries upstream of Penrith in the Eamont catchment, average annual rainfall In the upland tributaries upstream of Penrith in the Eamont catchment, average annual rainfall

exceeds 2800mm on Helvellyn exceeds 2800mm on Helvellyn Around Carlisle and on the coastal fringe, this is reduced to about 760mmAround Carlisle and on the coastal fringe, this is reduced to about 760mm The average annual rainfall for England and Wales is 920mm.The average annual rainfall for England and Wales is 920mm.

Carlisle Case StudyCarlisle Case Study

In the steep upper catchments the topography, combined In the steep upper catchments the topography, combined with the geology, leads to fast responses to rainfall:with the geology, leads to fast responses to rainfall:

In Kirkby Stephen, the River Eden will respond to rainfall in In Kirkby Stephen, the River Eden will respond to rainfall in around 1.5 hours The time taken for rain falling on the top of around 1.5 hours The time taken for rain falling on the top of Helvellyn, the highest point in the Eamont catchment, to Helvellyn, the highest point in the Eamont catchment, to reach Ullswater Lake is around 2 hoursreach Ullswater Lake is around 2 hours

In the lower catchment, with mainly lower gradients and In the lower catchment, with mainly lower gradients and deeper soils, the flood responses are slower.deeper soils, the flood responses are slower.

The January 2005 flood was a major event. The January 2005 flood was a major event. Rainfall was very high for the period 6 to 8 Rainfall was very high for the period 6 to 8 January, during which two months' worth of January, during which two months' worth of rainfall were released in 24 hours. However, rainfall were released in 24 hours. However, it followed a month of high rainfall in the it followed a month of high rainfall in the Carlisle area, so the ground was saturated Carlisle area, so the ground was saturated and would no longer allow water to infiltrate, and would no longer allow water to infiltrate, and surface run-off was excessive. The result and surface run-off was excessive. The result was rapidly rising water levels in a number of was rapidly rising water levels in a number of rivers including the Eden.rivers including the Eden.

Affects of the floodingAffects of the flooding

http://www.geography.org.uk/download/Ghttp://www.geography.org.uk/download/GA_FloodingCarlisleDepthSequence.gifA_FloodingCarlisleDepthSequence.gif

Carlisle Case StudyCarlisle Case Study

Carlisle Case StudyCarlisle Case Study

Carlisle Case StudyCarlisle Case Study

Carlisle Case Study Carlisle Case Study Hydrograph for River Eden near Carlisle, January 2005

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Tasks

1 Annotate the hydrograph to show you understood these terms: rising limb, falling limb, peak flow rate, lag time, recessional limb

2 Read the text: What was the hydrology of the January 2005 flood? Then add text boxes to the hydrograph with brief notes about key aspects of the flooding - use the dates on the hydrograph to help you.

3 Using the map in the text book, use map evidence, explain the physical and human factors which may have contributed to the flooding in Carlisle. 6 marks

4 Using the hydrograph and your understanding of the drainage basin characteristics of the River Eden, describe and account for the flood hydrograph shown for January 2005. 10 marks

Carlisle Case StudyCarlisle Case Study Physical FactorsPhysical Factors

Low lying flood plain less than 20mLow lying flood plain less than 20m Many tributaries joining the Eden e.g. River Petteril 412564Many tributaries joining the Eden e.g. River Petteril 412564 Lack of evidence of vegetation on the map, this limits interception rates.Lack of evidence of vegetation on the map, this limits interception rates. Higher than average rainfallHigher than average rainfall High drainage densityHigh drainage density

Human FactorsHuman Factors Homes built on the floodplain (wet point site) Edentown 3957Homes built on the floodplain (wet point site) Edentown 3957 Levees along river banks may have been artificially strengthened Levees along river banks may have been artificially strengthened Recreational activities deliberately built on the floodplain e.g. golf course Recreational activities deliberately built on the floodplain e.g. golf course

414565414565 Impermeable surfaces increasing surface run-off created by the urban Impermeable surfaces increasing surface run-off created by the urban

environment of Carlisle.environment of Carlisle. Sewage works at 320505Sewage works at 320505