demonstrate an understanding that rivers present hazards and offer opportunities for people

•rivers present both hazards and opportunities for people

•the causes of river hazards

          •flooding: •heavy rain - needed to cause most floods, increasing likelihood

                          •snow melting - rapid increase in water levels

                          •steep slopes - gathers water into one area

                          •ploughing (in straight lines) - surface runoff is faster

                          •impermeable rock - the land is left to surface runoff and more absorption 

                          •urbanisation - fast drainage means more water quicker in an area

                          •deforestation - no water intercepted or absorbed by plants 

                          •hot, dry wether - impermeable soil 

          

•the hazards of rivers

           •flooding

                     •economic: •cost of cleaning; damaged buildings; loss of stock; cost of insurance 

                     •social: •use of services; cleaning; unemployment; death; lack of transportation 

                     •environmental: •ruined habitats; destroys trees; ruins farmland; disease; littering

                     •short term: •road covered; evacuation; minor injury

                     •long term: •property damage; death; major stock damage; costs; disease 

           •river erosion

                     •vertical erosion of v shaped valleys can destabilise the valley sides, causing

                      landslides

                     •lateral erosion and meander migration can undercut river banks and threaten

                      development

           •LEDC: •more deaths due to poor healthcare; few doctors; basic warnings and preparation; cheap homes; poor infrastructure and services 

           •MEDC: •greater economic input; expensive, good property; more valuables lost; insurance coverage; better services, infrastructure and healthcare, better defences

•the opportunities of living on a floodplain, delta or near a river 

          •transport: they are large routes, providing communication 

          •food: are sources of food with fish, growing crops and fertile soil 

          •water: provide fresh water 

          •land: they provide large opportunities for construction of houses or industry 

          •tourism: fishing, kayaking and perhaps other activities 

          •irrigation: provides pipe water, pumping gas to farms 

          •power: force means HEP powered by dams