Skip to main content

Previous

Liverpool and UNESCO World Heritage status

Next

The impact of palm oil tree plantations

Floods in Petrópolis City, Brazil

A geoecological analysis

This article discusses ways in which an integrated approach — using geoecology, historical cartography and GIScience — can help us to understand the flood behaviour of catchments. How can that understanding then be used to reduce flooding?

Petrópolis, founded in 1843

Floods are the product of multiple processes acting on landscapes. In Brazilian cities, flood frequency and magnitude have been increasing due to dense urbanisation and unplanned settlements. Deforestation and river channelling are also contributory factors. Flash floods are particularly common in Brazilian urban areas. Flash floods are sudden floods produced by short-duration intense rainfall, usually over a small area. Urbanisation increases the amount of impermeable surfaces within the drainage basin which can cause rapid response of drainage channels and flash flooding after intense rainfall.

For more on this topic, go to: www.hoddereducation.co.uk/geographyreviewextras

Your organisation does not have access to this article.

Sign up today to give your students the edge they need to achieve their best grades with subject expertise

Subscribe

Previous

Liverpool and UNESCO World Heritage status

Next

The impact of palm oil tree plantations

Related articles: