New
New
Year 9

The causes of flooding

I can describe the human and physical causes of river flooding.

New
New
Year 9

The causes of flooding

I can describe the human and physical causes of river flooding.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Floods occur when a river receives more water than the channel has capacity for.
  2. Heavy and prolonged rainfall are the main physical causes of flooding.
  3. Other physical causes of flooding are the shape and geology of the drainage basin.
  4. Deforestation and urbanisation are the main human causes of flooding.

Keywords

  • Prolonged rainfall - continuous rainfall that lasts for longer than expected

  • Relief - the physical shape of the land in an area, including its height and steepness

  • Geology - the physical structure of an area and what rocks and minerals exist there

  • Deforestation - the complete removal of trees from an area

  • Urbanisation - the increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities rather than the countryside

Common misconception

Flooding is only caused by physical factors such as heavy rainfall.

Human factors can lead to flooding too, such as deforestation.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: The causes of flooding, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Ask students to research a recent flooding event in the UK.
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Equipment

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the process where water changes from a liquid to a gas?
Condensation
Correct answer: Evaporation
Precipitation
Infiltration
Q2.
Which river process involves wearing away the riverbed and banks?
Deposition
Transportation
Correct answer: Erosion
Precipitation
Q3.
What is it called when the river drops material it is carrying?
Correct answer: Deposition
Attrition
Transportation
Abrasion
Q4.
Which landform is found in the upper course of a river?
Meander
Correct answer: Waterfall
Floodplain
Delta
Q5.
What type of erosion involves rocks grinding against the riverbed?
Solution
Attrition
Hydraulic action
Correct answer: Abrasion
Q6.
In which part of a river do you find wide, shallow meanders?
Upper course
Correct answer: Middle course
Lower course
Source

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is prolonged rainfall?
A short, intense rainstorm
Rainfall that freezes on the ground
Correct answer: Continuous rain over a long period
Rainfall only happening at night
Q2.
How does steep relief contribute to flooding?
Water moves slowly and soaks into the ground
Water freezes and stops flowing
Correct answer: Water runs quickly over the surface into rivers
Water evaporates faster
Q3.
How does deforestation increase flood risk?
Trees attract rainfall
Trees block river channels
Tree roots absorb river water
Correct answer: Less interception means more surface runoff
Q4.
Flooding is only caused by physical factors like heavy rainfall.
Correct answer: False
True
Sometimes true, depending on rainfall
Only if relief is steep