In 2000 the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina was hit by a severe flood. How devastating this natural disaster can result is out of discussion. The causes and the far-reaching effects on the environment of such a phenomenon are diverse. Both causes and effects depend on the type of floods, which can be classified according to its overall duration.
The so-called “Slow onset flood” usually lasts for a relative longer period which ranges from weeks to months. The causes of this type of flood have a natural basis. Geographical location is a vital factor to consider. Not only regions near a river or the sea can be liable to floods but also geographical zones where terrible draughts affect the soil qualities. So, when continuous rains fall down in deserted places the flood water can raze sites to the ground. Dreadful economic loses can be produced to such an extent that millions and millions of local currencies are estimated as damages on agriculture and other areas of production.
The one called “Rapid onset floods” lasts for a relatively shorter period: hours or days. The shorter the period, the greater the risk it poses to life and property, as people usually have less time to take preventative action. Many factors contribute to the formation of this type of flood. Besides weather condition, cracks in badly-built levees and dams and indiscriminate tree felling stimulate soil erosion and landslides. These catastrophic consequences lead to even worse effects. Death of people at the very moment the disaster takes place or afterwards. Many survivors who are injured get infected with micro-organism incubated in the putrefact environment. At environmental level, the destruction of entire habitats implicates the extinction of innumerable species of animals and vegetation.
Floods as a natural disaster are devastating. To understand why floods are caused and how they may affect us, slow or rapid onset floods have to be considered separately. However no matter how many different flood variants there might be, radical damage is always suffered by people and the environment from these natural disasters: floods.
The so-called “Slow onset flood” usually lasts for a relative longer period which ranges from weeks to months. The causes of this type of flood have a natural basis. Geographical location is a vital factor to consider. Not only regions near a river or the sea can be liable to floods but also geographical zones where terrible draughts affect the soil qualities. So, when continuous rains fall down in deserted places the flood water can raze sites to the ground. Dreadful economic loses can be produced to such an extent that millions and millions of local currencies are estimated as damages on agriculture and other areas of production.
The one called “Rapid onset floods” lasts for a relatively shorter period: hours or days. The shorter the period, the greater the risk it poses to life and property, as people usually have less time to take preventative action. Many factors contribute to the formation of this type of flood. Besides weather condition, cracks in badly-built levees and dams and indiscriminate tree felling stimulate soil erosion and landslides. These catastrophic consequences lead to even worse effects. Death of people at the very moment the disaster takes place or afterwards. Many survivors who are injured get infected with micro-organism incubated in the putrefact environment. At environmental level, the destruction of entire habitats implicates the extinction of innumerable species of animals and vegetation.
Floods as a natural disaster are devastating. To understand why floods are caused and how they may affect us, slow or rapid onset floods have to be considered separately. However no matter how many different flood variants there might be, radical damage is always suffered by people and the environment from these natural disasters: floods.
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