Page 60 - (DK) Danger! Open with Extreme Caution!
P. 60

riverine flooding As a river flows toward the ocean,   it is fed by both smaller streams and   the land draining water into it. Sometimes,  owing to heavy rainfall or melting snow, this water  runs into the river faster than the river can carry it  away, causing it to burst its banks. Such riverine flooding  can paint enormous areas of the landscape with its dirty  water, while the water’s sheer strength can carry cars, trees,














                                                       and even small buildings away.















                     enough to paint a different landscape. Heavy rainstorms and melting ice
                  boundaries and cause a flood. Just a brush stroke of bad weather can be

                                                                 Urban flooding When a city is pounded with heavy  rain, the sewers can quickly reach  their full capacity. The excess water  overflows the drains and surges out  onto the city streets. While urban  floods can be a nuisance for  pedestrians and drivers, the risk of  death or serious damage is low.
               When there’s too much water in one place, it can spill over its usual
                        or snow can cause seas, lakes, rivers, and even sewers to overflow.
                           Floodwaters can cause masses of mayhem, wreaking havoc on


                               the land, ruining crops, washing away roads and railroads,











          WATERCOLORS

                                  and saturating buildings and houses.
















                                                                                        Flash flood These unpredictable floods can strike with incredible  speed. Flash floods occur when heavy rain hammering  down on a small area collects in a gully or stream. The  floodwaters move in a strong, rushing current, carrying  destructive debris, tearing out trees, and demolishing  any structures in their way, from buildings to bridges.










      60
                                           (c) 2011 Dorling Kindersley. All Rights Reserved.
   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65