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The Somerset Levels Flood Case Study

somerset flooding 2014 case study

The Somerset Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area in Somerset, England. Thousands of years ago, the area was covered by the sea, but today it’s a landscape of rivers and wetlands – artificially drained, irrigated and modified to allow productive farming.

It is claimed that the Somerset Levels are one of the lowest areas in the UK. This is because much of the area lies below the high-water mark of spring tides. The area is very flat and has a maximum altitude of 8m above sea level. All rivers in this area, including Axe, Sheppey and Brue, are in the north, while to the south, the rivers the Cary, Yeo, Tone and Parrett drain into the Bristol Channel.

In January 2014, the Somerset Levels experienced floods greater than any other in living memory. Estimates suggest that 10% of the area was underwater when the flooding was greatest.

Somerset Levels 2014 flood map

Somerset Levels 2014 flood map

What were the physical causes of flooding in the Somerset Levels?

A quick succession of prolonged Atlantic storms, with persistent rainfall and gale-force winds, was the primary cause of flooding. The rivers could not cope with the significant amount of rain that fell. High tides in the Bristol Channel and its narrowing also create tidal surges. These blocked the floodwater, trying to escape the Somerset Levels. Coastal defences coped with the tidal surges.

What were the human causes of flooding in the Somerset Levels?

There had been less dredging of the river channels on the Somerset Levels leading up to 2014. However, as a result, the channels had risen due to sediment accumulation. This reduced the capacity of rivers to transport water, leading to flooding.

Change in farming practices has also contributed to flooding. Much of the land has been converted from grassland to grow maise. This more intensive use of the land means it is less able to retain water, causing it to run over the surface rather than being absorbed.

What were the impacts of flooding in the Somerset Levels?

The flood was the most significant hazard to affect this area ever. The event was so significant it dominated the national news coverage.

The flooding had a range of social, economic and environmental impacts.

What were the social impacts of the Somerset Levels floods?

Over 600 homes and 16 farms were evacuated, resulting in many people requiring temporary accommodation, where many stayed for several months. In addition, several villages, such as Moorland and Muchelney, were cut off after roads were flooded. Power supplies were cut off during a time when temperatures were low.

What were the economic impacts of the Somerset Levels floods?

Somerset County Council estimates that the cost of flood damage was over £10 million. The agricultural industry was among the hardest hit, with over fourteen thousand hectares of agricultural land used for crops and grazing flooded for three to four weeks. One thousand livestock were evacuated from the affected farms.

Many main roads were closed, including the A361 linking Taunton and Street. Flooding disrupted train services on the main Bristol line between Taunton and Bridgwater.

Fuel used to power emergency pumps cost £200 000 per week. An estimated £1 million was lost by local businesses. The Somerset floods cost the county’s tourism industry an estimated £200 million.

There were several incidents of crime during the floods. Nine hundred litres of fuel was stolen from a pumping station in Westonzoyland. There were also reports of heating oil and quad bikes being stolen from homes affected by flooding.

Insurance costs increased in flood-hit areas of Somerset.

What were the environmental impacts of the Somerset Levels floods?

The environmental impact included the extensive contamination of floodwaters by sewage, oil, and various chemical pollutants. Following the recession of floodwaters, a significant amount of debris required clearing, while stagnant water accumulated over several months needed to be re-oxygenated before reintroduction into rivers. Failure to do so would have caused substantial harm to marine ecosystems.

The soil was damaged after being underwater for nearly three months. In some areas, it took over two years to restore the soil before crops could be grown.

Immediate response to the Somerset Levels flood

As expected for a high-income country (HIC), the response to the flood was well-organised and rapid.

Local people in South West England were warned of heavy rain when the Met Office issued an amber warning. The public was advised to prepare for significant flooding by the Environmental Agency. Many people used sandbags to protect their property and moved valuable items upstairs. In Moorland, a man constructed a large wall out of clay and mud to protect his house from flooding.

Rescue boats were used to help stranded people by the fire brigade who also visited hundreds of properties. Rescue crews supported residents of Moorland in evacuating. The owners of some 80 homes agreed to evacuate; however, around 30 residents stayed at home. Additional police patrols were introduced as a result of increased crime.

The army was sent into the area with specialist equipment towards the end of January. They issued sandbags and distributed food. 40 Royal Marines later joined them to provide additional support.

Sixty-five pumps were used to drain 65 million m3 of floodwater.

Local people, led by the Flooding on the Levels Action Group (FLAG), provided local support to the people affected. This included fundraising and the collection and distribution of food. They also used social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to share the news.

The government made an estimated £15m to meet the immediate costs of protecting lives and properties.

Long-term response to the Somerset Levels flood

The long-term response to the Somerset Levels flood focussed on management techniques to reduce the risk of future floods. As a result, the Somerset Levels and Moors Action Plan was developed and included measures such as reintroducing dredging, constructing a tidal barrage and additional permanent pumping stations. The scheme is part of a 20-year plan for the Somerset Levels and will total £100 million.

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3.16 Case Study - Flooding in Somerset (2013-2014)

For a period of three months from December 2013 to February 2014, the Somerset Levels hit the national (United Kingdom) headlines as the area suffered from extensive flooding. At the height of the winter floods, 65 km2 of land on the Levels were under water. This was caused by human and physical factors. The floods were the most severe ever known in this area.

No one was prepared for the extent of damage brought by the floodwater. Several villages and farms were flooded and hundreds of people had to be evacuated. The risk of flooding is likely to increase in the future due to climate change. The government will need to invest in flood defences in order to protect areas at risk.

Flooding on the Somerset Levels - The News

Flooding on the Somerset Levels - Background Information

In December 2013, an unusually high amount of rainfall began to fall on the Somerset Levels and this continued into February 2014. With so much water, the ground became saturated, forcing both the river Parrett and the river Tone to flood. 

The physical characteristics of the Somerset Levels and Moors mean that flooding is a natural occurrence there. It is an area of low-lying farmland and wetlands between the Mendip and Blackdown Hills in central Somerset. This area forms the floodplain surrounding the river Parrett. 

Thousands of years ago the area was covered by the sea. It has since been drained to allow for agriculture, several villages and wetland conservation. It has become an area of social, economic and environmental importance. It covers an area of 650 km2 but has a low population density (the number of people per km2 ). The area may have had a natural vulnerability to floods but no one was prepared for the scale of the floods or the impacts that followed

What caused the flooding on the Somerset Levels?

A river flood is when the river bursts its banks and spills onto the surrounding floodplain. A floodplain is an area of low-lying ground next to a river, formed mainly of river sediments. A flood can last just a few days or several weeks. A flood event is often caused by a combination of physical and human factors.

Physical causes

Prolonged rainfall: In January 2014 in southern England, rainfall totalled 183.8 mm, which is approximately 200% higher than average for that month (Figure 2). That was the wettest since records began in 1910. 

Saturated ground: The long period of rainfall caused the ground to become saturated so that it could not hold any more water. 

Low-lying land: Much of the area lies at, or just a few metres above, sea level, putting it at risk of flooding. 

High tides and storm surges from the Bristol Channel: These prevent the floodwater from being taken to the sea, forcing it to back up the rivers.

Human Causes

Lack of dredging: Over the years the rivers had become clogged with sediment. The Environment Agency had decided to stop dredging the rivers some time earlier. Dredging increases the ability of a river to carry more water. 

Change in farming practices: Much of the land has been converted from grassland to grow maize. This more intensive use of the land means it is less able to retain water, causing it to run over the surface rather than being absorbed.

Impacts of the Somerset floods 

The widespread flooding on the Somerset Levels made the national headlines. Many people visited the affected areas to see the famous floods. Such people became known as ‘flood tourists’. Many of the people living on the Levels had experienced some form of flooding in the past but no one was quite prepared for the scale of these floods. Thankfully no one died, but many people suffered flood damage to their homes, possessions and farmland (Figure 3). 

Many people were evacuated and had to seek temporary accommodation elsewhere. More than 600 homes and 6880 hectares of farmland were flooded. Entire villages were cut off after roads became unusable. In the village of Muchelney, residents could only leave the island by a boat which left every two hours (Figure 4).

Isolated communities provided an opportunity for thieves. In January, 900 litres of fuel was stolen from a pumping station in Westonzoyland. By early February, there were reports of stolen heating oil and quad bikes from homes of flood victims. Many of the main roads were closed, such as the A361 which links Taunton and Street. Trains on the Bristol line between Bridgwater and Taunton were also disrupted. The economic costs soon started to rise. Fuel for emergency pumps used to reduce water levels cost £200 000 per week. Local businesses reported over £1 million in lost business. According to ‘Visit Somerset’ the floods on the Somerset Levels cost the county’s tourism industry £200 million. 

Farmers struggled to deal with flooded fields, ruined crops and the costs of moving livestock away from the affected areas. After nearly three months under millions of tonnes of water, much of the soil was damaged. It may take up to two years to restore the soil so that crops can be grown. Flood-hit home owners are likely to see their insurance costs increase in the future.

Management and Response

The response to the floods was rapid and well organised, as expected for an economically developed country (Figure 5). The Met Office issued an amber warning for heavy rain in South West England. They informed the public to be prepared for significant flooding. Many residents used sandbags to protect their homes and moved valuable items upstairs. One man even built a giant wall out of clay and soil around his house in Moorland to protect it from the floodwaters.

The fire brigade visited hundreds of properties, and rescue boats were used to help stranded people. In early February, rescue crews encouraged the residents of Moorland to evacuate. Owners of around 80 homes agreed but about 30 other residents chose to remain (Figure 6). Extra police patrols were brought in to respond to increased crime. By the end of January, the army had been sent in with specialist equipment. They delivered food and gave out sandbags. By 6 February they were joined by 40 Royal Marines. Sixty-five pumps were used to drain 65 million m3 of floodwater. 

There was a lot of local support for those affected by the floods, led by the organisation FLAG (Flooding on the Levels Action Group). Volunteers organised fundraising activities and collected and distributed supplies of food. They also used social media via Facebook and Twitter to communicate news.

The longer-term response focused on flood management to prevent a future flood of this scale. This took the form of ‘The Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action Plan’. It included measures such as dredging, a tidal barrage, and extra permanent pumping sites, with a total cost of £100 million. A sum of £10 million was provided by the Conservative Government, a further £10 million came from the Department for Transport, and the Department for Communities and Local Government gave £500 000. It formed part of a 20-year plan for the Levels. It had the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron who stated: ‘We cannot let this happen again’. 

Future Considerations 

In November 2014, the Environment Agency (EA) kept its promise and completed the 8 km dredging of the rivers Parrett and Tone, costing £6 million. This will be a huge help in the protection of homes and farmland. Some people have argued that dredging alone is not the answer and it should be used alongside other forms of flood defence, such as flood relief channels. Can the government afford to spend so much money in a rural area with a low population? 

Climate change may mean that this area will receive more heavy rain in the future. The Met Office has predicted that sea levels around the UK will rise by 11–16 cm by 2030. It may be that spending money on hard engineering flood defences is not the best option for this area. The government may save money in the long term by moving people to higher land, and to pay them money for their homes and farms. However, this is unlikely to be a popular option. 

Conclusion 

The recent floods demonstrate how more people have put themselves at risk of flooding by living on this low-lying floodplain. Farming and settlement increased because people thought that flooding in the area was under control. This was clearly not the case and it is therefore not surprising that the local people felt so let down. There were many impacts of this flood, but they could have been far worse if it had not been for the effective and rapid response that followed.  

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GCSE Geography: Somerset Levels Flooding 2014

Causes and impacts of flooding.

Over your GCSE Geography course, you will have to learn a range of case studies to draw upon in your answers. The Somerset Levels is a common location in which many schools choose to focus. Find all the information you need to learn here and get a perfect example answer!

The Somerset Levels

The Somerset Levels are an area of low-lying land close to the coast in southwest England. Several rivers flow through the area including the River Tone and the River Parrett. These drain into the Bristol Channel. The area is prone to flooding and the people living close by have had to deal with consequences for decades.

Floods occur when the water in a river channel becomes higher than the river banks, causing it to overflow. Most rivers will flood occasionally, but some overflow their banks very regularly. The results can be devastating to the environment and to people. Both physical factors and human activity cause flooding. In the winter of 2013-2014, the consequences of flooding in the Somerset Levels affected thousands of people and caused major damages.

Physical Causes

  • Winter Storms – In December 2013 and January 2014, extreme winter storms occurred in the southern parts of England. There was twice as much rain in January as expected – 207 mm. This value was the highest on record since 1910.
  • Landscape – The surrounding area is made up of low-lying land with grassy vegetation. This doesn’t allow for much interception. The impermeable clay soils also restrict the movement of rainwater through the ground.
  • High Tides – There were extremely high tides in the weeks leading up to the flood caused by the storm surges. This caused water in the River Parrett and other rivers to back up, and it couldn’t leave the area as quickly as it should have.

Human Causes

  • Dredging – The rivers were full of sediment as they had not been dredged for over 20 years. This caused rivers to overflow quicker than they should have as the river bed was high.
  • Housing – The nearby towns of Taunton and Bridgwater meant the area surrounding the rivers was covered in impermeable tarmac and concrete. The vast amount of rainwater drained quickly to the river, making it more likely to flood. Water pumps have also been installed in the towns to remove water to the Levels.

somerset flooding 2014 case study

Impacts of the Floods

The impacts of the Somerset Levels flooding can be separated into three categories – social, economic and environmental.

Example Exam Questions and Answers:

If you’d like any more examples of questions on the Somerset Levels or need help with a question of your own then use the contact box on this page and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can: Need some help with your homework?

The Somerset Levels floods in 2014 were extremely damaging to the environment and caused major disruption to many residents. It was caused by both human and physical factors and is at risk of happening again. Many residents still live in fear that it might happen again. Read this BBC article for more information: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-64320183 .

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Charlotte is the founder of The Geo Room. She is a Geography University Student with a passion for travel and combines her love for Geography and travelling right here on The Geo Room. As an expert in both fields, Charlotte shares tips and tricks to do with both Geography and travel to help readers understand more about the world we live in, and how to make the most of travelling around it.

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Steve and Kay Wilton

Somerset floods: ‘What happened next utterly broke our family’

T en months since it finally receded, the foul brown floodwater that swilled knee-deep through Steve and Kay Wilton’s home for much of February has, it seems, left its mark on more than just their once-pristine 19th-century farmhouse.

“To be honest,” says Kay, sitting in a cold, bare kitchen at a battered wooden table loaned by a neighbour, “by itself, the flood would have been a walk in the park. It’s what it’s done to us, the whole family, since. It’s devastated us.”

I last met Steve with his son-in-law, Ross, in February . Even getting to the farmhouse had been a perilous affair then: you had first to make it as far as the village – Burrowbridge on the Somerset Levels – along sodden country lanes that wound their way through seas of muddy water. Then you had to slither along a treacherous towpath, scramble over huge pipes pumping unimaginable quantities of dirty floodwater into the heavily swollen river Parrett, and slide down the bank to the lane outside Steve’s home.

Steve and Ross

Standing in green rubber waders in a hastily emptied living room, thigh-deep in foul-smelling water, Steve, 56, had explained how he, his wife Kay, their daughter, her husband Ross, and their daughters now four and two, had moved in just weeks before, on 20 December.

The family decided to pool their resources after Ross, 35, was offered a move to Somerset for his work; they had spent nearly a year looking for a home big enough for all of them, then Steve and Kay had sold their house in Kent and sunk the entire proceeds into this.

Sitting in 18 acres, the brick-built farmhouse, dating back to 1830, had been their “dream home”, Steve, a painter and decorator, had told me. “We got on so well together. Kay and I could help out with the girls; it seemed like the ideal solution. A new life, for all of us.”

Things didn’t turn out like that. Weeks into the disaster, their daughter separated from Ross and became estranged from the family. “One of the men who came to volunteer, to help people affected by the flooding, was a builder from not far away,” says Steve. Kay sighs, and steps in “Felicity went off with him. Ross is in a little rented place a few miles away. She won’t speak to anyone. We haven’t seen our granddaughters since April. Our family has been just … torn apart.”

Nursing mugs of tea and talking, now, about all that has happened to them since, both Steve and Kay come close to tears. The family did all the right searches: the house had never once flooded in all the nearly 200 years it had been standing, and the Environment Agency assured them there was a one in a 100-year risk of their lower field – not the house – ending up under water. But then came the wettest January in 250 years.

They stayed, first, with some kindly neighbours, then found a couple of empty holiday lets. By early March, the last of the water – it had risen in the end to almost two feet – had gone. Steve and Kay found a longer-term cottage to rent nearby, while Ross and his family moved into a mobile home in the garden, to oversee the clean-up. And, quite soon, that was when things started to fall apart.

Flooded kitchen

But besides the emotional upheaval involving their daughter and grandchildren, there is now real financial uncertainty. The insurance company would no longer pay for their rented accommodation, so Steve and Kay moved back into the farmhouse last month – despite being warned it was not yet fit for habitation. They are, in essence, camping; the kitchen is makeshift, the floors bare concrete, the walls stripped of plaster and festooned with trailing wires.

Many of their possessions – including clothes, books, even Steve’s late mother’s jewellery – were hastily boxed up and packed in a container while still damp, and have come back black with mould. Their insurance company, while it will pay for the damage and the repairs, has said next year’s premium will be £6,000 instead of £1,000, and the excess £25,000 not £350.

So what does the future hold? “We’re going to have to try to make a go of it,” says Steve. “We sunk all we had into this house. We can’t sell now – like this, it’s worth half what we paid for it; even after it’s redone, we’d probably only get two-thirds. And we have no idea how we’ll manage the mortgage, just the two of us. It’s got to work.”

Wiltons' kitchen

The couple remain heartened, Steve says, by “the amazing warmth and generosity of everyone. We’ve had so much help, so much support. Everyone who was flooded says the same; the people here have been just extraordinary.”

And the dredgers, brought in by the Environment Agency under sustained local pressure, have now almost finished, clearing 8km of riverbed, removing 130,000 cubic metres of silt, returning the river Parrett to its 1960s profile. Banks have been built up, drains cleared and reinforced. There is some confidence that things will not be like they were in February 2014.

But while she is also every bit as determined as Steve to make their new life work, Kay says she does sometimes wish “we’d never left Kent. We’ve been through a fair few ups and downs together in our time, Steve and I, but this … You’ve no idea how hard it is. Our family has just been broken. Utterly broken.”

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Somerset Levels flooding | AQA GCSE Geography | Weather Hazards 12

Last updated 13 Nov 2023

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This revision video looks at the case study of the Somerset Levels Floods which is a popular case study for the UK extreme weather event. We explore the factors that led to such extensive flooding, the social, economic and environmental impacts of the flooding, along with the immediate and long-term responses used to help the people affected.

It is part of the AQA GCSE Geography course - Paper 1: Unit A - The Challenge of Natural Hazards.

  • The video is a revision resource for AQA GCSE Geography, specifically focusing on the Somerset Levels floods.
  • The floods occurred in January and February 2014, marking one of the worst incidents of flooding in recent years.
  • Somerset is in South West England, characterized by low-lying farmland and wetlands known as the Somerset Levels and Moors.
  • The area is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Quantock Hills to the west, and Mendip Hills to the north.
  • The floods were triggered by the wettest January on record, with 35 centimeters of rain falling in January and February—10 centimeters more than average.
  • High tides clashed with storm surges, blocking fresh water from reaching the sea, and local rivers, not dredged for over 20 years, had reduced capacity.
  • Social impacts included over 600 houses flooded, 16 farms evacuated, and villages cut off, leading to significant disruptions in daily life.
  • Economic impacts estimated at over £10 million, affecting farming, trade, and infrastructure.
  • Environmental impacts involved contaminated floodwaters with sewage and pollutants, requiring extensive cleanup.
  • Immediate responses included evacuations, temporary accommodations, and support from volunteers.
  • Long-term responses involved a £20 million flood action plan, including dredging rivers, raising road levels, installing flood defenses, and strengthening Riverbanks to mitigate future risks.
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  • Extreme weather
  • Weather hazards

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UK Weather Hazards Case Study: Somerset 2014

Extreme weather in the uk - somerset levels floods 2014.

Flooding affected the Somerset Levels in 2014. The Somerset Levels is a low-lying area of south-west England.

Illustrative background for Record rainfall

Record rainfall

  • The record rainfall caused the rivers and drains to overflow.

Illustrative background for Tidal rivers

Tidal rivers

  • Tidal rivers go up and down with the tide.
  • High tides made the flooding worse.

Illustrative background for The Environment Agency

The Environment Agency

  • Some people blamed the Environment Agency for the flooding as the rivers hadn't been dredged for 20 years.
  • Dredging a river is when you take out mud from the bed of a river.

Effects & Responses

Flooding affected the low-lying Somerset Levels in 2014. Let's have a look at the varying effects and responses.

Illustrative background for Effects of the floods

Effects of the floods

  • The social impact was that over 600 houses were flooded.
  • The economic impact was that there was an estimated £10 million of damage.
  • The waste was deposited when the floods receded.

Illustrative background for Immediate responses

Immediate responses

  • The evacuation of people from villages (e.g. Moorland).
  • Support from community groups and volunteers.

Illustrative background for Long term responses

Long term responses

  • The announcement of a £20 million Flood Action Plan by the Environment Agency and Somerset County Council.
  • 8 km of rivers were dredged.

1 The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1 Natural Hazards

1.1.1 Types of Natural Hazards

1.1.2 Hazard Risk

1.1.3 Consequences of Natural Hazards

1.1.4 End of Topic Test - Natural Hazards

1.1.5 Exam-Style Questions - Natural Hazards

1.2 Tectonic Hazards

1.2.1 Tectonic Plates

1.2.2 Tectonic Plates & Convection Currents

1.2.3 Plate Margins

1.2.4 Volcanoes

1.2.5 Effects of Volcanoes

1.2.6 Responses to Volcanic Eruptions

1.2.7 Earthquakes

1.2.8 Earthquakes 2

1.2.9 Responses to Earthquakes

1.2.10 Case Studies: The L'Aquila & Kashmir Earthquakes

1.2.11 Earthquake Case Study: Chile 2010

1.2.12 Earthquake Case Study: Nepal 2015

1.2.13 Living with Tectonic Hazards 1

1.2.14 Living with Tectonic Hazards 2

1.2.15 End of Topic Test - Tectonic Hazards

1.2.16 Exam-Style Questions - Tectonic Hazards

1.2.17 Tectonic Hazards - Statistical Skills

1.3 Weather Hazards

1.3.1 Global Atmospheric Circulation

1.3.2 Surface Winds

1.3.3 UK Weather Hazards

1.3.4 Tropical Storms

1.3.5 Features of Tropical Storms

1.3.6 Impact of Tropical Storms 1

1.3.7 Impact of Tropical Storms 2

1.3.8 Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina

1.3.9 Tropical Storms Case Study: Haiyan

1.3.10 UK Weather Hazards Case Study: Somerset 2014

1.3.11 End of Topic Test - Weather Hazards

1.3.12 Exam-Style Questions - Weather Hazards

1.3.13 Weather Hazards - Statistical Skills

1.4 Climate Change

1.4.1 Evidence for Climate Change

1.4.2 Causes of Climate Change

1.4.3 Effects of Climate Change

1.4.4 Managing Climate Change

1.4.5 End of Topic Test - Climate Change

1.4.6 Exam-Style Questions - Climate Change

1.4.7 Climate Change - Statistical Skills

2 The Living World

2.1 Ecosystems

2.1.1 Ecosystems

2.1.2 Ecosystem Cascades & Global Ecosystems

2.1.3 Ecosystem Case Study: Freshwater Ponds

2.2 Tropical Rainforests

2.2.1 Tropical Rainforests - Intro & Interdependence

2.2.2 Adaptations

2.2.3 Biodiversity of Tropical Rainforests

2.2.4 Deforestation

2.2.5 Case Study: Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest

2.2.6 Sustainable Management of Rainforests

2.2.7 Case Study: Malaysian Rainforest

2.2.8 End of Topic Test - Tropical Rainforests

2.2.9 Exam-Style Questions - Tropical Rainforests

2.2.10 Deforestation - Statistical Skills

2.3 Hot Deserts

2.3.1 Overview of Hot Deserts

2.3.2 Biodiversity & Adaptation to Hot Deserts

2.3.3 Case Study: Sahara Desert

2.3.4 Desertification

2.3.5 Case Study: Thar Desert

2.3.6 End of Topic Test - Hot Deserts

2.3.7 Exam-Style Questions - Hot Deserts

2.4 Tundra & Polar Environments

2.4.1 Overview of Cold Environments

2.4.2 Adaptations in Cold Environments

2.4.3 Biodiversity in Cold Environments

2.4.4 Case Study: Alaska

2.4.5 Sustainable Management

2.4.6 Case Study: Svalbard

2.4.7 End of Topic Test - Tundra & Polar Environments

2.4.8 Exam-Style Questions - Cold Environments

3 Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1 The UK Physical Landscape

3.1.1 The UK Physical Landscape

3.2 Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.2.1 Types of Wave

3.2.2 Weathering & Mass Movement

3.2.3 Processes of Erosion & Wave-Cut Platforms

3.2.4 Headlands, Bays, Caves, Arches & Stacks

3.2.5 Transportation

3.2.6 Deposition

3.2.7 Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes

3.2.8 Case Study: Landforms on the Dorset Coast

3.2.9 Types of Coastal Management 1

3.2.10 Types of Coastal Management 2

3.2.11 Coastal Management Case Study - Holderness

3.2.12 Coastal Management Case Study: Swanage

3.2.13 Coastal Management Case Study - Lyme Regis

3.2.14 End of Topic Test - Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.2.15 Exam-Style Questions - Coasts

3.3 River Landscapes in the UK

3.3.1 The River Valley

3.3.2 River Valley Case Study - River Tees

3.3.3 Erosion

3.3.4 Transportation & Deposition

3.3.5 Waterfalls, Gorges & Interlocking Spurs

3.3.6 Meanders & Oxbow Lakes

3.3.7 Floodplains & Levees

3.3.8 Estuaries

3.3.9 Case Study: The River Clyde

3.3.10 River Management

3.3.11 Hard & Soft Flood Defences

3.3.12 River Management Case Study - Boscastle

3.3.13 River Management Case Study - Banbury

3.3.14 End of Topic Test - River Landscapes in the UK

3.3.15 Exam-Style Questions - Rivers

3.4 Glacial Landscapes in the UK

3.4.1 Erosion

3.4.2 Landforms Caused by Erosion

3.4.3 Landforms Caused by Transportation & Deposition

3.4.4 Snowdonia

3.4.5 Land Use in Glaciated Areas

3.4.6 Tourism in Glacial Landscapes

3.4.7 Case Study - Lake District

3.4.8 End of Topic Test - Glacial Landscapes in the UK

3.4.9 Exam-Style Questions - Glacial Landscapes

4 Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1 Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.1 Urbanisation

4.1.2 Urbanisation Case Study: Lagos

4.1.3 Urbanisation Case Study: Rio de Janeiro

4.1.4 UK Cities

4.1.5 Case Study: Urban Regen Projects - Manchester

4.1.6 Case Study: Urban Change in Liverpool

4.1.7 Case Study: Urban Change in Bristol

4.1.8 Sustainable Urban Life

4.1.9 End of Topic Test - Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.10 Exam-Style Questions - Urban Issues & Challenges

4.1.11 Urban Issues -Statistical Skills

5 The Changing Economic World

5.1 The Changing Economic World

5.1.1 Measuring Development

5.1.2 Classifying Countries Based on Wealth

5.1.3 The Demographic Transition Model

5.1.4 Physical & Historical Causes of Uneven Development

5.1.5 Economic Causes of Uneven Development

5.1.6 How Can We Reduce the Global Development Gap?

5.1.7 Case Study: Tourism in Kenya

5.1.8 Case Study: Tourism in Jamaica

5.1.9 Case Study: Economic Development in India

5.1.10 Case Study: Aid & Development in India

5.1.11 Case Study: Economic Development in Nigeria

5.1.12 Case Study: Aid & Development in Nigeria

5.1.13 Economic Development in the UK

5.1.14 Economic Development UK: Industry & Rural

5.1.15 Economic Development UK: Transport & North-South

5.1.16 Economic Development UK: Regional & Global

5.1.17 End of Topic Test - The Changing Economic World

5.1.18 Exam-Style Questions - The Changing Economic World

5.1.19 Changing Economic World - Statistical Skills

6 The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1 Resource Management

6.1.1 Global Distribution of Resources

6.1.2 Food in the UK

6.1.3 Water in the UK 1

6.1.4 Water in the UK 2

6.1.5 Energy in the UK

6.1.6 Resource Management - Statistical Skills

6.2.1 Areas of Food Surplus & Food Deficit

6.2.2 Food Supply & Food Insecurity

6.2.3 Increasing Food Supply

6.2.4 Case Study: Thanet Earth

6.2.5 Creating a Sustainable Food Supply

6.2.6 Case Study: Agroforestry in Mali

6.2.7 End of Topic Test - Food

6.2.8 Exam-Style Questions - Food

6.2.9 Food - Statistical Skills

6.3.1 The Global Demand for Water

6.3.2 What Affects the Availability of Water?

6.3.3 Increasing Water Supplies

6.3.4 Case Study: Water Transfer in China

6.3.5 Sustainable Water Supply

6.3.6 Case Study: Kenya's Sand Dams

6.3.7 Case Study: Lesotho Highland Water Project

6.3.8 Case Study: Wakel River Basin Project

6.3.9 Exam-Style Questions - Water

6.3.10 Water - Statistical Skills

6.4.1 Global Demand for Energy

6.4.2 Factors Affecting Energy Supply

6.4.3 Increasing Energy Supply: Renewables

6.4.4 Increasing Energy Supply: Non-Renewables

6.4.5 Carbon Footprints & Energy Conservation

6.4.6 Case Study: Rice Husks in Bihar

6.4.7 Exam-Style Questions - Energy

6.4.8 Energy - Statistical Skills

Jump to other topics

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Tropical Storms Case Study: Haiyan

End of Topic Test - Weather Hazards

'It was a tough time' - Residents remember devastating 2014 Somerset flooding

  • West Country
  • Somerset Levels
  • Friday 9 February 2024 at 1:15pm

somerset flooding 2014 case study

Ben McGrail speaks to some of the people who were affected by the devastating flooding on the Somerset Levels.

It has been 10 years since devastating floods hit the Somerset Levels, when homes and thousands of acres of farmland languished under water for weeks. The Environment Agency says the county is more prepared and resilient compared to 2014, but residents are concerned that climate change could have a big impact in the future.

James Winslade, a farmer who was impacted by the floods back in 2014, said: "It's weird, it doesn't really feel like 10 years ago.

"I remember being there and the water rising and also lots of people being here. And they were here to help."

The 10th anniversary of the floods has raised question over whether a similar incident could happen again.

Ian Withers from the Environment Agency said: "Our weather patterns are bringing more intense and prolonged and very difficult conditions to deal with but we are much better prepared now in Somerset.

"We respond much earlier and bring equipment, pumps and people into Somerset much earlier when the levels start to rise.

"So there have been some big improvements in the way we respond and our infrastructure, which means we are more resilient to flooding in Somerset when it does happen."

Julian Taylor had to be taken to safety when the area was flooded, he wants to see more money put into flood defences.

He said: "I think the risk is, unless there is proper funding locally then we are going to get drainage systems not working, a river that needs dredging more often.

"And the chances with climate change when we get increased rainfall in the winter months, then we are going to be flooded again. That really worries me."

Matilda Temperley, a photographer who captured the events of 2014, said: "It was something we had never seen, not in living memory down here.

"I think [the water] was in my grandfather's house for 63 days of solid flooding.

"It was a really difficult time for lots of people but there was also this incredible community spirit at the time.

"It was a tough time but everyone was in it together - the Blitz spirit."

Resources you can trust

The Somerset floods of 2013 and 2014

The Somerset floods of 2013 and 2014

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GCSE Geography – Case Study – Flooding, The Somerset Levels 2014

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1 . Question

Where are the Somerset Levels?

  • South-West England.
  • South-East England.
  • North-East England.
  • North-West England.

2 . Question

Into which river estuary do the rivers Tone and Parrett flow?

3 . Question

Which of the following was NOT a reason for the floods in 2014?

  • Too many tourists.
  • Lack of river dredging.
  • High tides and storm surges.
  • Persistent heavy rain.

4 . Question

Approximately how many millimetres of rain fell in January 2014?

5 . Question

Where did the depressions come from that caused the wet weather?

  • Atlantic Ocean.
  • Pacific Ocean.
  • English Channel.

6 . Question

Which of the following is NOT one of the impacts resulting from the flooding?

  • Environmental.

7 . Question

8 . question.

What was done to the stagnant water before it could be pumped back into the rivers?

  • Reoxygenated.
  • Diverted to nearby rivers.
  • Used to irrigate crops.
  • Used as drinking water.

9 . Question

Which Government Agency worked with local councils to reduce future risks?

  • Environment Agency.
  • Agricultural Agency.
  • Flood Relief Agency.

10 . Question

Why in March 2014 were 8km of the River Tone dredged?

  • To increase water capacity of the channel.
  • To remove litter and tree debris.
  • To divert the river away from the floodplains.
  • To decrease the river flow.

11 . Question

Which of the following geographical features was a factor in the flooding of 2014?

  • Flat low lying surrounding land.
  • Mountains caused landslips.
  • Hills and valleys caused fast flowing water
  • Too many houses built on floodplains.

12 . Question

Which global event may be a factor in the floods of 2014?

  • Climate change.
  • Variations in the moon's orbit.
  • Less financial planning and expenditure.
  • High density housing.

13 . Question

What drives the weather systems that affect the UK?

  • Jet streams.
  • Flight streams.
  • Jet engines.
  • Ocean steams.

14 . Question

What is the result when the jet stream becomes stuck over the UK?

  • Long periods of the same type of weather.
  • Increase in Ocean temperature.
  • Increase in Earthquakes.
  • Short periods of intermittent weather.

15 . Question

What is the silt removed from the local rivers used for?

  • Build up height of river banks.
  • Brick making.
  • Topsoil for gardens.
  • To divert the river away from communities.

16 . Question

Is flooding on the Somerset Levels a recent phenomenon?

  • No, it has always occurred.
  • Yes, as a result of human activity.
  • Yes as a result of urbanisation.
  • No, it started last century.

17 . Question

What effect did high tides and storm surges have on the flooding in 2014.

  • Prevented flood water reaching the sea.
  • allowed more water to be used for irrigation.
  • Allowed for a short tourist window opportunity.
  • Meant there was a water shortage elsewhere in UK?

18 . Question

Approximately how many houses were flooded?

19 . Question

Approximately how long was the agricultural land under water?

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IMAGES

  1. CCEA GCSE UNIT 1- Causes of Flooding- Somerset Levels, 2014 Case Study

    somerset flooding 2014 case study

  2. UK Flooding Crisis: Aerial Photos of the Somerset Levels

    somerset flooding 2014 case study

  3. Somerset floods crisis: How the story unfolded

    somerset flooding 2014 case study

  4. Environment Secretary speaks to flood-affected residents

    somerset flooding 2014 case study

  5. The Gallery

    somerset flooding 2014 case study

  6. Former soldier Mark Corthine asses the flood damage

    somerset flooding 2014 case study

COMMENTS

  1. The Somerset Levels Flood Case Study

    The Somerset Levels Flood Case Study. The Somerset Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area in Somerset, England. Thousands of years ago, the area was covered by the sea, ... In January 2014, the Somerset Levels experienced floods greater than any other in living memory. Estimates suggest that 10% of the area was underwater when the flooding ...

  2. PDF Case Study Notes

    The Somerset Levels are an area of low-lying coastal plains and wetlands located in the south-west of the UK in the county of Somerset. Several rivers flow through the Somerset Levels and drain into the Bristol Channel, notably the River Tone and River Parrett. The low-lying nature of the area makes it prone to flooding, and settlements and ...

  3. GCSE Geography

    One of the worse incidents of flooding in recent years took place in the Somerset Levels in Jan and Feb 2014 - with many villages underwater for several weeks. Somerset is in south-west England. The Somerset Levels and the Somerset Moors form an extensive area of low-lying farmland and wetlands, which are bordered by the Bristol Channel and Quantock Hills to the west and the Mendip Hills to ...

  4. Geography KS3 / GCSE: The impacts of the 2014 floods on Somerset

    This clip could form part of a case study on the Somerset floods of 2014. It provides students with details and information about impacts to local people and about river management.

  5. Somerset Levels Floods 2014 (Extreme Weather Case Study)

    Case study of the Somerset Levels floods in 2014. This is the eighteenth video for the AQA GCSE 9-1 Geography course, and the eighteenth video of the Challen...

  6. 3.14 Case Study

    3.16 Case Study - Flooding in Somerset (2013-2014) For a period of three months from December 2013 to February 2014, the Somerset Levels hit the national (United Kingdom) headlines as the area suffered from extensive flooding. At the height of the winter floods, 65 km2 of land on the Levels were under water. ...

  7. Somerset Floods: '10 years on it is still traumatic'

    This is a police helicopter. Flood danger is imminent. Evacuate." Ten years ago, a helicopter circled above villages on the Somerset Levels and Moors and issued the order for residents to evacuate ...

  8. GCSE Geography: Somerset Levels Flooding 2014

    Explain how people contributed to flooding in your case study of a river in the British Isles [3]. The 2014 flooding in the Somerset Levels was caused by construction in the area surrounding the rivers. Housing estates built in nearby Taunton and Bridgwater meant there was an increase in impermeable, man-made tarmac.

  9. Winter flooding of 2013-14 on the Somerset Levels

    Source= NASA Satellite image of flooding on the Somerset Levels From December 2013 onwards the Somerset Levels suffered severe flooding as part of the wider 2013-2014 Atlantic winter storms in Europe and subsequent 2013-2014 United Kingdom winter floods.The Somerset Levels, or the Somerset Levels and Moors as they are less commonly but more correctly known, is a coastal plain and wetland ...

  10. Somerset Levels Flooding

    This revision video looks at the case study of the Somerset Levels Floods which is a popular case study for the UK extreme weather event. We explore the fact...

  11. Somerset floods: 'What happened next utterly broke our family'

    Steve Wilton with his son in law Ross survey the flood damage in February 2014. Photograph: David Levene for the Guardian. Standing in green rubber waders in a hastily emptied living room, thigh ...

  12. Somerset Levels flooding

    This revision video looks at the case study of the Somerset Levels Floods which is a popular case study for the UK extreme weather event. We explore the factors that led to such extensive flooding, the social, economic and environmental impacts of the flooding, along with the immediate and long-term responses used to help the people affected. It is part of the AQA GCSE Geography course - Paper ...

  13. UK Weather Hazards Case Study: Somerset 2014

    The long term responses to the Somerset Level floods in 2014 included: The announcement of a £20 million Flood Action Plan by the Environment Agency and Somerset County Council. 8 km of rivers were dredged. Flooding affected the Somerset Levels in 2014. The Somerset Levels is a low-lying area of south-west England.

  14. CASE STUDY: Somerset levels flood 2014 Flashcards

    - Somerset Levels and Moors Flood Action 20 year plan-Dredging, tidal barrage, extra permanent pumping sights (total cost £20 million) - £10 million provided by Conservatives, £10 million from Department for transport and Department for communities, £500,000 local government-Road levels raised, maintain communication and enable businesses ...

  15. 'It was a tough time'

    The 10th anniversary of the floods has raised question over whether a similar incident could happen again. The Environment Agency said Somerset is much better prepared for flooding than it was in ...

  16. The Somerset floods of 2013 and 2014

    This HIC flooding case study is a skills based worksheet where students read through an overview of the causes, effects and responses to the Somerset floods of 2013 and 2014. Students will then use the information to annotate the relevant images. 277.92 KB.

  17. CASE STUDY: Somerset levels flood 2014 Flashcards

    CASE STUDY: Somerset levels flood 2014. Flashcards. Learn. Test. Match. Flashcards. Learn. Test. Match. Created by. DiyaSarker Plus. Terms in this set (9) Description of location of Somerset Levels (3) - exceeds 170,000 acres - South West England - max altitude of 25ft only 8 m above sea level. When did it occur?

  18. Case study: somerset flooding 2014 Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Physical causes of flooding, Human causes of flooding, 2 social impacts of somerset flooding and more.

  19. Case Study

    Yes, as a result of human activity. What effect did high tides and storm surges have on the flooding in 2014. 1. Prevented flood water reaching the sea. 2. allowed more water to be used for irrigation. 3. Allowed for a short tourist window opportunity.

  20. Somerset levels floods 2014 case study Flashcards

    economic effects of the flood. - Somerset county council estimated the cost of the damage would be more then £10million- over 14000 ha of agricultural land under water for 3-4 weeks- over 1000 live stock evacuated - local roads cut off by floods - Bristol to taunton railway line closed at bidgewater. environmental effects of the flood.

  21. Somerset Levels Flooding 2014 Case Study Flashcards

    Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like January, Parrett, 650km2 and more. ... Subjects. Expert solutions. Log in. Sign up. Somerset Levels Flooding 2014 Case Study. Flashcards. Learn. Test. Match. January. Click the card to flip 👆. Occured in J----- 2014.