The nature of the 2008 flood

Intense frontal rainfall
1. Frontal rain occur when: 2 air masses reach. lighter, less dense, warm air forced to rise over denser, cold air. causes the warm air to cool and condenses. As the warm air is forced to rise further condensation occurs and rain is formed.
2. Stationary front over Northumberland
3. 80mm of rain fell in 24 hours
Nature of surface water & lateral flooding
1. Mitford Road
  1. Inadequate draining
    1. Road surface floods
  2. Houses flooded from water from street
  3. Houses away from river - deeper flood
    1. water blocked by houses - Backing up
2. Central Morpeth
  1. Oldgate bridge - Telford bridge
  2. Flooding on south side confined to river - steep ground
  3. Streets flooded from surface water - blocked drains
  4. Defensive walls overtopped
3. High Stanners
  1. Upper part of town
  2. Abbey terrace flooded
    1. Due to low level of road & inadequate drainage
    2. Reported flooding from below floor boards
4. Wansbeck and Font showed that 56% of rain fall is converted into surface runoff
Hydrograph
1. Very intense rainfall
  1. Short period of time
2. decreased infiltration - increased lag time - increased peak discharge
  1. Inadequate drainage
  2. Saturated soil
  3. urbanisation
  4. Clay soil
3. Flashy response from river
  1. Several peaks

Resource summary

	Created by Felicity Picton about 10 years ago