Unprecedented levels of monsoon rainfall led to the catastrophic floods in Pakistan’s Indus River basin in July 2010 - the nations worst flood since 1929. An area the size of England was affected.
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| An informative collection of maps and hydrographs. Class task - interpret the storm hydrographs. |
The Geography of Pakistan
- Pakistan is situated in the northwest of the South Asian subcontinent.
- The country can be divided into three main geographical areas; the Indus river plain; the two provinces of Punjab and Sindh, and the Balochistan Plateau.
- Home to the famous K2 (Mount Godwin), the second highest peak in the world.
- The climate is generally arid though it is influenced by the south east Asian monsoon. Half of the annual rainfall occurs in July and August, averaging about 255 millimeters in each of those two months.
- Gained independence from the British India colony in 1947.
- Earthquake prone zone along the Himilayan convergence fault line.
- Provinces of Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh, and the Azad Jammu and Kashmir were all affected by the floods.
Causes
A monsoon depression (low pressure system) formed over the Bay of Bengal, crossed India and reached Pakistan by the 27th July 2010. The rainfall intensified over the subsequent two days as another low-pressure system from the west converged with the monsoon depression, enhancing rainfall. Over 203 mm (8 inches) of rain fell in only three days in the northwest of Pakistan creating a flash flood.
Other potential anthropogenic causes such as enhanced climate change, dams and deforestation must be taken into consideration. Sarhad Awami Forestry Ittehad (SAFI), an organisation state that illegal deforestation took place 2007-2009 under Taliban control. According to reports the Tarbela dam became blocked by illegally felled timber, reducing its storage capacity and heightening the severity of the floods.
Environmental Impacts
- 23 % of crops were destroyed.
- Enormous mudslides took place on steep slopes in mountainous areas.
- Reviving mangroves - replenishment of water and nutrients to natural mangroves that were previously diminishing since the construction of the Tarbela dam on the Indus. 170,000 hectares of mangroves had been lost in the Indus delta of the last 50 years, partially due to poor management of water flow along the Indus, starving the delta of sediments and allowing saline seawater to infiltrate the delta.
- 20% of tree plantations created in the 2009 – 2010 afforestation project were ruined - leaving hill slopes susceptible to erosion, reducing interception of rainfall and increasing the intensity of future floods.
- Loss of breeding grounds - the floods washed away vital wetland breeding grounds for wading birds and fish.
- Habitat loss - an estimated 80% of reptile and small mammal habitats were affected within the Swat and Panjorka river catchments.
- Pollution - a 62000 litres of petroleum and 44300 litres diesel from pumps.
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| Mass subsidence in the highlands |
Human Impacts
- 1781 fatalities.
- 2966 people injured.
- 20 million people affected in over 11000 villages.
- £1.5 billion agriculture loss.
- 1.9 million houses damaged.
- Entire villages were submerged resulting in more than a million people displaced from their homes.
- Spread of disease epidemics.
- Infrastructure was demolished. Temporary structures such as rope bridges were constructed in the aftermath.
- Crops were ruined, some livestock drowned and food reserves were spoiled, creating food shortages that manifested to hunger and malnutrition. Food aid was donated from the UN.
- Livelihoods dependent upon timber extraction, agriculture, fisheries and infrastructure collapsed.
An adaptable case study
This case study can be applicable to other major topics within the curriculum such as flooding, climate change and natural hazards.
Recommended Resources
The following film report by the Guardian can be used to provide a balanced overview of the positive and negative impacts of the floods:
The findings of as investigation carried out by the Pakistan Wetlands Trust was documented in August 2010. This is a recommended resource for teachers wanting to do background reading in order to compile a case study for A Level Geographers.
very good facts, include economical impacts
ReplyDeletePerhaps include some responses to floods?
ReplyDeleteI agree, a case study must always include responses. However, detailed facts and categorized impacts of the flood made this case study very accurate and well-written.
ReplyDelete