Question

Select the human-caused flooding events from the list of flood causes below. (Choose all that apply.)

A) Heavy rainfall
B) Rapid snowmelt
C) Dam failure
D) Urban development

Answer 1

The human-caused flooding events are (1) dam failure, due to the collapse of man-made structures, and (2) urban development, which increases surface runoff and decreases natural water absorption.

Step-by-step explanation:

The human-caused flooding events from the list of flood causes provided are:

• Dam failure: This is an anthropogenic event as it involves the collapse or breach of a dam, which is a man-made structure.
• Urban development: The expansion of urban areas can lead to increased surface runoff and reduced natural absorption of water, both of which can exacerbate flooding.

Both dam failure and urban development are the results of human activities and can therefore be classified as anthropogenic causes of flooding. On the other hand, heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt are typically natural events, although their severity may be influenced by climate change, which has an anthropogenic component.