Floods and Their Impact on the Environment

Abstract

Resources like air and water are present in the Ecosystem for the benefit of biological life, but a slight disturbance in them results in catastrophic calamities; the flood is one of them. Floods are wrecking threats not only to the life of the individuals but also result in long-term destructions to the economy, environment, and the psychological state of the affected individuals. A slight disturbance in a geographical area's climatic conditions and natural cycles like heavy rainfall and extra precipitation result in floods. Other human activities like over urbanization, deforestation to make residential societies, poor drainage systems, poor number of dams and banks are also the reasons behind such drastic calamities. There are many types of floods, but urban floods are more destructive as they affect highly populated areas, and there are more chances of mortalities in such situations. Floods have broad impacts not only socially and economically but also on the environment. Floods affect the agricultural sector by causing over-saturation, infertility, and soil erosion, damaging the crop fields, especially the winter crops. Flood contaminates the groundwater and makes it impure and improper for drinking purposes. Floods contaminate groundwater with pathogenic microbes and result in water-borne diseases, which have detrimental effects on health. The freshwater's aquatic life is also affected by the disturbance of the natural hydrology of the water. According to some reports, Floods have some positive Impacts on aquatic life as it results in nutrient deposition and favorable habitat for most species. Floods also leave after-effects on the microinvertebrates like small insects, which are primary role players in the Ecosystem's food chain. So, the floods are a curse for some and a blessing for others.