How may knowledge of the hydrological cycle and its components assist in devising flood prevention measures?

... How may knowledge of the hydrological cycle and its components assist in devising flood prevention measures? The hydrological cycle is responsible for the circulation of water around the Earth, between the different systems in the planet. The knowledge of the entire cycle and its components, including precipitation, the different flows and stores involved in the cycle, one is able to gain insights into the movement of water and thus devise means to prevent floods. The key aspect of the hydrological cycle is that of the water input on land, which is precipitation. Understanding the seasonal variations in the inputs would allow us to gain insights into the seasonality of flooding and possibly even the frequency of flooding in a given area. As such, water at dams can be released at appropriate times so that the lakes can subsequently be used to hold back floodwaters when the high intense precipitation sets

want to read more? →