Thames Barrier
Discussion
Not sure if this is the right place but seeing all the flooding on TV got me thinking. Random question time...
If the Thames Barrier is deployed to prevent flooding from a tidal surge, what happens if it's massively wet upstream and the Thames and its tributaries are already in flood upstream of the capital? Is it just that there is enough volume behind the barrier that the flood water from inland couldn't cause any issues? Or does there come a point when they'd have to open it to let water out, or do they have some pumping arrangement so they can keep it closed but get rid of river water to sea side of the barrier?
If the Thames Barrier is deployed to prevent flooding from a tidal surge, what happens if it's massively wet upstream and the Thames and its tributaries are already in flood upstream of the capital? Is it just that there is enough volume behind the barrier that the flood water from inland couldn't cause any issues? Or does there come a point when they'd have to open it to let water out, or do they have some pumping arrangement so they can keep it closed but get rid of river water to sea side of the barrier?
iirc, the Barrier is a "tidal barrier" i.e it is to protect against the effects of a high tides caused by wind direction and atmospheric pressure funneling water into the thames estuary. As such, it is only designed to be shut for a number of hrs, where the upstream volume is sufficient, in theory, to damp a critical rise in river level.
Max_Torque said:
iirc, the Barrier is a "tidal barrier" i.e it is to protect against the effects of a high tides caused by wind direction and atmospheric pressure funneling water into the thames estuary. As such, it is only designed to be shut for a number of hrs, where the upstream volume is sufficient, in theory, to damp a critical rise in river level.
what he said 
Max_Torque said:
iirc, the Barrier is a "tidal barrier" i.e it is to protect against the effects of a high tides caused by wind direction and atmospheric pressure funneling water into the thames estuary. As such, it is only designed to be shut for a number of hrs, where the upstream volume is sufficient, in theory, to damp a critical rise in river level.
what he said Simpo Two said:
I took the question to mean 'What do they do when there's a storm/tidal surge trying to get in and floodwater trying to get out?' What if it's in flood on both sides at once? A flood I suppose!
It's closed at low tide to give enough volume behind the barrier for any water coming downstream.jagracer said:
Simpo Two said:
I took the question to mean 'What do they do when there's a storm/tidal surge trying to get in and floodwater trying to get out?' What if it's in flood on both sides at once? A flood I suppose!
It's closed at low tide to give enough volume behind the barrier for any water coming downstream.chrisga said:
Simpo two, yes that is what I had meant but closing it at low tide for maximum upstream volume to accept floodwater from inland is the obvious answer I guess. Feel a bit stupid now for asking but hey what's new....
I only knew that because I saw it on London Tonight a few weeks ago. I seem to remember a few years ago it was closed possibly at high tide and it resulted in a lot of flooding from Putney going further inlandGassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff