What are the main factors of flood inundation in rivers
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Main Factors of Flood Inundation in Rivers
Flood inundation in rivers is a complex phenomenon influenced by a variety of atmospheric, land surface, and socio-economic factors. Understanding these factors is crucial for effective flood risk management and mitigation strategies.
Atmospheric and Climatic Factors
Precipitation and Extreme Weather Events: One of the primary drivers of river floods is heavy precipitation, often resulting from unusual but recurring atmospheric circulation patterns. These patterns can lead to extreme weather events, such as torrential rain downpours, which significantly increase the risk of flooding1 3. Climate change exacerbates this risk by altering the frequency and intensity of these weather events, leading to more severe and frequent floods7.
Tidal Effects: In low-lying and deltaic regions, tidal effects can significantly influence flood inundation. The interaction between river runoff and tidal forces can amplify flood risks, especially under future scenarios of sea-level rise and climate change5.
Land Surface and Geomorphic Factors
Channel Morphology and Bank Erosion: The physical characteristics of river channels, such as width, gradient, and valley confinement, play a crucial role in flood dynamics. Channel widening due to lateral bank erosion can increase the volume of water that a river can carry, thereby influencing flood extent and severity. This process is often driven by hydraulic forces and precipitation2.
Land Use Changes: Changes in land use, such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion, can significantly impact flood hazards. Urban growth and the conversion of natural landscapes into impermeable surfaces increase runoff and reduce the land's ability to absorb water, leading to higher flood risks4. In tropical regions, land use changes can disturb natural floodplain environments, further exacerbating flood impacts7.
Socio-Economic Factors
Population Growth and Urbanization: Rapid population growth and urbanization, particularly in floodplains, increase the vulnerability of communities to flooding. Uncontrolled urban expansion into flood-prone areas can lead to significant economic losses and displacement of people4. Effective urban planning and land use regulations are essential to mitigate these risks.
Flood Defences and Risk Reduction Measures: The presence and effectiveness of flood defences, such as levees and dams, are critical in managing flood risks. However, failures of these defences can lead to disastrous floods with high levels of damage. Improved risk awareness and structural flood defences have contributed to a decrease in flood-related fatalities and affected populations since the mid-1990s1.
Integrated Flood Management Approaches
Comprehensive Flood Modeling: Accurate flood prediction requires integrated modeling approaches that consider both river inundation and inland flooding simultaneously. Advanced simulation techniques that incorporate various hydrological and geomorphic variables can provide more reliable flood hazard assessments3 6.
Space Technology and GIS: The use of space technology and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for mapping flood inundation areas is crucial for identifying vulnerable zones and planning mitigation strategies. These tools help visualize flood risks and inform decision-making processes for effective river basin management8 9.
Conclusion
Flood inundation in rivers is influenced by a combination of atmospheric, land surface, and socio-economic factors. Understanding these factors and their interactions is essential for developing effective flood risk management strategies. Integrated approaches that combine advanced modeling, land use planning, and the use of space technology can significantly enhance our ability to predict and mitigate flood impacts.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Causes, impacts and patterns of disastrous river floods
Disastrous river floods are often caused by unexpected processes, and while fatalities and people affected have decreased since the mid-1990s, future flooding hotspots are expected in Asia and Africa due to climate and socio-economic changes.
Literature Review
Highly CitedImpacts of a large flood along a mountain river basin: the importance of channel widening and estimating the large wood budget in the upper Emme River (Switzerland)
Large floods in Switzerland are driven by precipitation and geomorphic variables, with channel widening and large wood recruitment being mainly driven by precipitation and channel morphology.
Numerical Comparisons of Flow Properties Between Indivisual and Comprehensive Consideration of River Inundation and Inland Flooding
Comprehensive simulation considering both river inundation and inland flooding provides accurate predictions for urban flooding, considering counterbalancing and superposition effects.
Impact of Urban Growth and Changes in Land Use on River Flood Hazard in Villahermosa, Tabasco (Mexico)
Changes in land use in hydrological catchments are the main factor causing the increase in river flood hazard in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico, and future city planning should minimize flood impact.
Assessment of the tidal effect on flood inundation in a low‐lying river basin under composite future scenarios
Future climate change, land-use change, and sea-level rise could increase flood risk in low-lying river basins, requiring tidal effect-based flood hazard maps for better understanding and risk reduction.
A Case Study on Simulation of Urban Inundation by Inland Flooding and River Flooding
XP-SWMM effectively simulates urban inundation caused by inland and river flooding, with virtual control structures effectively reflecting river flooding effects.
Impact of climate change on flood inundation in a tropical river basin in Indonesia
Climate change will increase flood inundation in the Batanghari River Basin, Indonesia, by 3.3 times by 2050, requiring river basin management measures to consider increased flood depth and area.
Mapping flood inundation areas using GIS and HEC-RAS model at Fetam River, Upper Abbay Basin, Ethiopia
Flood inundation areas along the Fetam River are higher in upstream and middle parts, affecting built-up areas and agricultural fields, highlighting the need for flood risk management measures.
River inundation impact reduction based on space technology application
Flood and as an impact of inundation is the natural event. It mainly occurs when the river catchment, (that is the area of land that feeds water into the river and the streams that flow into the main river) receives greater than usual amounts of water (for example through rainfall or melting snow). The river can not cope and this extra water causes the level of the water in the river to rise and a flood to take place. This flooding may take place at any point along the river course and not necessarily at the place where the extra water has entered.
The effect of river regulation on floodplain wetland inundation, Murrumbidgee River, Australia
River regulation in the Murrumbidgee River, Australia, has reduced floodplain wetland inundation by 40%, with headwater dams capturing small and medium floods, but summer irrigation flows may increase inundation for low connecting wetlands.
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