Environmental Engineering Reference
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temperature leads to more snowmelt during the spring. The results of cross-
correlation for water depth and discharge also showed that there is a strong
backward negative correlation between maximum discharge and snow depth.
This means that as snow packs start to melt, the result of this melted snow will
affect the rate of runoff in the Ubaye River.
Hypotheses (e):
Flow propagation in the Ubaye river is affected by anthropogenic activities
and land use change.
• The quick rate of expanding urban areas and the decreasing amount of arable
lands affect the amount of discharge. This leads to more rainfall directly flowing
into the channel, instead of infiltrating into the soil.
• Land use changes such as increasing deforestation and urbanization, elimination
of floodplains area in Barcelonnette lead to reducing of infiltration capacity and
increasing of runoff coefficient.
• Urban area was expanded on the floodplain of Ubaye River. Consequently the
ability of the floodplain to attenuate a flood peak by promoting storage, infil-
tration, and alternative flow pathways was reduced.
• According to the results of flood hazard maps in this research, it seems that by
floodplain development, increasing accumulation of population and in flood-
prone areas, humans have been driven to occupy unsafe areas, thereby
increasing the loss potential. Therefore, as long-term planning for the future,
removing buildings from dangerous areas is recommended.
Finally, to finish the discussion, and as a consequence of this work, it could be
assumed that climate change, land use changes, anthropogenic activities, and
snowmelt are the most important factors in the fluctuation and changes in the
discharge and flow regime of the Ubaye River. Therefore, there is a need for
continuous monitoring of the channel and related hydraulic structures. In the next
chapter the perspectives for future research are discussed.
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