Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
10.1
Introduction
Flooding is, in many ways, a natural occurrence. However, there are areas of the
world more likely to be at risk of fl ooding than others (Fig.
10.1
). More recently,
with population growth, residential and commercial areas now have increased vul-
nerability to fl ooding (Zong and Tooley
2003
). Recent fl ood events in China, India,
Canada, the USA, India, Germany, Austria, Australia and the UK have shown fl ood-
ing is by no means restricted to one 'type' of country or another and often takes no
preference with which individuals it affects (NASA Earth Observatory
2013
).
Increasing global average temperature will result in more evaporation from almost
75 % sea surface and land surface water bodies and the atmosphere carrying more
water. The atmospheric rivers (ARs), also described as narrow bands (around
300 km wide and 1,000 s of km in length) of intense moisture fl ux in the lower tro-
posphere, are associated with episodes of heavy and prolonged rainfall. Lavers et al.
(2013) noted a well-established link between ARs and peak river fl ow for the pres-
ent day. The increased water vapour transport in projected ARs implies a greater
risk of higher rainfall and therefore larger winter fl oods in the UK, with increased
AR frequency leading to more fl ood episodes. The loss from UK fl ooding in summer/
winter 2012 is estimated to be about $ 1.6 billion in damages. The study suggests
increasing fl ood risk as a result of the projected change in ARs due to warming from
anthropogenic radiative forcing (Lavers et al.
2013
). In the light of changing climate
and extreme events, the EA has adopted fl ood forecasting and early warning approaches
as one of the key measures for disaster reduction and adaptation strategies to improve
livelihood security.
Fig. 10.1
Map of fl ood occurrence 1985-2011, used as a proxy for areas at fl ood risk (World Resources
Institute
2013
)
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