scholarly journals Flash flood occurrence and relation to the rainfall hazard in a highly urbanized area

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1859-1871 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Papagiannaki ◽  
K. Lagouvardos ◽  
V. Kotroni ◽  
A. Bezes
Keyword(s):  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Service Operations ◽  
Fire Service ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Accumulated Rainfall ◽  
Flood Impact

Abstract. The paper examines the flash flood events that occurred over a decade in the Attica prefecture, the most urbanized region of Greece, with the aim of identifying triggering rainfall thresholds, as well as assessing the effect of rainfall upon the magnitude of the induced damages. The analysis incorporates rainfall records from a network of 28 surface meteorological stations and information on the spatial distribution of the flash flood events that is derived from the active database of damaging weather events maintained by the atmospheric modelling group of the National Observatory of Athens. The main findings concern firstly the relation between the flash flood impact, as measured by the fire service operations in flooded properties, and precipitation in various time intervals. In the period 2005–2014, 48 damaging flash flood events occurred in the target area and caused more than 3500 fire service operations in flooded properties. Most of the events are associated with maximum accumulated rainfall of more than 20 mm in 24 h and 3 mm in 10 min. However, the flash flood impact intensity, as measured by the number of the fire service operations per event, increases significantly above the levels of 60 mm in 24 h and 10 mm in 10 min. Secondly, graphs of rainfall intensity versus duration are developed for 15 sub-areas of Attica in order to define rainfall intensity thresholds for flood triggering at a more local level. It is shown that conclusions regarding the reliability of the estimated thresholds should take into account the representativity of the rain gauges, which is determined by the local network's density, the gauges' location and record length.

scholarly journals Flash flood occurrence and relation to the rainfall hazard in a highly urbanized area

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 3119-3149
Author(s):  
K. Papagiannaki ◽  
K. Lagouvardos ◽  
V. Kotroni ◽  
A. Bezes
Keyword(s):  
Flash Flood ◽  
Flood Hazard ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Fire Service ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Urbanized Region

Abstract. The paper examines the flash flood events that occurred during a decade in the Attica prefecture, the most urbanized region of Greece, with the aim of assessing the local vulnerability to the flash flood hazard and the effect of rainfall upon the magnitude of the induced damages. The analysis incorporates rainfall records from a network of 28 surface meteorological stations and information on the spatial distribution of the flash flood events that is derived from the active database of damaging weather events maintained by the atmospheric modelling group of the National Observatory of Athens. The main findings concern the relation between the flash flood impact, as measured by the Fire Service operations in flooded properties, and precipitation in various time intervals, as well as the possibility to define rainfall intensity thresholds for flood triggering at a more local level. It is shown that the quality of the produced thresholds depends on the distribution and density of the rain gauges that cover each specified geographical area of the Attica region.

Urban Area Response to Flash Flood–Triggering Rainfall, Featuring Human Behavioral Factors: The Case of 22 October 2015 in Attica, Greece

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 621-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina Papagiannaki ◽  
Vassiliki Kotroni ◽  
Kostas Lagouvardos ◽  
Isabelle Ruin ◽  
Antonis Bezes
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Time Correlation ◽  
Flash Floods ◽  
Space Time ◽  
Coping Responses ◽  
Accumulated Rainfall ◽  
Flood Impact ◽  
And Coping ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Over the past several decades, flash floods that occurred in Attica, Greece, caused serious property and infrastructure damages, disruptions in economic and social activities, and human fatalities. This paper investigated the link between rainfall and flash flood impact during the catastrophic event that affected Attica on 22 October 2015, while also addressing human risk perception and behavior as a response to flash floods. The methodology included the analysis of the space–time correlation of rainfall with the citizens’ calls to the emergency fire services for help, and the statistical analysis of people’s responses to an online behavioral survey. The results designated critical rainfall thresholds associated with flash flood impact in the four most affected subareas of the Attica region. The impact magnitude was found to be associated with the localized accumulated rainfall. Vulnerability factors, namely, population density, geographical, and environmental features, may have contributed to the differences in the impact magnitudes between the examined subareas. The analysis of the survey’s behavioral responses provided insights into peoples’ risk perception and coping responses relative to the space–time distribution of rainfall. The findings of this study were in agreement with the hypothesis that the more severe the rainfall, the higher peoples’ severity assessment and the intensity of emotional response. Deeper feelings of fear and worry were found to be related to more adjustments to the scheduled activities and travels. Additionally, being alert to the upcoming rainfall risk was found to be related to decreased worry and fear and to fewer changes in scheduled activities.

scholarly journals Development of Nomogram for Debris Flow Forecasting Based on Critical Accumulated Rainfall in South Korea

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2181
Author(s):  
Nam ◽  
Lee ◽  
Kim
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Debris Flow ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Debris Flows ◽  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Accumulated Rainfall ◽  
Landslides And Debris Flows ◽  
Heavy Rains

Climate change causes extreme weather events worldwide such as increasing temperatures and changing rainfall patterns. With South Korea facing growing damage from the increased frequency of localized heavy rains. In particular, its steep slope lands, including mountainous areas, are vulnerable to damage from landslides and debris flows. In addition, localized short-term heavy rains that occur in urban areas with extremely high intensity tend to lead a sharp increase in damage from soil-related disasters and cause huge losses of life and property. Currently, South Korea forecasts landslides and debris flows using the standards for forecasting landslides and heavy rains. However, as the forecasting is conducted separately for rainfall intensity and accumulated rainfall, this lacks a technique that reflects both amount and intensity of rainfall in an episode of localized heavy rainfall. In this study, aims to develop such a technique by collecting past cases of debris flow occurrences and rainfall events that accompanied debris flows to calculate the rainfall triggering index (RTI) reflecting accumulated rainfall and rainfall intensity. In addition, the RTI is converted into the critical accumulated rainfall (Rc) to use rainfall information and provide real-time forecasting. The study classifies the standards for flow debris forecasting into three levels: ALERT (10–50%), WARNING (50–70%), and EMERGENCY (70% or higher), to provide a nomogram for 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. As a result of applying this classification into the actual cases of Seoul, Chuncheon, and Cheongju, it is found that about 2–4 h of response time is secured from the point of the Emergency level to the occurrence of debris flows.

scholarly journals Predictability of prototype flash flood events in the Western Mediterranean under uncertainties of the precursor upper-level disturbance

2006 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 55-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Romero ◽  
A. Martín ◽  
V. Homar ◽  
S. Alonso ◽  
C. Ramis
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Systematic Exploration ◽  
High Impact Weather ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Level Disturbance

Abstract. The HYDROPTIMET case studies 9-10/06/2000 Catalogne, 8-9/09/2002 Cévennes and 24-26/11/2002 Piémont encompass prototype flash-flood situations in the western Mediterranean, attending to the relevant synoptic and mesoscale signatures identified on the meteorological charts. A prominent mid-tropospheric trough or cut-off low can be identified in all events prior and during the period of heavy rains, which clearly served as the precursor agent for the onset of the flash-flood conditions and the cyclogenesis at low levels. Being aware of the uncertainty in the representation of the upper-level disturbance and the necessity to cope with it within the operational context when attempting to issue short to mid-range numerical weather predictions of these high impact weather events, a systematic exploration of the predictability of the three selected case studies, subject to uncertainties in the representation of the upper-level precursor disturbance, is carried out in this paper by means of numerical simulations.

scholarly journals DRIHM(2US): An e-Science Environment for Hydrometeorological Research on High-Impact Weather Events

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (10) ◽  
pp. 2149-2166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Parodi ◽  
Dieter Kranzlmüller ◽  
Andrea Clematis ◽  
Emanuele Danovaro ◽  
Antonella Galizia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States Of America ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Step Change ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
High Impact Weather

Abstract From 1970 to 2012, about 9,000 high-impact weather events were reported globally, causing the loss of 1.94 million lives and damage of $2.4 trillion (U.S. dollars). The scientific community is called to action to improve the predictive ability of such events and communicate forecasts and associated risks both to affected populations and to those making decisions. At the heart of this challenge lies the ability to have easy access to hydrometeorological data and models and to facilitate the necessary collaboration between meteorologists, hydrologists, and computer science experts to achieve accelerated scientific advances. Two European Union (EU)-funded projects, Distributed Research Infrastructure for Hydro-Meteorology (DRIHM) and DRIHM to United States of America (DRIHM2US), sought to help address this challenge by developing a prototype e-science environment providing advanced end-to-end services (models, datasets, and postprocessing tools), with the aim of paving the way to a step change in how scientists can approach studying these events, with a special focus on flood events in complex topographic areas. This paper describes the motivation and philosophy behind this prototype e-science environment together with certain key components, focusing on hydrometeorological aspects that are then illustrated through actionable research for a critical flash flood event that occurred in October 2014 in Liguria, Italy.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Mediterranean flash flood event using rain gauges, radar, GIS and lightning data

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Barnolas ◽  
A. Atencia ◽  
M. C. Llasat ◽  
T. Rigo
Keyword(s):  
Flash Flood ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Convective Precipitation ◽  
Flood Event ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Rain Gauges ◽  
Radar Echoes ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Ephemeral Rivers ◽  
Accumulated Rainfall

Abstract. Flash flood events are very common in Catalonia, generating a high impact on society, including losses in life almost every year. They are produced by the overflowing of ephemeral rivers in narrow and steep basins close to the sea. This kind of floods is associated with convective events producing high rainfall intensities. The aim of the present study is to analyse the 12–14 September 2006 flash flood event within the framework of the characteristics of flood events in the Internal Basins of Catalonia (IBC). To achieve this purpose all flood events occurred between 1996 and 2005 have been analysed. Rainfall and radar data have been introduced into a GIS, and a classification of the events has been done. A distinction of episodes has been made considering the spatial coverage of accumulated rainfall in 24 h, and the degree of the convective precipitation registered. The study case can be considered as a highly convective one, with rainfalls covering all the IBC on the 13th of September. In that day 215.9 mm/24 h were recorded with maximum intensities above 130 mm/h. A complete meteorological study of this event is also presented. In addition, as this is an episode with a high lightning activity it has been chosen to be studied into the framework of the FLASH project. In this way, a comparison between this information and raingauge data has been developed. All with the goal in mind of finding a relation between lightning density, radar echoes and amounts of precipitation. Furthermore, these studies improve our knowledge about thunderstorms systems.

scholarly journals “Snow Scenes”: Exploring the Role of Memory and Place in Commemorating Extreme Winters

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Hall ◽  
Georgina Endfield
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Cultural Dimensions ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
National Narratives ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Weather Events

Abstract Scholars are increasingly focusing on the cultural dimensions of climate, addressing how individuals construct their understanding of climate through local weather. Research often focuses on the importance of widespread conceptualizations of mundane everyday weather, although attention has also been paid to extreme weather events and their potential effect on popular understandings of local climate. This paper introduces the “Snow Scenes” project, which aimed to engage rural communities in Cumbria, England, with their memories of extreme and severe past winter conditions in the region. Collating memories across a wide demographic, using a variety of methods, individual memories were analyzed alongside meteorological and historical records. By exploring these memories and their associated artifacts, this paper aims to better understand the role of memory and place in commemorating extreme winters. First, it is demonstrated how national narratives of exceptional winters are used by individuals as benchmarks against which to gauge conditions. Second, this paper identifies how specific locations and landmarks help to place memories and are shown to be important anchors for individuals’ understanding of their climate. Third, the paper considers how memories of severe winters are often nostalgic in their outlook, with a strong association between snowy winters, childhood, and childhood places. Fourth, it is illustrated how such events are regularly connected to important personal or familial milestones. Finally, the paper reflects on how these local-level experiences of historical extreme events may be central to the shaping of popular understandings of climate and also, by extension, climate change.

Effects of 2017 Early Flash Flooding on Agriculture in Haor Areas of Sunamganj

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 117-125
Author(s):  
S Mondal ◽  
L Akter ◽  
HJ Hiya ◽  
MA Farukh
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Fish Production ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
Flash Flooding ◽  
The North ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Boro Rice

The Sunamganj district is covered by major Haor systems in the north-eastern region of Bangladesh. Flash flood is the most commonly occurring water related disaster in the Haor areas. During the flash flood it is very common that people lost their primary agricultural productions which are the only source of their livelihood. The present study focuses on the effects of 2017 early flash flooding on rice and fish production of Sunamganj Haor areas. The flood caused enormous damage to agriculture such as rice especially Boro rice and fish production on which the Haor dwellers rely upon for their livelihood. The total affected land of Boro rice cultivation in Haors of Sunamganj was 149,224 hectare and the total amount of damaged rice was 393,855 metric ton (MT). The total number of affected farmers was 315,084. The early flash flood also affects the quality of Haor water which caused the death of fishes. The total amount of damaged fish was 49.75 MT and the loss was 158.70 lakh taka. The total number of affected fishermen was 44,445. This findings could be very useful for the environmental scientists to predict the probable future effects on agricultural production due to early flash flood events in Sunamganj Haors areas. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 12(1&2): 117-125, 2019

Representative flash flood events in Romania Case studies

2008 ◽  
pp. 1587-1596
Author(s):  
G Stancalie ◽  
B Antonescu ◽  
C Oprea ◽  
A Irimescu ◽  
S Catana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Flood Events
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