scholarly journals Impact of compound flood event on coastal critical infrastructures considering current and future climate

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 587-605
Author(s):  
Mariam Khanam ◽  
Giulia Sofia ◽  
Marika Koukoula ◽  
Rehenuma Lazin ◽  
Efthymios I. Nikolopoulos ◽  
...  

Abstract. The changing climate and anthropogenic activities raise the likelihood of damage due to compound flood hazards, triggered by the combined occurrence of extreme precipitation and storm surge during high tides and exacerbated by sea-level rise (SLR). Risk estimates associated with these extreme event scenarios are expected to be significantly higher than estimates derived from a standard evaluation of individual hazards. In this study, we present case studies of compound flood hazards affecting critical infrastructure (CI) in coastal Connecticut (USA). We based the analysis on actual and synthetic (considering future climate conditions for atmospheric forcing, sea-level rise, and forecasted hurricane tracks) hurricane events, represented by heavy precipitation and surge combined with tides and SLR conditions. We used the Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS), a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, to simulate the combined coastal and riverine flooding of selected CI sites. We forced a distributed hydrological model (CREST-SVAS) with weather analysis data from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for the synthetic events and from the National Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) for the actual events, to derive the upstream boundary condition (flood wave) of HEC-RAS. We extracted coastal tide and surge time series for each event from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to use as the downstream boundary condition of HEC-RAS. The significant outcome of this study represents the evaluation of changes in flood risk for the CI sites for the various compound scenarios (under current and future climate conditions). This approach offers an estimate of the potential impact of compound hazards relative to the 100-year flood maps produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is vital to developing mitigation strategies. In a broader sense, this study provides a framework for assessing the risk factors of our modern infrastructure located in vulnerable coastal areas throughout the world.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariam Khanam ◽  
Giulia Sofia ◽  
Marika Koukoula ◽  
Rehenuma Lazin ◽  
Efthymios Nikolopoulos ◽  
...  

Abstract. The changing climate and adverse anthropogenic activities raise the likelihood of damages due to compound flood hazards, triggered by the combined occurrence of extreme precipitation and storm surge during high tides, and exacerbated by sea-level rise (SLR). Risk estimates associated with these extreme event scenarios are expected to be significantly higher than estimates derived from a standard evaluation of individual hazards. In this study, we present case studies of compound flood hazards affecting critical infrastructure (CI) in coastal Connecticut (USA) based on actual and synthetic (that is, under future climate conditions) hurricane events, represented by heavy precipitation and surge combined with high tides and SLR conditions. We used the Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS), a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model to simulate the combined coastal and riverine flooding on selected CI sites. We forced a distributed hydrological model (CREST-SVAS) with weather analysis data from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model for the synthetic events and from the National Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) for the actual events, to derive the upstream boundary condition (flood wave) of HEC-RAS. We extracted coastal tide and surge time series for each event from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to use as the downstream boundary condition of HEC-RAS. The significant outcome of this study represents the evaluation of changes in flood risk for the CI sites for the various compound scenarios (under current and future climate conditions). This approach offers an estimate of the potential impact of compound hazards relative to the 100-year flood maps produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is vital to developing mitigation strategies. In a broader sense, this study provides a framework for assessing risk factors of our modern infrastructure located in vulnerable coastal areas throughout the world.


2021 ◽  
Vol 880 (1) ◽  
pp. 012016
Author(s):  
Tze Huey Tam ◽  
Muhammad Zulkarnain Abd Rahman ◽  
Sobri Harun ◽  
Sophal Try ◽  
Ismaila Usman Kaoje ◽  
...  

Abstract Climate change has had a significant impact on the hydrological cycle, causing changes in precipitation patterns in both frequency and magnitude. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of climate change on flood hazards in Kelantan River Basin, Malaysia. A distributed hydrological model called Rainfall-Runoff-Inundation (RRI) simulates floods under current and future climate scenarios. The Climate Change Factor (CCF) is a tool for forecasting future climate scenarios. The storm used in this analysis had 50-year and 100-year recurrence intervals every 24 hours (ARI). The finding shows that the streamflow in Guillemard station will increase in the future for both the 50- and 100-year ARI. The streamflow increased to 10329 m3/s from 8434.9 m3/s in the current state and to 11220.2 m3/s from 9157.4 m3/s in the 50- and 100-year ARI, respectively. In both cases, the 100-year ARI flood magnitude is significantly less than the 50-year ARI flood extent (current and future). However, the flood depth in several towns located downstream of the Kelantan River Basin is more significant for the 100-year ARI than for the 50-year ARI for both cases. The study’s findings would be helpful to relevant agencies and government departments understand the current and potential flood hazard situation in the study area and assist them in developing effective mitigation strategies for future flood hazards.


2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (33) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Froehle

Consequences resulting from future Climate Change may be one of the most severe threats for people and economies in many countries of the world. Besides the problem of sea level rise, also possible general changes in the frequency and intensity of storms as well as general changes in the average wind field are expected for the future. With respect to the coastal protection possible future strategies and also possible future measure are analyzed and assessed with the result that technical, morphological, socio-economic and aesthetical aspects play a role.


2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (37) ◽  
pp. 9785-9790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamed R. Moftakhari ◽  
Gianfausto Salvadori ◽  
Amir AghaKouchak ◽  
Brett F. Sanders ◽  
Richard A. Matthew

Sea level rise (SLR), a well-documented and urgent aspect of anthropogenic global warming, threatens population and assets located in low-lying coastal regions all around the world. Common flood hazard assessment practices typically account for one driver at a time (e.g., either fluvial flooding only or ocean flooding only), whereas coastal cities vulnerable to SLR are at risk for flooding from multiple drivers (e.g., extreme coastal high tide, storm surge, and river flow). Here, we propose a bivariate flood hazard assessment approach that accounts for compound flooding from river flow and coastal water level, and we show that a univariate approach may not appropriately characterize the flood hazard if there are compounding effects. Using copulas and bivariate dependence analysis, we also quantify the increases in failure probabilities for 2030 and 2050 caused by SLR under representative concentration pathways 4.5 and 8.5. Additionally, the increase in failure probability is shown to be strongly affected by compounding effects. The proposed failure probability method offers an innovative tool for assessing compounding flood hazards in a warming climate.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Jordaan ◽  
Afreen Siddiqi ◽  
William Kakenmaster ◽  
Alice C. Hill

Nuclear power—a source of low-carbon electricity—is exposed to increasing risks from climate change. Intensifying storms, droughts, extreme precipitation, wildfires, higher temperatures, and sea-level rise threaten supply disruptions and facility damage. Approximately 64 percent of installed capacity commenced operation between thirty and forty-eight years ago, before climate change was considered in plant design or construction. Globally, 516 million people reside within a fifty mile (80 km) radius of at least one operating nuclear power plant, and 20 million reside within a ten mile (16 km) radius, and could face health and safety risks resulting from an extreme event induced by climate change. Roughly 41 percent of nuclear power plants operate near seacoasts, making them vulnerable to increasing storm intensity and sea-level rise. Inland plants face exposure to other climate risks, such as increasingly severe wildfires and warmer water temperatures. No entity has responsibility for conducting risk assessments that adequately evaluate the climate vulnerabilities of nuclear power and the subsequent threats to international energy security, the environment, and human health. A comprehensive risk assessment by international agencies and the development of national and international standards is necessary to mitigate risks for new and existing plants.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul B. Goddard ◽  
Jianjun Yin ◽  
Stephen M. Griffies ◽  
Shaoqing Zhang

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Zarah Sahib

<p>Urban inclination has unfavourably allowed for urban development throughout New Zealand to be found either along once naturally ecologically established and natural defensive coastal shorelines, waterfronts or along reclaimed shores to be developed on top of. Through reclamation, it has shown fundamentals of how we want to live closer to the water’s edge, however in this process the lack of social and ecological space is diminishing and being catalyst residential and high end luxury private space (Dianne Menzez). Urban inclination should propose that urban waterfronts become multifunctional and facilitate towards a great public space. However with a deep attachment for the water’s edge, we orientate living ourselves towards the water which also shows an interesting argument between the city and coast relationship that also comes with increasing climate change conditions.   Climate change has been under extensive focus for frequent years, conditions of notably large New Zealand urban sites remain under threat of infringing sea level rise and storm events which are in need for proper systematic infrastructure for this adaption purpose. With significant numbers of infrastructural systems situated in close proximity to waterfront environments, the rising numbers of communities orientated towards this face vulnerability to such global issues. In events of future sea level rise, increasing flooding will definitely impact the prone waterfronts Wellington City is one of New Zealand’s most vulnerable sites to sea level rise due to its proximity to coastal edges. Its low lying surface and unsustainable infrastructure and design promotes flooding through deficient water networks.   This thesis identifies the Wellington’s post-industrial site; Centerport with proposals for intended residential development. There is however a great level of susceptibility the site does not meet needs for protection from arising climate conditions, and its current poor social relation to the wider waterfront, which this thesis intends to investigate and resolve.   Centerport remains vulnerable to being a crucial domain for connectivity to the harbor edge and coastal hazard impact compared to other waterfronts. Through the means of researching adaptive water technological systems, this thesis hopes it will provide and conceptualise an impact within private and public communities through addressing coastal resilience, waterfront resilience and provide permeable adaptive waterfront design for the arising climate conditions.</p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1393
Author(s):  
Cuiping Kuang ◽  
Xin Cong ◽  
Zhichao Dong ◽  
Qingping Zou ◽  
Huaming Zhan ◽  
...  

The long-term geomorphological evolution of a coastal lagoon is driven by hydrodynamic forcing and is influenced by climate changes and human activities. In this study, a numerical model of the Qilihai lagoon (QL) system was established based on field measurements, previous hydrology data and satellite remote sensing measurements, to simulate the geomorphological evolution of QL from 1900 to 2018. The influences of sea level rise, runoff and human activities on the evolution of geomorphology were investigated. The results of the model show that the construction projects including the tide gate, the bridge, reclamation and the straightening or widening of the tidal channel increased the net deposition within the QL system. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of tidal asymmetry during the natural time period was similar to that of the change in bed thickness. However, bed erosion or deposition was not only dependent on tidal asymmetry but it was also affected by the external sediment supply and the discharge of upstream rivers. Moreover, sea level rise had a significant effect on the tidal asymmetry; therefore, it enhanced the accumulation of sediments in the QL system, while runoff had little effect on the tidal asymmetry or geomorphological changes in the system.


Author(s):  
Nishi Srivastava

Climate change caused due to our careless activities towards our nature, ecosystem, and whole earth system. We are paying and will be paying in future for our irresponsible activities in past and present. Increased concentration of Green House Gases (GHG) has caused severe global warming which will cause melting of glacier and results in sea level rise. To avoid and reduce the intensity and severity of global warming and climate change, its mitigation is essential. In this chapter we have focused on various issues related with climate change and mitigation strategies.


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