Climate change and flood frequency in the UK: An appraisal of the 20% allowance in the light of the UKCIP02 scenarios

Reynard, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5185-3869; Brown, S; Crooks, Susan; Kay, Alison ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5526-1756. 2003 Climate change and flood frequency in the UK: An appraisal of the 20% allowance in the light of the UKCIP02 scenarios. In: 38th Defra Flood and Coastal Management Conference 2003, Keele University, 16-18 July 2003. Defra, London, UK.

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Text DEFRA_conf_2003_-_paper_-_new.doc Restricted to NERC registered users only Download (617kB) | Request a copy

Abstract/Summary

Global warming is predicted to cause significant changes to the world’s climate, but uncertainties remain about the precise nature of these changes. This is particularly true with regard to possible changes at a regional or local level and to changes in the climate extremes that produce catchment flooding. Such changes might include more frequent short-duration, high-intensity rainfall or more frequent periods of long-duration, sustained rainfall of the type responsible for the Autumn 2000 floods. To address the uncertainty surrounding this issue, DEFRA guidance on flood defence scheme appraisal currently suggests sensitivity allowances for climate change, for example a 20% increase in peak flows over the next 50 years. The need to further develop this policy and guidance on climate change impacts is being informed by improved modelling capabilities and climate change scenarios. For example, statistical rainfall models and fine resolution regional climate model data are now available to drive the hydrological models used to investigate the potential impacts of climate change on flood flows. CEH-Wallingford has been commissioned by DEFRA and the Environment Agency to use these data sets and models to assess the impacts and this paper describes the final project results for a range of catchments across the UK.

Item Type:	Publication - Conference Item (Paper)
Programmes:	CEH Programmes pre-2009 publications > Water > WA01 Water extremes > WA01.3 Quantification of uncertainties, trends and risk of extremes
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	_ Hydrological Risks & Resources
NORA Subject Terms:	Meteorology and Climatology Hydrology
Related URLs:	Other
Date made live:	23 Sep 2008 13:52 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/2970

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...