Extreme multi-basin flooding linked with extra-tropical cyclones

Luca, Paolo De; Hillier, John K.; Wilby, Robert L.; Quinn, Nevil W.; Harrigan, Shaun. 2017 Extreme multi-basin flooding linked with extra-tropical cyclones. Environmental Research Letters, 12 (11), 114009. 12, pp. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa868e

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa868e

Abstract/Summary

Fluvial floods are typically investigated as ‘events’ at the single basin-scale, hence flood management authorities may underestimate the threat of flooding across multiple basins driven by large-scale and nearly concurrent atmospheric event(s). We pilot a national-scale statistical analysis of the spatio-temporal characteristics of extreme multi-basin flooding (MBF) episodes, using peak river flow data for 260 basins in Great Britain (1975−2014), a sentinel region for storms impacting northwest and central Europe. During the most widespread MBF episode, 108 basins ( 46% of the study area) recorded annual maximum (AMAX) discharge within a 16 day window. Such episodes are associated with persistent cyclonic and westerly atmospheric circulations, atmospheric rivers, and precipitation falling onto previously saturated ground, leading to hydrological response times <40 h and documented flood impacts. Furthermore, peak flows tend to occur after 0−13 days of very severe gales causing combined and spatially-distributed, yet differentially time-lagged, wind and flood damages. These findings have implications for emergency responders, insurers and contingency planners worldwide.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa868e
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	1748-9326
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	floods, multi-basin, flooding, extra-tropical cyclones, Great Britain, emergency management, interactions, natural hazards
NORA Subject Terms:	Hydrology
Date made live:	07 Nov 2017 16:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/518307

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aa868e

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

1748-9326

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

floods, multi-basin, flooding, extra-tropical cyclones, Great Britain, emergency management, interactions, natural hazards