The Thames flood series: a lack of trend in flood magnitude and a decline in maximum levels

Marsh, Terry; Harvey, Catherine L.. 2012 The Thames flood series: a lack of trend in flood magnitude and a decline in maximum levels. Hydrology Research, 43 (3). 203-214. 10.2166/nh.2012.054

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Official URL: http://www.iwaponline.com/nh/043/nh0430203.htm

Abstract/Summary

The flow series for the River Thames near its tidal limit is one of the most studied in the world. Its length and completeness, and the richness of the historical information which augments the formal flow record, ensures that the series is of immense value. However, the variability in flood magnitude and frequency that it captures needs to be interpreted with caution. The homogeneity of the time series is influenced by a wide range of factors, including changes in the hydrometric capability of the gauging station and the impact of differing water, river and land management practices on the flow regime. Nevertheless, both the daily flow series and the record of lock levels provide some reassuring signals regarding the resilience of the Thames to fluvial flood risk in a warming world. Since routine flow measurement began in 1883, the Thames basin has seen a substantial rise in air temperature and a tendency for both winter rainfall and annual runoff to increase. There is no trend in fluvial flood magnitude however, partly reflecting a decline in snowmelt contributions to major floods and annual maximum lock levels show a significant decline, reflecting a highly sustained programme of river management.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.2166/nh.2012.054
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 1 - Variability and Change in Water Systems
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Boorman (to September 2014)
ISSN:	0029-1277
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	The attached document is the author’s final manuscript version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this and the publisher’s version remain. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from this article. The definitive peer-reviewed and edited version of this article is published in Hydrology Research, (2012) 43 (3). 203-214. 10.2166/nh.2012.054 and is available at www.iwapublishing.com.
Additional Keywords:	climate change, floods, hydrometeorological trends, river engineering
NORA Subject Terms:	Hydrology Meteorology and Climatology
Date made live:	31 Jul 2012 10:40 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18966

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.2166/nh.2012.054

Programmes:

CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water > WA Topic 1 - Variability and Change in Water Systems

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Boorman (to September 2014)

ISSN:

0029-1277

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

The attached document is the author’s final manuscript version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this and the publisher’s version remain. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from this article. The definitive peer-reviewed and edited version of this article is published in Hydrology Research, (2012) 43 (3). 203-214. 10.2166/nh.2012.054 and is available at www.iwapublishing.com.

Additional Keywords:

climate change, floods, hydrometeorological trends, river engineering

NORA Subject Terms:

Hydrology
Meteorology and Climatology

Date made live:

31 Jul 2012 10:40 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/18966