Prediction of Flood Risk + Recurrence Intervals

Question 1

How can flood risk be predicted?

Answer 1

• by using modern tech to:
  
  • find out the flood recurrence interval
  • create flood models to predict how diff. circumstances would affect flooding (e.g. slope, topography, pptn rates + soil moisture content)

Question 2

How is flood risk measured?

Answer 2

• using a recurrence interval

Question 3

What are flood recurrence intervals?

Answer 3

• probability of a flood of a given size in an area predicted based on past flooding records

Question 4

What is an example of the nature + scale of flooding varying?

Answer 4

• in UK only 2-4% of homes are at risk of flood, whereas in USA it’s over 10%

Question 5

What environments are the most vulnerable/at risk to flooding?

Answer 5

• low-lying parts of active floodplains + river estuaries
• small basins subject to flash floods
• areas below unsafe dams
• low-lying inland shorelines