Global flood exposure from different sized rivers

<p>There is now a wealth of data to calculate global flood exposure. Available datasets differ in detail and representation of both global population distribution and global flood hazard. Previous studies of global flood risk have used datasets interchangeably without addressing the impacts us...

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Main Authors: M. V. Bernhofen, M. A. Trigg, P. A. Sleigh, C. C. Sampson, A. M. Smith
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2021-09-01
Series:Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
Online Access:https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/21/2829/2021/nhess-21-2829-2021.pdf
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author M. V. Bernhofen
M. A. Trigg
P. A. Sleigh
C. C. Sampson
A. M. Smith
author_facet M. V. Bernhofen
M. A. Trigg
P. A. Sleigh
C. C. Sampson
A. M. Smith
author_sort M. V. Bernhofen
collection DOAJ
description <p>There is now a wealth of data to calculate global flood exposure. Available datasets differ in detail and representation of both global population distribution and global flood hazard. Previous studies of global flood risk have used datasets interchangeably without addressing the impacts using different datasets could have on exposure estimates. By calculating flood exposure to different sized rivers using a model-independent geomorphological river flood susceptibility map (RFSM), we show that limits placed on the size of river represented in global flood models result in global flood exposure estimates that differ by more than a factor of 2. The choice of population dataset is found to be equally important and can have enormous impacts on national flood exposure estimates. Up-to-date, high-resolution population data are vital for accurately representing exposure to smaller rivers and will be key in improving the global flood risk picture. Our results inform the appropriate application of these datasets and where further development and research are needed.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-25654486419b4a3397c9852f78145b652022-12-21T18:30:48ZengCopernicus PublicationsNatural Hazards and Earth System Sciences1561-86331684-99812021-09-01212829284710.5194/nhess-21-2829-2021Global flood exposure from different sized riversM. V. Bernhofen0M. A. Trigg1P. A. Sleigh2C. C. Sampson3A. M. Smith4School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UKSchool of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UKSchool of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UKFathom, Square Works, 17–18 Berkeley Square, BS8 1HB, Bristol, UKFathom, Square Works, 17–18 Berkeley Square, BS8 1HB, Bristol, UK<p>There is now a wealth of data to calculate global flood exposure. Available datasets differ in detail and representation of both global population distribution and global flood hazard. Previous studies of global flood risk have used datasets interchangeably without addressing the impacts using different datasets could have on exposure estimates. By calculating flood exposure to different sized rivers using a model-independent geomorphological river flood susceptibility map (RFSM), we show that limits placed on the size of river represented in global flood models result in global flood exposure estimates that differ by more than a factor of 2. The choice of population dataset is found to be equally important and can have enormous impacts on national flood exposure estimates. Up-to-date, high-resolution population data are vital for accurately representing exposure to smaller rivers and will be key in improving the global flood risk picture. Our results inform the appropriate application of these datasets and where further development and research are needed.</p>https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/21/2829/2021/nhess-21-2829-2021.pdf
spellingShingle M. V. Bernhofen
M. A. Trigg
P. A. Sleigh
C. C. Sampson
A. M. Smith
Global flood exposure from different sized rivers
Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences
title Global flood exposure from different sized rivers
title_full Global flood exposure from different sized rivers
title_fullStr Global flood exposure from different sized rivers
title_full_unstemmed Global flood exposure from different sized rivers
title_short Global flood exposure from different sized rivers
title_sort global flood exposure from different sized rivers
url https://nhess.copernicus.org/articles/21/2829/2021/nhess-21-2829-2021.pdf
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