Author(s): Marco Borga; Eric Gaume; Daniele Norbiato
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Flash flood; Flood risk; Hyd rological processes •
Abstract: The management of flash flood hazards and risks is a critical component of public safety and quality of life. Flash- floods develop at space and time scales that conventional observation systems are not able to monitor for rainfall and river discharge. Consequently, the atmospheric and hydrological generating mechanisms of flash- floods are poorly understood, lead ing to highly uncertain forecasts of the se events. An innovative flash flood observatio n methodology, coupling analysis of radar rainfall estimates and post- flood surveys, allows to derive unique observations concerning rainfall- runoff dynamics during flash flood events. Observations related to two case studies - the 2003 Fella basin flood (North-eastern Italy) and the 2002 Gard region flood (French Mediterranean area) - are examined in this paper. Results are presented concerning the impact of space- time precipitation variability, antecedent soil moisture conditions and soil/bed rock types o n flood response.
Year: 2007