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Flood hazard potential reveals global floodplain settlement patterns

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Devitt

    (University of Bristol)

  • Jeffrey Neal

    (University of Bristol
    University of Bristol
    Fathom)

  • Gemma Coxon

    (University of Bristol
    University of Bristol)

  • James Savage

    (Fathom)

  • Thorsten Wagener

    (University of Bristol
    University of Bristol
    University of Potsdam)

Abstract

Flooding is one of the most common natural hazards, causing disastrous impacts worldwide. Stress-testing the global human-Earth system to understand the sensitivity of floodplains and population exposure to a range of plausible conditions is one strategy to identify where future changes to flooding or exposure might be most critical. This study presents a global analysis of the sensitivity of inundated areas and population exposure to varying flood event magnitudes globally for 1.2 million river reaches. Here we show that topography and drainage areas correlate with flood sensitivities as well as with societal behaviour. We find clear settlement patterns in which floodplains most sensitive to frequent, low magnitude events, reveal evenly distributed exposure across hazard zones, suggesting that people have adapted to this risk. In contrast, floodplains most sensitive to extreme magnitude events have a tendency for populations to be most densely settled in these rarely flooded zones, being in significant danger from potentially increasing hazard magnitudes given climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Devitt & Jeffrey Neal & Gemma Coxon & James Savage & Thorsten Wagener, 2023. "Flood hazard potential reveals global floodplain settlement patterns," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38297-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38297-9
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