Future flood susceptibility mapping under climate and land use change

Abstract Floods are a significant natural hazard, causing severe damage. Understanding how climate change and land use and land cover (LULC) changes influence flood patterns is crucial for developing sustainable management strategies. This research aims to develop flood susceptibility maps consideri...

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Main Authors: Hamidreza Khodaei, Farzin Nasiri Saleh, Afsaneh Nobakht Dalir, Erfan Zarei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97008-0
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author Hamidreza Khodaei
Farzin Nasiri Saleh
Afsaneh Nobakht Dalir
Erfan Zarei
author_facet Hamidreza Khodaei
Farzin Nasiri Saleh
Afsaneh Nobakht Dalir
Erfan Zarei
author_sort Hamidreza Khodaei
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Floods are a significant natural hazard, causing severe damage. Understanding how climate change and land use and land cover (LULC) changes influence flood patterns is crucial for developing sustainable management strategies. This research aims to develop flood susceptibility maps considering the impacts of climate change and land use changes, providing insights into risks from urbanization and climate shifts. Three machine learning models—XGBoost, Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM)—optimized with Particle Swarm Optimization, were applied to the flood-prone Kashkan watershed in Iran. Results showed that distance from the river, digital elevation model, precipitation, and LULC were the most influential factors. The RF model outperformed others in mapping flood-prone areas, with high-risk zones covering 20% (1908 km2) of the region, primarily in built-up areas. Land use projections for 2050, using the CA-MARKOV model, estimate built-up areas will expand to 859.3 km2. Future precipitation patterns were examined using 8 selected general circulation models under the SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios. Analysis under the SSP585 scenario indicates a 1.9 km2 rise in moderate flood areas, a 36.26 km2 increase in high-risk zones, and a 21.94 km2 decline in very low-risk areas, highlighting expansion of high and moderate flood risk areas.
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spelling doaj-art-1bc3d1724224405c8dab28b7b6313fad2025-08-20T03:10:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111810.1038/s41598-025-97008-0Future flood susceptibility mapping under climate and land use changeHamidreza Khodaei0Farzin Nasiri Saleh1Afsaneh Nobakht Dalir2Erfan Zarei3Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tarbiat Modares UniversityDepartment of Water Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tarbiat Modares UniversityDepartment of Water Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tarbiat Modares UniversityDepartment of Water Engineering, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tarbiat Modares UniversityAbstract Floods are a significant natural hazard, causing severe damage. Understanding how climate change and land use and land cover (LULC) changes influence flood patterns is crucial for developing sustainable management strategies. This research aims to develop flood susceptibility maps considering the impacts of climate change and land use changes, providing insights into risks from urbanization and climate shifts. Three machine learning models—XGBoost, Random Forest (RF), and Support Vector Machine (SVM)—optimized with Particle Swarm Optimization, were applied to the flood-prone Kashkan watershed in Iran. Results showed that distance from the river, digital elevation model, precipitation, and LULC were the most influential factors. The RF model outperformed others in mapping flood-prone areas, with high-risk zones covering 20% (1908 km2) of the region, primarily in built-up areas. Land use projections for 2050, using the CA-MARKOV model, estimate built-up areas will expand to 859.3 km2. Future precipitation patterns were examined using 8 selected general circulation models under the SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios. Analysis under the SSP585 scenario indicates a 1.9 km2 rise in moderate flood areas, a 36.26 km2 increase in high-risk zones, and a 21.94 km2 decline in very low-risk areas, highlighting expansion of high and moderate flood risk areas.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97008-0Flood susceptibility mappingMachine learningClimate changeLand use change
spellingShingle Hamidreza Khodaei
Farzin Nasiri Saleh
Afsaneh Nobakht Dalir
Erfan Zarei
Future flood susceptibility mapping under climate and land use change
Scientific Reports
Flood susceptibility mapping
Machine learning
Climate change
Land use change
title Future flood susceptibility mapping under climate and land use change
title_full Future flood susceptibility mapping under climate and land use change
title_fullStr Future flood susceptibility mapping under climate and land use change
title_full_unstemmed Future flood susceptibility mapping under climate and land use change
title_short Future flood susceptibility mapping under climate and land use change
title_sort future flood susceptibility mapping under climate and land use change
topic Flood susceptibility mapping
Machine learning
Climate change
Land use change
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-97008-0
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AT farzinnasirisaleh futurefloodsusceptibilitymappingunderclimateandlandusechange
AT afsanehnobakhtdalir futurefloodsusceptibilitymappingunderclimateandlandusechange
AT erfanzarei futurefloodsusceptibilitymappingunderclimateandlandusechange