Systematic numerical analysis of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in anthropogenically modified mountain channels for flood analysis and mitigation
Abstract The damage potential in river systems due to flood flows has increased as a result of the increased infrastructure and population growth along river corridors, frequently accompanied by an incomplete understanding of flood safety and the impact of climate change. In particular, so‐called ca...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Flood Risk Management |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.13056 |
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| author | C. Hauer L. Schmalfuss U. Pulg |
| author_facet | C. Hauer L. Schmalfuss U. Pulg |
| author_sort | C. Hauer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The damage potential in river systems due to flood flows has increased as a result of the increased infrastructure and population growth along river corridors, frequently accompanied by an incomplete understanding of flood safety and the impact of climate change. In particular, so‐called catastrophic flood events in alpine areas are generally accompanied by massive channel beds and floodplain erosion with a higher damage potential than inundation only. It has been recently shown that critical flow conditions might be an important driver of uncontrolled erosion and channel avulsion in terms of extraordinary flood events. A systematic analysis, however, of the parameters driving critical flow conditions is lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic numerical evaluation of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in steep mountain channels as a baseline study for future improved flood impact assessment and mitigation measure design. The systematic analysis of standardized river bathymetries revealed that channel slope, roughness and river widening impose decreasing influences on alpine rivers to produce critical flow conditions. However, there is a risk that due to human interventions, altering the natural slope–roughness relationship to increase the discharge capacity for flood safety might promote critical conditions. These findings should be considered in future hydraulic engineering practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c2a033496b114ddb982441bcc4a6e101 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1753-318X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Flood Risk Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-c2a033496b114ddb982441bcc4a6e1012025-08-20T02:54:01ZengWileyJournal of Flood Risk Management1753-318X2025-03-01181n/an/a10.1111/jfr3.13056Systematic numerical analysis of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in anthropogenically modified mountain channels for flood analysis and mitigationC. Hauer0L. Schmalfuss1U. Pulg2CD‐Laboratory for Sediment Research and Management, Institute of Water Management, Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna Wien AustriaCD‐Laboratory for Sediment Research and Management, Institute of Water Management, Hydrology and Hydraulic Engineering, Department of Water, Atmosphere and Environment University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna Wien AustriaNORCE LFI, Norwegian Research Centre Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Bergen NorwayAbstract The damage potential in river systems due to flood flows has increased as a result of the increased infrastructure and population growth along river corridors, frequently accompanied by an incomplete understanding of flood safety and the impact of climate change. In particular, so‐called catastrophic flood events in alpine areas are generally accompanied by massive channel beds and floodplain erosion with a higher damage potential than inundation only. It has been recently shown that critical flow conditions might be an important driver of uncontrolled erosion and channel avulsion in terms of extraordinary flood events. A systematic analysis, however, of the parameters driving critical flow conditions is lacking. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct a systematic numerical evaluation of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in steep mountain channels as a baseline study for future improved flood impact assessment and mitigation measure design. The systematic analysis of standardized river bathymetries revealed that channel slope, roughness and river widening impose decreasing influences on alpine rivers to produce critical flow conditions. However, there is a risk that due to human interventions, altering the natural slope–roughness relationship to increase the discharge capacity for flood safety might promote critical conditions. These findings should be considered in future hydraulic engineering practice.https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.13056climate changefloodsriver erosionsediment transport |
| spellingShingle | C. Hauer L. Schmalfuss U. Pulg Systematic numerical analysis of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in anthropogenically modified mountain channels for flood analysis and mitigation Journal of Flood Risk Management climate change floods river erosion sediment transport |
| title | Systematic numerical analysis of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in anthropogenically modified mountain channels for flood analysis and mitigation |
| title_full | Systematic numerical analysis of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in anthropogenically modified mountain channels for flood analysis and mitigation |
| title_fullStr | Systematic numerical analysis of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in anthropogenically modified mountain channels for flood analysis and mitigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systematic numerical analysis of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in anthropogenically modified mountain channels for flood analysis and mitigation |
| title_short | Systematic numerical analysis of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in anthropogenically modified mountain channels for flood analysis and mitigation |
| title_sort | systematic numerical analysis of the hydraulic parameters responsible for critical flows in anthropogenically modified mountain channels for flood analysis and mitigation |
| topic | climate change floods river erosion sediment transport |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.13056 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chauer systematicnumericalanalysisofthehydraulicparametersresponsibleforcriticalflowsinanthropogenicallymodifiedmountainchannelsforfloodanalysisandmitigation AT lschmalfuss systematicnumericalanalysisofthehydraulicparametersresponsibleforcriticalflowsinanthropogenicallymodifiedmountainchannelsforfloodanalysisandmitigation AT upulg systematicnumericalanalysisofthehydraulicparametersresponsibleforcriticalflowsinanthropogenicallymodifiedmountainchannelsforfloodanalysisandmitigation |