Mountain Flood Risk: A Bibliometric Exploration Across Three Decades

Climate change, intensified human activities, and ecological shifts have markedly increased mountain flood risks, threatening communities in vulnerable highland regions. This study used CiteSpace (6.2R6) and VOSviewer (1.6.20) to analyze 1841 Web of Science Core Collection articles (1995–2024), mapping publication and citation trends, leading countries and institutions, co-citation networks, and keyword dynamics. We found an exponential increase in output (CAGR 15.8%), peaking at 211 articles in 2024. China (23.7%, 436 articles), the United States (17.8%, 328), Italy (8.6%, 159), India (5.5%, 101), and Japan (4.2%, 77) are leading research countries in the field, which is underpinned by extensive international collaboration. The research spans diverse domains with robust interdisciplinary integration. Keyword timeline and burst analyses reveal emerging topics—machine learning-enhanced risk assessment, climate-driven flood dynamics in the Himalayas and Alps, hydrological process modeling, and socio-economic impact evaluation—pointing toward advanced, region-tailored solutions.