Search Results (50)

Climate-driven intensification of pluvial and fluvial flooding increasingly challenges lowland cities in Central Europe, while conventional protection and land-use controls offer limited flexibility under growing hydrological variability. A planning-oriented framework is developed and tested to integrate hydro-adaptive housing into climate-resilient urban development using three typologies: elevated foundations, amphibious dwellings and modular floating platforms. The framework links hazard profiles and site-enabling conditions to typology selection and considers supporting blue–green measures within the broader adaptation context. It is applied to three flood-prone settings in northern Poland representing a coastal delta, a river confluence and a lower-river terrace. The methodology combines GIS-based hazard mapping; one-dimensional unsteady-flow HEC-RAS simulations for 50-, 100- and 500-year design events; and parametric structural modelling in Rhino–Grasshopper. Performance is assessed using maximum inundation depth, surface-water retention time, and a probabilistic building damage index. Amphibious dwellings reduce modelled 100-year flood damage by 62% relative to slab-on-grade construction, while modular floating platforms maintain habitability under water-level rises exceeding 5.0 m. In addition, bioretention and blue–green corridors reduce retention time by 18–31%. The results provide a planning-oriented decision logic for expanding adaptive housing options in flood-prone lowland settings under increasing hydrological variability. Full article

Geomorphological change is a fundamental consequence of high-magnitude flood events, as extreme hydraulic forcing can rapidly reshape river channels, redistribute sediment, and alter floodplain connectivity. This study applies multi-temporal UAS-based Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry to quantify flood-induced geomorphological changes along two representative reaches of the Lilas River (Evia Island, Central Greece) affected by the extreme August 2020 flash flood. High-resolution aerial surveys were conducted prior to the event (June 2018) and shortly after the flood (September 2020), producing Digital Surface Models (DSMs) and orthomosaics with a ground sampling distance of ~2.5 cm. Differential DSM analysis reveals pronounced spatial heterogeneity in erosion and deposition, with net erosional lowering locally exceeding 7 m and depositional aggradation reaching up to ~5 m after accounting for vegetation effects. Channel widening was the dominant response, with cross-sectional widths increasing by a factor of three to nine at selected locations, driven primarily by lateral bank erosion. The results highlight the strong interaction between extreme hydrological forcing, loose alluvial sediments, vegetation removal, and human interventions such as roads and engineered terraces. The study demonstrates how repeatable UAS–SfM workflows can provide quantitative evidence to support post-flood assessment, guide infrastructure adaptation, and inform river restoration and flood risk management in Mediterranean catchments prone to extreme events. Full article

The archaeological terraces of Petra (southern Jordan) have long been recognized for their role in agriculture and flood mitigation. Despite the dominance of fine-grained sediments behind many terrace walls, these systems exhibit high infiltration capacity and remarkable resistance to erosion. This study investigates the hydrological behavior of terrace-trapped sediments through detailed soil texture, aggregate stability, salinity, and chemical analyses across eight representative sites in and around Petra. Grain-size distributions derived from dry and wet sieving, supplemented by laser diffraction, reveal that dry sieving substantially overestimates sand content due to aggregation of fine particles into unstable peds. Wet analyses demonstrate that many terrace soils are clay- or sandy-clay-dominated yet remain highly permeable. Chemical indicators (nitrate, phosphate, potassium, pH, and salinity) further suggest that terracing enhances downward water movement and salt leaching irrespective of clay content. The nature of the terrace settings and their sediment structure (especially the coarse-grained framework) exerts a stronger control on hydrological functioning than texture alone. The results have direct implications for understanding ancient land management in Petra and for informing sustainable terracing practices in modern arid and semi-arid landscapes, as they are effective both in harvesting water and reducing sediment mobilization. Full article

Rapid urbanization and climate change have intensified flood risk and ecological degradation along urban riverfronts. Recent literature suggests that combining green and grey infrastructure can enhance resilience while delivering ecological and social co-benefits. This study analyzes and compares five riverfront projects in China and Spain, assessing how their tactic mixes operationalize three urban flood-resilience strategies—Resist, Delay, and Store/reuse—and how these mixes translate into ecological, social, and urban impacts. A six-phase framework was applied: (1) literature review; (2) case selection; (3) categorization of resilience strategies; (4) systematization and typification of tactics into green vs. grey infrastructure; (5) percentage analysis and qualitative matrices; and (6) comparative synthesis supported by an alluvial diagram. Across cases, Delay emerges as the structural backbone—via wetlands, terraces, vegetated buffers, and floodable spaces—while Resist is used selectively where exposure and erodibility require it. Store/reuse appears in targeted settings where operational capacity and water-quality standards enable circular use. The comparison highlights hybrid, safe-to-fail configurations that integrate public space, ecological restoration, and hydraulic performance. Effective urban riverfront resilience does not replace grey infrastructure but hybridizes it with nature-based solutions. Planning should prioritize Delay with green systems, add Resist where necessary, and enable Store/reuse when governance, operation and maintenance, and water quality permit, using iterative monitoring to adapt the green–grey mix over time. Full article

Mountainous traditional villages represent unique socio-ecological systems that have evolved through centuries of adaptation to complex topographies and multi-hazard environments. Understanding their terrain–resilience coupling mechanisms is essential for risk-sensitive planning and heritage preservation in mountainous regions. This study integrates multi-source remote sensing data and GIS spatial analysis to investigate 57 national-level traditional villages in the southern Qinba Mountains, China. Using kernel density estimation (KDE), nearest neighbor index (NNI), and Geodetector modeling, we identify the spatial distribution characteristics and topographic driving forces that shape settlement patterns across macro-meso-micro scales. Results reveal that 83% of the villages are clustered in low-mountain and hilly zones (550–1200 m elevation), preferring slopes below 15° and south-facing aspects. Elevation exerts the strongest influence (q = 0.46), followed by slope (q = 0.32) and aspect (q = 0.29), forming a multi-level adaptation framework of “macro-elevation differentiation, meso-slope constraint, and micro-aspect optimization.” Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) further indicates that traditional villages achieve ecological balance and disaster avoidance through adaptive spatial strategies such as terrace-based flood prevention, convex-bank stabilization, and platform-based hazard avoidance. These strategies are not merely topographic preferences but natural adaptation mechanisms formed by long-term responses to multi-hazard environments—dynamic adaptation processes that reduce disaster exposure and optimize resource use efficiency through active adjustment of site selection and spatial transformation (the disaster density in the 100m core zone buffer is 0.077 events/km², significantly lower than 0.290 events/km² in peripheral areas). These findings demonstrate that remote sensing techniques can effectively reveal the terrain–resilience coupling of traditional villages, providing quantitative evidence for integrating spatial resilience into cultural landscape conservation, ecological security assessment, and rural revitalization planning. The proposed multi-scale analytical framework offers a transferable approach for evaluating settlement adaptability and resilience in other mountainous cultural heritage regions worldwide. Full article

Flooding frequency in the lower Yellow River (YR) exhibited an abrupt increase post-934 CE, causing catastrophic societal disruptions. However, the quantitative relationship between this abrupt increase and the intensification of human activity in the midstream Loess Plateau (LP)’s Primary Sediment Source Area (PSSA) remains uncertain. This study systematically evaluates the threshold effects of human activities on YR flooding through multi-proxy historical records, GIS-based spatial analysis, and nonparametric statistical tests. The results show that from 934 to 1102 CE, the population density in the PSSA surged from 1.3 to 19.8 persons/km² (a 14.2-fold increase, p = 0.005). A 2400-year-scale comparison using 934 CE as the breakpoint revealed that the mean population density in this region increased from 5.2 to 51 persons/km² (a 9.8-fold increase). This dramatic population surge drove a 1.4-fold increase in the cultivation rate (from 8.6% to 20.5%), leading to a 5.4-fold rise in sediment yield (1.6 × 10⁸ → 1.02 × 10⁹ t/yr, p = 0.035), a 10-fold acceleration in downstream sedimentation rate (0.3 → 3.3 cm/yr, p = 0.001), and ultimately a 5.5-fold escalation in flooding frequency (from 1.6 to 10.4 events per 20 years, p < 0.0001). The study identifies 19.8 persons/km² as the ecological pressure threshold. It proposes converting population density to ecological pressure equivalents adjusted for soil–water conservation coverage (e.g., terracing/afforestation). When the equivalent ecological pressure exceeds 19.8 persons/km², pre-defined sediment control measures (e.g., tillage restrictions/afforestation mandates) should be enforced in the PSSA. Full article

As global food demand rises, urban agriculture models, such as vertical and terrace farming, have gained traction, especially amid crises like the Ukraine war and COVID-19 pandemic. Climate change remains the most significant threat to global food security. According to the latest FAO analysis, which encompasses assessments from 1990 to 2023, approximately 40% of economic losses resulting from climate-related hazards, including droughts and floods, have impacted the agriculture sector. This has reduced yields, increased production costs, and worsened food insecurity, affecting millions. Urban gardens offer a solution, enhancing food resilience. A systematic PRISMA-based review analyzed studies from Scopus and reports from organizations like the FAO. Over 3329 documents were reviewed. Publications on food resilience grew by 50% in four years, with the US leading with 700 projects. Agricultural and biological sciences dominate research (45%). Urban gardens focus on educating communities about food security and improving food systems. Mobile gardens with portable labs maximize urban spaces, turning rooftops and terraces into productive areas. These initiatives empower communities to grow food, promote nutrition education, and foster social connections. Urban gardens, though not fully sustainable, as they can consume up to 35% more energy per kg of food than optimized traditional farms and generate a 20–40% higher carbon footprint if using imported substrates or plastics, are key for resilient food systems, yielding up to 20 kg/m²/year, reducing transport emissions by 68% (vs. 2400 km supply chains), and using 90% less water than conventional agriculture. Full article

This paper examines the long-term morphological evolution of the Bevano River sand spit (Ravenna, Italy) after an artificial intervention carried out in 2006 that artificially relocated the river mouth to improve the hydraulic efficiency, preventing flooding and reconstructing a local dune system. Using multitemporal Lidar data (2004–2019), combined with orthophotos and a storm dataset, this study analysed shoreline changes and morphological variations, highlighting the role of overwash processes in sediment transfer from the dunes to back-barrier areas. Based on the analysis, a set of washover fans was identified that began to form after a storm event in 2008 and accreted until 2015. These fans, which later coalesced into terraces and were colonised by vegetation, became stable after 2015. Despite an initial low resilience, due to insufficient nourishment and slow vegetation development, the barrier system eventually stabilised, with dunes growing higher and forming a continuous dune crest. The study illustrates the role of surge levels, waves, and low initial elevation in triggering and shaping overwash processes. Full article

Climate change and geological shifts were pivotal in the survival and development of ancient human societies, especially in densely populated regions like the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. This study explored the dynamic interactions between ancient human cultures and the region’s natural environment, using field research alongside geological, geomorphological, and archaeological data spanning from the late Paleolithic to the Neolithic periods. Our findings showed that prehistoric sites in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin were primarily located in the low hilly areas surrounding the lower basin during the Paleolithic era, a pattern shaped by the region’s geomorphology. Early human settlements were strategically positioned near the Lishui River, offering access to vital resources while minimizing flood risk. These locations provided flat terrain, abundant vegetation, and materials for tool-making, factors that supported a hunting and gathering lifestyle. As the coldest phase of the last glacial period approached, the transition from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic eras marked a period of significant behavioral adaptation. In response to the harsher environment, humans began settling on lower terraces and miniaturizing their stone tools, signaling a shift to more specialized hunting techniques. This adaptability and resilience marked the refinement of hunting economies during this period. With the onset of the Holocene epoch and a warmer climate, conditions for human habitation became more favorable. Societies began migrating from the hills to the fertile lower Lishui River Basin, heralding the Neolithic period. This era saw the emergence of settlements and the onset of early rice cultivation, marking the transition from a hunting–gathering economy to one centered on agriculture. By the Daxi period, these settlements had expanded, extending their influence throughout the region. In conclusion, this study underscores the critical roles of climate change and geological features in shaping human settlement patterns, economic activities, and cultural evolution in the middle and lower Lishui River Basin. Our findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary processes of ancient human cultures in the region and provide a foundation to understand future challenges in sustainable development. Full article

Research on the runoff and sediment reduction effects of soil and water conservation measures has always been a topic of interest, which is of great significance for carrying out sustainable strategies for soil and water conservation in the Yellow River Basin. This study aims to find the threshold years of soil and water conservation measures for reductions in runoff and sediment. Through the analysis of various soil and water conservation measures, runoff, sediment, and rainfall data in the Sanchuan River Basin from 1960 to 2019, we determined the threshold years of soil and water conservation measures on runoff and sediment processes using the Hydrology and Lagrange Multiplier method. The results are as follows: The trend in flood season rainfall and annual rainfall in the Sanchuan River Basin is consistent. The 1990s was a turning period in the annual rainfall and flood season rainfall of the Sanchuan River Basin. The 2000s was a turning period of the runoff in the Sanchuan River Basin, while the sediment entered a stable period after 2000. The best periods for reducing runoff and sediment were the initial treatment period (1967–1979) and the centralized treatment period (1980–1996). The runoff and sediment reduction effects of each soil and water conservation measure during the initial treatment period (1967–1979) were terrace (32.8%) > dam (30.1%) > grass (18.6%) > forest (18.5%), while their effects during the centralized treatment period (1980–1996) were grass (53.7%) > terrace (20.7%) > dam (14.6%) > forest (11.0%). The runoff and sediment reduction effects of various soil and water conservation measures during different treatment periods indicate that the runoff reduction effect reached its peak in 2003–2005, while the sediment reduction benefit reached its peak in 2013–2015. Based on the comprehensive benefits of runoff and sediment regulation, 2013–2015 are considered to be the threshold years for various soil and water conservation measures, with the measures covering respective average areas of 4.85 × 10⁴, 17.80 × 10⁴, 1.15 × 10⁴, and 0.82 × 10⁴ hm². These research results will have a certain significance for the reasonable allocation of soil and water conservation measures and sustainable development in the Yellow River Basin. Full article

The purpose of this study was to investigate temperature and rainfall variations and their effects on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Konso cultural landscape, Ethiopia, using dense merged satellite–gauge-station rainfall data (1981–2020) with a spatial resolution of 4 km-by-4 km and observed maximum and min temperature data (1987–2020), together with qualitative data gathered from cultural leaders, local administrators and religious leaders. The Climate Data tool (CDT) software version 8 was used for rainfall- and temperature-data analysis. The results showed that the north and northeastern regions of Konso had significant increases in rainfall. However, it was highly variable and erratic, resulting in extreme droughts and floods. The study confirmed that there were significant (p < 0.05) increasing trends in the number of days with heavy rainfall, very-heavy rainfall days, and annual total wet-day rainfall (R10 mm, 20 mm, and PRCPTOT). The highest daily minimum temperature, lowest and highest daily maximum-temperature number of warm days and nights, and number of cold days and nights all showed significant rising trends. The increasing trends in rainfall and temperature extremes have resulted in flooding and warming of the study area, respectively. These have led to the destruction of terraces, soil erosion, loss of life and damage of properties, loss of grasses, food insecurity, migration, loss of biodiversity, and commodification of stones. The continuous decline in farmland productivity is affecting the livelihood and traditional ceremonies of the Konso people, which are helpful for the transfer of traditional resource-management knowledge to the next generation. It is therefore necessary to implement local-scale climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in order to safeguard the Konso cultural landscapes as a worldwide cultural asset and to bolster the resilience of smallholder farmers. Full article

Coastal backwater effects on low-gradient coastal plain rivers extend well upstream of the head of the estuary and propagate upstream as sea-level rises. Hydrological, geomorphological, and ecological indicators can serve as sentinels of the upriver encroachment. Analyzing the along-river spatial distribution of these indicators as a space-for-time substitution allows the prediction of sequential changes. Interpretation of results from 20 rivers in Virginia and the Carolinas shows that backwater effects at the leading edge result in higher river stages, increasing floodplain inundation, and raising water tables. Lower slopes and flow velocities reduce sediment transport, reducing river sediment input and floodplain deposition. This inhibits natural levee development, reducing bank heights. These factors combine to increase the frequency and duration of inundation, resulting in semi-permanently flooded wetlands. Anaerobic conditions limit organic decomposition, and ponding allows transported and suspended organic matter to settle, leading to organic muck and peat floodplain soils. This accumulation, coupled with general valley-filling, buries alluvial terrace remnants. Finally, vegetation changes driven by salinity increases occur, resulting in swamp conversions to brackish marsh. Backwater encroachment is strongly controlled by channel bed slope, with relatively steeper channels experiencing slower rates of tidal extension. With accelerating sea-level rise (SLR), the lowest-sloping channels could experience encroachment rates of >1 km yr⁻¹. Hydrological changes associated with SLR are most rapid at the leading, upriver end—averaging 71 km upstream of the head of the estuary in the study rivers at present—and at the lowermost, downstream end of the fluvial-estuarine transition zone. Full article

At the end of the Pleniglacial and the first half of the Late Glacial period, approximately between 18 and 14 ka BP, rivers of the central and southern parts of the East European Plain had channels up to 10 times as large as the present day channels of the same rivers. These ancient channels, called large meandering palaeochannels, are widespread in river floodplains and low terraces. The hydrological regime of these large rivers is of great interest in terms of the palaeoclimatology of the late Marine Isotope Stage 2 (MIS 2). In this study, we aimed at quantitative estimation of maximum flood discharges of rivers in the Dnepr, Don and Volga basins in the late MIS 2. To approach this, we used massive measurements of the morphometric characteristics of large palaeochannels on topographic maps and remote sensing data—palaeochannel width, meander wavelength and their relationships with river flow parameters. The runoff depth of the maximum flood, which corresponds to the maximum depth of daily snow thaw during the snowmelt period, was obtained for unit basins with an area of <1000 km². The mean value for the southern megaslope of the East European Plain was 44.2 mm/day (6 times the modern value), with 46 mm/day for the Volga River (5.5 times), 45 mm/day (6.3 times) for the Don River and 39 mm/day (8 times the modern value) for the Dnepr River basins. In general, the Dnepr basin was drier than the Don and Volga basins, which corresponds well to the modern distribution of humidity. At the same time, the westernmost part of the Dnepr River basin was relatively wet in the past, and the decrease in humidity from the past to the modern situation was greater there than in the eastern and central regions. The obtained results contradict the prevailing ideas, based mainly on climatic modeling and palynological data, that the climate of Europe was cold and dry during MIS 2. The reason is that palaeoclimatic reconstructions were made predominantly for the LGM epoch (23–20 ka BP). On the East European Plain, the interval 18–14 ka BP is rather poorly studied. Our results of paleoclimatological and palaeohydrological reconstructions showed that the Late Pleniglacial and the first half of the Late Glacial period was characterized by a dramatic increase in precipitation and river discharge relative to the present day. Full article

From the start of river incision onward, the abandoned terrace surface is only reached by floods during peak discharges. Two main flood facies are distinguished: a relatively high-energetic, coarse-grained facies and a relatively low-energetic, fine-grained facies. In general, the flood deposits become gradually finer-grained and the finer-grained facies relatively more prominent when the river incises progressively deeper. This signifies a delayed and prolonged effect of channel incision and flood deposition compared with the climate changes that initiated the incision. However, these long-term trends may be interrupted by shorter-term events of flooding or non-deposition. Those short events are expressed by cycles of coarse-grained deposits from small/shallow flooding channels due to short peak discharges or fine-grained suspended sediment and incipient soils during periods of low flow. These short events may be attributed to short climatic episodes or intermittent intrinsic river evolution. Full article

The present paper aims to study the Wachau Valley in Austria as a representative Cultural Landscape under threat from extreme hydrometeorological hazards linked to climate change. The primary objective is to investigate the impacts and assess the vulnerability associated with the events of heavy rain and flooding. The methodology employed consists of an investigation of recorded past events impacting the Wachau; a vulnerability ranking system; a climate time series analysis based on earth observation products; and future hazard maps at territorial level, developed with outputs from regional and global climate models. The investigation we carried out provides a vulnerability assessment of two terraced areas with a surface of about 10,000 m² in total, characterized by the presence of dry stone walls, with different state of conservation in the Municipality of Krems (Wachau). In addition, climate projections at territorial level for the extreme climate indices R20mm, R95pTOT, and R×5day—selected for investigating the likelihood of increases/decreases in events of heavy rain and large basin flooding—are provided, with a spatial resolution of ~12 km for the near and far future (2021–2050; 2071–2100) under stabilizing (RCP 4.5) and pessimistic (RCP 8.5) scenarios. The results indicate a general increase for the three indices in the studied areas during the far future under the pessimistic scenario, suggesting a heightened risk of heavy rain and flooding. These findings aim to inform policymakers and decision-makers in their development of strategies for safeguarding cultural heritage. Furthermore, they serve to assist local stakeholders in enhancing their understanding of prioritizing interventions related to preparedness, emergency response, and recovery. Full article