Abstract

In this paper, three different flash floods episodes were analyzed, which occurred in October 2006, February 2010, and June 2018 in the Chalkidiki peninsula (North Greece). The Soil Conservation Service (SCS) model and a revised assessment of the CN parameter were applied to estimate the flood hydrographs, and Hydrologic Engineering Center’s-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) software was used for the flood simulations. Initially, hydrological and hydraulic models were calibrated at Vatonias watershed (240.90 km2, North Greece), where three rain gauges and one water level station are located. Vatonias is located very close to the Stavros ungauged watersheds and presents similar geomorphology and land use conditions. The effectiveness and accuracy of the methodology were validated using post-flash-flood measurements. The root mean square error goodness of fit was used to compare the observed and simulated flood depths. Critical success index was calculated for the assessment of the accuracy of observed and modeled flooded areas. The results showed that the dense forest vegetation was not capable of preventing the flash flood generation or reducing the peak discharge, especially in small watersheds characterized by short concentration times. The main cause of flash flood generation was the human interference that influenced the hydraulic characteristics of streams and floodplains. The revised assessment of the CN parameter enhanced the estimation and spatial distribution of CN over the entire watershed. The results revealed that the proposed methodology could be a very useful tool to researchers and policy makers for flood risk assessment of higher accuracy and effectiveness in ungauged Mediterranean watersheds.

Highlights

  • Flash floods are natural phenomena that are an integral part of the hydrological cycle

  • The hydrological and hydraulic models were calibrated and validated in the Vatonias watershed, and the calibrated models were applied in three ungauged watersheds

  • The flood simulation was validated using post-flood measurements that were recorded after the flash flood of June 2018

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Summary

Introduction

Flash floods are natural phenomena that are an integral part of the hydrological cycle. Flash floods are considered to be by far the most dangerous, frequent, and widespread worldwide phenomenon, especially in ephemeral streams [1,2,3]. These phenomena often generate serious negative consequences for humans, such as infrastructure, property, and crop destruction, with significant financial cost for repairs, restoration, and rehabilitation; sometimes human lives are even lost [4,5,6,7]. In Greece, as in the rest area of Eastern Mediterranean area, the increased demand for agricultural land, the increasing value of land due to exploitation for touristic and real estate purposes, and the unregulated building of Hydrology 2020, 7, 12; doi:10.3390/hydrology7010012 www.mdpi.com/journal/hydrology

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