On the Necessity of Improving the Research Infrastructure in the Western Black Sea for the Purposes of Flood Risk Management

Abstract

This paper aims to emphasize the necessity to improve the Bulgarian research infrastructure in the western part of the Black Sea region, which can enhance the capability for more effective flood hazard assessment and risk management in the coastal area. To fulfill the requirements of the Directive 2007/60/EC flood hazard and risk maps of the Areas with Potential Significant Flood Risk (APSFR) for coastal zone have to be prepared. Short overview of the approaches for compiling such maps has been presented as well as all parameters’ evaluations needed and their uncertainties based on the available information and models. Still existing obstacles to the provision of timely geospatial information from monitoring stations along the coastal area are discussed, and some suggestions for improving the research infrastructure in the western part of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast are listed.