Abstract
Abstract. Flood processes and effects are examined, concerning two rivers in an urbanized area in North-Western Italy (Piedmont – Cuneo Plain). In May 2008, some areas in Northern Italy were struck by intense and persistent rainfall. In the Cuneo province (Southern Piedmont), floodplain with some urban areas was inundated over ca. ten square kilometres, and the city of Savigliano (about 21 000 inhabitants) was particularly hit by flood. A purposely-made historical research has evidenced approximately fifty flood events as having occurred since 1350 in the Savigliano area. Based upon historical data, both documents and maps, GIS (Geographical Information System) technique and field surveys were used to quantitatively assess the growing urbanization of the city and to describe flood processes and effects over years. This work aims to describe the dynamic behaviour of the 2008 flood, also comparing it to past events, in particular those that occurred in 1896. It is emphasized how the knowledge of past events can be helpful in reducing urban flooding.
Highlights
Floods and landslides are complex phenomena with different hazard impact
Any event is the result of a complex interaction between meteorological, environmental, and human factors (Audisio et al, 2009)
The largest number of events occurs in May (26 %; Fig. 6b). Such repartition of events can be explained by meteorological conditions
Summary
Hurricanes, cyclones, heavy and/or longlasting rains, and snowmelt are the major triggering factors, but they are insufficient to explain why and when these phenomena occur (Llasat et al, 2005). These natural phenomena exert worldwide a twice interaction with human activities: land use is vulnerable to natural events and related damages, but increasing soil occupancy (i.e. by civil and hydraulic infrastructures) can negatively influence the “natural”. In 2008, severe floods and landslides all over the world caused damage of over 12 billion Euros, according to a report by Munich Re Group (2008) Such events occurred mainly in Asia, North America (34 and 30 % of cases, respectively), and Europe (13 %). Cyclones, and severe storms were India, Bangladesh, Nepal, USA, Germany, Romania, Moldova, and Italy (Munich Re Group, 2008)
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