High Flood Research Articles

Floods of Egypt’s Nile in the 21st century

Extreme precipitation and flooding events are rising globally, necessitating a thorough understanding and sustainable management of water resources. One such setting is the Nile River’s source areas, where high precipitation has led to the filling of Lake Nasser (LN) twice (1998–2003; 2019–2022) in the last two decades and the diversion of overflow to depressions west of the Nile, where it is lost mainly to evaporation. Using temporal satellite-based data, climate models, and continuous rainfall-runoff models, we identified the primary contributor to increased runoff that reached LN in the past two decades and assessed the impact of climate change on the LN’s runoff throughout the twenty-first century. Findings include: (1) the Blue Nile subbasin (BNS) is the primary contributor to increased downstream runoff, (2) the BNS runoff was simulated in the twenty-first century using a calibrated (1965–1992) rainfall-runoff model with global circulation models (GCMs), CCSM4, HadGEM3, and GFDL-CM4.0, projections as model inputs, (3) the extreme value analysis for projected runoff driven by GCMs’ output indicates extreme floods are more severe in the twenty-first century, (4) one adaptation for the projected twenty-first century increase in precipitation (25–39%) and flood (2%-20%) extremes is to recharge Egypt’s fossil aquifers during high flood years.

The effect of wildfires on flood risk: a multi-hazard flood risk approach for the Ebro River basin, Spain

Abstract. Climate change increases the risk of wildfires and floods in the Mediterranean region. Yet, wildfire hazards are often overlooked in flood risk assessments and treated in isolation, despite their potential to amplify floods. Indeed, by altering the hydrological response of burnt areas, wildfires can lead to increased runoff and amplifying effects. This study aims to comprehensively assess flood risk using a multi-hazard approach, considering the effect of wildfires on flood risk, and integrating diverse socio-economic indicators with hydrological properties. More specifically, this study investigates current and future flood risks in the Ebro River basin in Spain for the year 2100 under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 1-2.6 (SSP1-2.6) and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, taking into account projected socio-economic conditions and the effect of wildfires. An analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach is employed to assign weights to various indicators and components of flood risk based on insights gathered from interviews with seven experts specializing in natural hazards. Results show that the influence of wildfires on the baseline flood risk is not apparent. Under the SSP1-2.6 scenario, regions with high flood risk are expected to experience a slight risk reduction, regardless of the presence of wildfires, due to expected substantial development in adaptive capacity. The highest flood risk, almost double compared to the baseline, is projected to occur in the SSP5-8.5 scenario, especially when considering the effect of wildfires. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of adopting a multi-hazard risk management approach, as reliance solely on single-risk analyses may lead to underestimating the compound and cascading effects of multi-hazards.

Combining Geo-Archaeology and Historical Nile Records to Understand Predynastic Settlement Patterns in the Region of the Nile’s First Cataract, Egypt

Abstract This paper aims to contribute new data to understanding early Predynastic settlement patterns in Egypt at the beginning of the state formation process in the 4th millennium bce. It focuses on the early settlements of the First Nile Cataract region. We employ three different datasets to address the issue retrieved from a recent archaeological investigation and drill coring and from Nile records available from archaeological and historical sources. The analysis is performed in a gis-based environment and through inundation modelling. Data suggest early Predynastic settlements at the First Cataract may have been settled all year round. They appear to be deliberately placed above the annual high flood level and have water resources for most of the year. The new geo-archaeological data further suggests that the average high inundation level for the early 4th millennium bce was similar to that documented for the end of the millennium.

Urban Planning Strategies for Coastal Cities in China in Response to Climate Change

Global climate change has increasingly posed a serious threat to coastal cities, rendering them particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of rising sea levels, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and the shifting patterns of climate. Traditional urban planning methods, which had been the cornerstone of city development, were found to be inadequate in addressing these escalating challenges. The previous studies often failed to account for the critical importance of integrating climate factors into the planning process, leading to vulnerabilities in urban infrastructure and design. This study meticulously examined the limitations of these conventional urban planning approaches and explored the potential for adapting urban planning strategies in Chinas coastal cities to better respond to the looming threat of climate change. By conducting a thorough analysis of the impacts of high temperatures, floods, and other climate-related events, the study proposed a comprehensive series of response measures tailored to the specific conditions of the time. These measures included the integration of green policies into urban planning to enhance environmental sustainability, the strategic selection of building materials aimed at mitigating urban heat, and the enhancement of water resource management systems to alleviate the urban heat island effect. Moreover, the study closely investigated existing climate response measures through detailed case studies in Xiamen and Dalian, two prominent coastal cities in China. The primary objective was to significantly enhance the resilience of these cities, effectively reduce the risks associated with climate change, and promote a path towards sustainable development. Ultimately, the goal was to create more livable, safer, and sustainable urban environments that would be better equipped to face the challenges posed by an unpredictable climate future.

Road network disruptions during extreme flooding events and their impact on the access to emergency medical services: A spatiotemporal vulnerability analysis

The impact of extreme floods can be significant, affecting humans, the environment and any type of human-built infrastructure. A further consequence of flooding is restricted access to medical facilities, including constraints to access more dedicated emergency medical services (EMS). To date, there has been a lack of investigation into EMS accessibility dynamics during extreme floods. The objective of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the spatiotemporal changes in accessibility-based vulnerability related to EMS during a representative extreme flood event, which was simulated over a period of six days. The study assesses the spatial accessibility of EMS centres to populations located within 15-, 30-, 45-, and 60-minute travel time thresholds in Canton Bern, Switzerland, and applies floating catchment area method. The dynamic aspects of EMS access vulnerability during extreme floods were assessed in two different ways. Firstly, the ratios between accessibility change and accessibility under normal conditions in 1 km grid cells were calculated at hourly moments, t. Subsequently, the resulting values were used to calculate the average vulnerability score. Secondly, percentage changes of affected populations were evaluated for different accessibility classes during the flood event and under all-time high static flood conditions. Varied spatial patterns of accessibility were generally observed with respect to the road network and population distributions in the hilly and mountainous landscape. Extending evaluations to consider temporal dynamics revealed a complex pattern of accessibility gains and losses in different regions of the study area, including those where no direct flood impacts occurred on the road network. The application of a static, all-time high flood condition resulted in an overestimation of accessibility limits to EMS centres. While this overestimation was not considered to be critical, the application of a spatiotemporal accessibility-based vulnerability analysis method to EMS is considered to be more holistic. Insights from this study can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of EMS risk management plans with respect to evolving extreme flood scenarios.

Deciphering Acclimation to Sublethal Combined and Sequential Abiotic Stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plants are frequently exposed to environmental challenges. Responses to sub-lethal abiotic stress combinations are complex and often distinct from responses to individual stresses and remain poorly understood. Investigating traits and molecular factors mediating acclimation to stress combinations is essential for the development of climate change-resilient field crops. Here, we studied the morphological, physiological, and molecular responses of Arabidopsis thaliana to i) co-occurring high temperature and drought and ii) flooding followed by drought, both of which have increased in frequency due to climate change, and the individual component stresses: high temperature, drought and flooding. A set of 15 physiological and morphological traits were assessed during single and combined stresses. By combining these comprehensive trait analyses with transcriptome characterization, we established the generally additive negative effects of simultaneous or sequential stresses on plant morphology and physiology compared to the corresponding individual stresses. Although drought had a mild effect on various growth, morphological and physiological traits in both stress combinations, a unique transcriptome signature emerged upon combination with high temperature simultaneously or flooding sequentially. Molecular processes identified as important for multi-stress resilience included plastid-nucleus communication, ABA signaling and photo-acclimation. Based on the RNA-seq data, a set of 39 genes was identified as potential multi-stress response regulators. Mutants were tested to validate the contribution of these genes to plant survival and phenotypic acclimation under combined stress. We confirmed the involvement of several genes in regulating phenotypic acclimation traits. Among the identified factors were EARLY FLOWERING 6 (ELF6) and ARABIDOPSIS TÓXICOS EN LEVADURA 80 (ATL80), with substantial effects on plant growth, leaf development and plant survival (wilting) during high-temperature drought and post-submergence drought, respectively.

A comprehensive study of floodplain analysis utilising HEC-HMS, HEC-RAS, and GIS on the Kosasthalaiyar River sub-basin

ABSTRACT The present study focused on the Kosasthalaiyar River basin in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. We analysed the 2015 peak flood and forecasted the feature data in the representative concentration pathways (RCP) 4.5 scenario for various years. We used the scientific data management system (SDSM) software to downscale the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) 2.0 general circulation models (GCMs). According to hydrograph analysis, 142.7, 75.31, 461.73, and 248.22 mm runoff can occur in 2030, 2050, 2080, and 2100, respectively. The current study estimates probable peak flows by performing floodplain analysis on the Kosasthalaiyar River sub-basin using the Hydrologic Engineering Centre's Hydrologic Modelling System (HEC-HMS), the Hydrologic Engineering Centre's River Analysis System (HEC-RAS), and geographic information system (GIS) tools. It is possible to observe that the two major peak floods, measuring 581.6 and 110.7 m3/s, respectively, will occur on 28 November 2030 at 10:20 a.m. and 12 December 2050 at 9:20 a.m. Additionally, high floods of 997 and 1,438.4 m3/s can be recorded on 20 December 2080 at 9:50 a.m. and 29 November 2100 at 9:40 a.m., respectively.

Exploring Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Future Extreme Precipitation, Runoff, and Flood Risk in the Hanjiang River Basin, China

The hydrological cycle is altered by climate change and human activities, amplifying extreme precipitation and heightening the flood risk regionally and globally. It is imperative to explore the future possible alterations in flood risk at the regional scale. Focusing on the Hanjiang river basin (HRB), this study develops a framework for establishing a scientific assessment of spatio-temporal dynamics of future flood risks under multiple future scenarios. In this framework, a GCMs statistical downscaling method based on machine learning is used to project future precipitation, the PLUS model is used to project future land use, the digitwining watershed model (DWM) is used to project future runoff, and the entropy weight method is used to calculate risk. Six extreme precipitation indices are calculated to project the spatio-temporal patterns of future precipitation extremes in the HRB. The results of this study show that the intensity (Rx1day, Rx5day, PRCPTOT, SDII), frequency (R20m), and duration (CWD) of future precipitation extremes will be consistently increasing over the HRB during the 21st century. The high values of extreme precipitation indices in the HRB are primarily located in the southeast and southwest. The future annual average runoff in the upper HRB during the near-term (2023–2042) and mid-term (2043–2062) is projected to decrease in comparison to the baseline period (1995–2014), with the exception of that during the mid-term under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. The high flood risk center in the future will be distributed in the southwestern region of the upper HRB. The proportions of areas with high and medium–high flood risk in the upper HRB will increase significantly. Under the SSP5-8.5 scenario, the area percentage with high flood risk during the future mid-term will reach 24.02%. The findings of this study will facilitate local governments in formulating effective strategic plans for future flood control management.

Triple exposure: the geographic correlation between flood risk, climate skepticism, and social vulnerability in the United States

Abstract This study investigates the geographic correlation between flood risk, climate skepticism, and social vulnerability across the United States. Our results reveal a systematic underestimation of flood risk in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps, especially in Appalachia, parts of New England, and the Northwest. These three regions face two additional risks: high levels of social vulnerability and skepticism about climate change. Nationally, there is a statisically significant correlation (0.19, p < 0.005) between flood risk and climate change skepticism, which increases (0.28, p < 0.005) in regions with high FEMA undercounts and elevated flood risk. Climate change skepticism manifests as distrust in science, an underestimation of property and community risk, and a resistance to mitigation and adaptation efforts. Indicators of social vulnerability, such as poverty rates, physical disabilities, unemployment, households in mobile homes, and lack of vehicle access, are especially pronounced in Appalachia. Addressing this geographically-embedded triple exposure—flood risk, social vulnerability, climate change skepticism— requires strategies to enhance local resilience. These include revising the 100-year floodplain categorization in FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program to better reflect climate change, conducting public education campaigns in vulnerable communities, and scaling-up financial assistance for flood mitigation and adaptation projects.

Emulsification and interfacial characteristics of different surfactants enhances heavy oil recovery: experimental evaluation and molecular dynamics simulation study

The high viscosity and poor fluidity of heavy oil challenge its extraction, leading to the widespread use of surfactant emulsification to reduce viscosity and enhance recovery. This study evaluated three surfactants—sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium oleate (SO), and APG0810—for their suitability and effectiveness in the X reservoir. The solution properties of these surfactants were analyzed and their micro-mechanisms investigated using MD calculations. The effects of surfactant concentration and additives on emulsification and viscosity reduction were elucidated. Ultimately, a system for emulsification and viscosity reduction was selected for physical simulation research. The experimental findings show that SO reduces interfacial tension from 52.4 mN/m to 0.0027 mN/m, transforming lipophilic surfaces into hydrophilic. MD analyses reveal SO’s optimal interfacial properties, with the lowest interfacial energy of −6423.4 kcal/mol, maximum interfacial thickness of 2.56 nm, and minimal diffusion coefficient of 0.4087 Å2/ps at the oil-water interface. These findings align with experimental results, confirming SO’s superior interfacial properties. Combining 0.3% SO with 0.5% n-pentanol results in a 98% viscosity reduction. The emulsion shows excellent stability, with no water separation in the first 30 min and only 8.3% after 2 h. Physical simulation results show that in high(low) permeability core displacement experiments, system flooding and subsequent water flooding can increase recovery rates by 15.39%(36.91%), indicating the system’s potential for enhancing oil recovery in Reservoir X. The findings suggest that the implementation of this system not only boosts the crude oil recovery rate but also carries economic significance in the industry.

Exploring a GIS-based analytic hierarchy process for spatial flood risk assessment in Egypt: a case study of the Damietta branch

Floods are the most common and costly disasters worldwide, while spatial flood risk assessment is still challenging due to fewer observations and method limitations. In this study, the flood risk zonation in the Nile districts of the Damietta branch, Egypt, is delineated and assessed by integrating remote sensing with a geographic information system, and an analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Twelve thematic layers (elevation, slope, normalized difference vegetation index, topographic wetness index, modified normalized difference water index, topographic positioning index, stream power index, modified Fournier index, drainage density, distance to the river, sediment transport index, and lithology) are used for producing flood susceptibility zonation (FSZ) and six parameters (total population, distance to hospital, land use/land cover, population density, road density, and distance to road) are utilized for producing flood vulnerability zonation. Multicollinearity analysis is applied to identify highly correlated independent variables. Sensitivity studies have been used to assess the effectiveness of the AHP model. The results indicate that the high and very high flood risk classes cover 21.40% and 8.26% of the area, respectively. In 14.07%, 27.01%, and 29.26% of the research area, respectively, flood risk zones classified as very low, low, and moderate are found. Finally, FSZ is validated using the receiver operating characteristics curve and area under curve (AUC) analysis. A higher AUC value (0.741) in the validation findings demonstrated the validity of this AHP approach. The results of this study will help planners, hydrologists, and managers of water resources manage areas that are susceptible to flooding and reduce potential harm.

Enormous headward and gully erosion in a floodplain area reclaimed for open-cast lignite mining during the July 2021 flood in the Inde River valley (Western Germany)

BackgroundThe July flood 2021 at the mountain front of the Eifel-Ardennes Mountains and their foreland resulted in the flooding of the lignite mining area of Inden in Germany. The mining activities resulted in large-scale anthropogenic changes to the relief and fluvial system, leading to a landscape that is no longer adjusted to the recent process-response system. This paper concentrates on the Inde River, where lignite mining led to the relocation of a 5-km-long river section. The flood event resulted in the temporary avulsion of the Inde River into the former channel and, ultimately, in the flooding of the open-cast lignite mine Inden.ResultsThe flooding of the open-cast lignite mine Inden led to headwall erosion and enormous sediment mobilisation, mobilising more than half a million cubic metres of sediment within a few hours, forming a 700-m-long deeply incised channel cut. Thereby, the underlying bedrock, near-subsurface man-made structures, and former river channels influence the erosional processes to different degrees. Surface erosion is likely to be the decisive process, and subsurface erosion is likely to play a secondary role. In both cases, former channels and mill ditches were likely impacting the course of erosional processes.ConclusionsDuring high flood events open-cast mining sites in floodplains are endangered by enormous erosion and sediment transport within a short period of time (several hours). Understanding such complex erosion and depositional processes in open-cast mining areas could provide a blueprint for geomorphological processes and hazards in these anthropogenically shaped fluvial landscapes. Further, information on historic impact in the area is crucial to estimate potential risks.

Flash flood prediction modeling in the hilly regions of Southeastern Bangladesh: A machine learning attempt on present and future climate scenarios

Flash floods are highly destructive, and their frequency and intensity are expected to escalate due to climatic changes. This study thus investigated flash flood susceptibility (FFS) by applying machine learning algorithms and climate projection to predict both present and future hazard scenarios in the southeastern hilly regions of Bangladesh. To predict FFS, we evaluated twelve flood-influencing variables: elevation (EL), slope (SL), aspect (AS), drainage density (DD), distance to stream (DS), topography roughness index (TRI), stream power index (SPI), topographic wetness index (TWI), soil permeability (SP), precipitation (PR), land use and land cover (LULC) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Earth observation data, field surveys, and past flood records were used to create a detailed flood inventory. Among the machine learning models tested, the random forest (RF) algorithm outperformed others, including support vector machine (SVC), logistic regression (LR), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and was subsequently used for flood susceptibility mapping based on future precipitation projections under two Sixth Coupled model intercomparison project (CMIP6) climate change scenarios: SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5. Our findings indicated that the areas at high to very high risk of flooding are projected to increase significantly under both the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios. Initially, around 38 % of the studied region had high to very high flood susceptibility, but this is expected to rise to 40–42 % over the projected time periods. These spatial delineations of flood-prone areas can provide guidance for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to address the adverse impacts of flash flooding in the hilly river basins of Bangladesh.

Does flood risk affect property prices? Evidence from a property-level flood score

One in six properties in England is exposed to flood risk and around half of those affected properties can be characterised as high risk. In this paper we examine whether the probability of flooding is capitalised in England's property market prices. We use unique property-level data from Rightmove, UK's no.1 property website and the property-level FloodScoreTMby Twinn, Royal HaskoningDHV. The latter is a metric of objective flood risk based on the likelihood of an individual property being flooded due to rainfall, overflowing rivers and tidal surges and is commonly used by UK lenders. By comparing the unconditional averages of our data, we find that properties at risk are sold at an 8.14 % discount compared to non-exposed properties, and the price discount increases to 32.2 % for properties with very high flood risk. By 2080 the flood events are expected to become more frequent and the average flood risk is projected to increase by 8 %. Our empirical model suggests that one percentage point increase in properties' flood risk is associated with a decline of 0.07 % to 0.11 % in both sold and asking property prices. The impact is higher for properties of which flood risk is expected to increase or for regions that have recently experienced a flood event.

Green spaces and flood vulnerability in urbanising regions: a case study in the Philadelphia metropolitan area

ABSTRACT Flooding continues to be one of the most significant natural hazards, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations in urbanising regions. This study aims to examine the relationship between green space density and flood vulnerability in the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area by integrating social and geophysical data. The research focuses on identifying areas where high flood vulnerability coincides with low green space availability, as these are critical regions for targeted intervention. Using social vulnerability indicators such as income, age, and housing characteristics, combined with geophysical factors like soil permeability and drainage density, the study assesses flood vulnerability across census block groups. Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) and discriminant analysis were employed to detect spatial clusters with elevated flood risks and low green space density. Results reveal that these high-risk clusters are concentrated in densely urbanised areas such as Norristown, where lower-income and elderly populations are overrepresented. These findings reinforce broader environmental justice concerns, as socially vulnerable communities face compounded risks from both inadequate flood protection and limited access to green spaces. The study emphasises the need for integrated flood management, combining green infrastructure with structural interventions, to guide urban planners and policymakers in reducing flood risks and promoting environmental equity.

Flood risk assessment under the shared socioeconomic pathways: a case of electricity bulk supply points in Greater Accra, Ghana

This study evaluates flood susceptibility and risk on Bulk Supply Points in the Greater Accra region (GAR) using a Frequency Ratio model based on 15 flood conditioning factors. The model explores the influence of natural, meteorological and anthropogenic factors on flooding occurrences under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios and assesses flood risks at Bulk Supply Points (BSPs). Flood susceptibility mapping was conducted for both current and future periods under various SSP scenarios. Results reveal that elevation, slope, soil type, distance from urban areas, and SPI are the most influential factors contributing to flooding susceptibility in the region. The current flood map, about 37% of the total area of GAR categorized under the moderate flood-susceptible zone category followed by about 30% categorized under the low flood-vulnerable zone. However, about 16% was categorized under the very high flood-vulnerable zone. The study projects increasing flood susceptibility under the SSP scenarios with intensification under SSP2 and SSP3 scenarios. For instance, the areas categorized as high and very high flood susceptibility zones are projected to expand to approximately 32% and 26% each by 2055 under SSP3. The study also assesses flood risks at Bulk Supply Points (BSPs), highlighting the escalating susceptibility of power assets to flooding under different scenarios. For instance, in the very high scenario, flooding is estimated to reach 640 h in 2045 and exceed 800 h in 2055—more than double the 2020 baseline. The analysis shows the bulk supply points face increasing flood susceptibility, with risks escalating most sharply under the severe climate change SSP3 and SSP5 scenarios. Over 75% of BSPs are expected to fall in the low- to medium-risk categories across SSPs while more than 50% of BSPs are within medium- to high-risk categories in all scenarios except SSP1, reflecting the impact of climate change. SSP3 and SSP5 stand out with over 60% of BSPs facing high or very high flooding risks by 2055. It indicates moderate resilience with proper adaptation but highlights potential disruptions in critical infrastructure, such as BSPs, during persistent flooding. The findings of the study are expected to inform Ghana’s contributions towards addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7, 11 and 13 in Ghana.

CO2 high-pressure miscible flooding and storage technology and its application in Shengli Oilfield, China

There are various issues for CO2 flooding and storage in Shengli Oilfield, which are characterized by low light hydrocarbon content of oil and high miscible pressure, strong reservoir heterogeneity and low sweep efficiency, gas channeling and difficult whole-process control. Through laboratory experiments, technical research and field practice, the theory and technology of CO2 high pressure miscible flooding and storage are established. By increasing the formation pressure to 1.2 times the minimum miscible pressure, the miscibility of the medium-heavy components can be improved, the production percentage of oil in small pores can be increased, the displacing front developed evenly, and the swept volume expanded. Rapid high-pressure miscibility is realized through advanced pressure flooding and energy replenishment, and technologies of cascade water-alternating-gas (WAG), injection and production coupling and multistage chemical plugging are used for dynamic control of flow resistance, so as to obtain the optimum of oil recovery and CO2 storage factor. The research results have been applied to the Gao89-Fan142 in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) demonstration site, where the daily oil production of the block has increased from 254.6 t to 358.2 t, and the recovery degree is expected to increase by 11.6 percentage points in 15 years, providing theoretical and technical support for the large-scale development of CCUS.

Flood Susceptibility Mapping Using Analytic Hierarchy Process and Geographic Information System in Baitarani Basin of Odisha, India

Baitarani, the 6th largest river basin in Odisha, eastern India, faces water related challenges in its catchments. As one of the most frequent environmental disasters, floods are consistently cited in hotspots of the eastern region in India. Hence, in this study, flood susceptibility maps were generated for Baitarani River basin by using analytical hierarchy process technique and geographic information system. Eleven thematic maps of topographic ruggedness index, topographic wetness index, stream power index, elevation, lithology, soil, slope, drainage density, distance from drainage network, land use/land cover and normalized difference vegetation index were prepared for flood vulnerability mapping. The themes were assigned suitable weights depending on relative influence of each of the themes on flood risk. The results indicated that 87% of the basin falls under intermediate flood susceptibility zone, while 10% is classified under high flood hazard zone. Areas in the lower elevation catchment, particularly those with flat topography near the coastline, were identified as being highly susceptible to flooding. The impacts of severe flooding in the basin are most pronounced in specific blocks in Jajpur district (Jajpur, Dasarathpur, and Korei blocks), Bhadrak district (Dhamnagar and Bhandaripokhari blocks), and Anandapur block in the Keonjhar district of Odisha. Additionally, changes in land use/land cover during 1995-2020 revealed 8% decline in agricultural land and 13.93% increase in fallow land in the area. The outcomes of this research can help researchers, planners and managers in managing natural resources, find locations that could be vulnerable to flooding, and lessen the damage.

Risk perceptions and preventive preparedness toward anthrax re-emergence within the lens of one health in Northcentral Nigeria.

Anthrax has re-emerged in domestic ruminants in Nigeria with public health concerns. This study assessed stakeholders' perceptions and preventive preparedness toward further resurgence and spread at the human-animal-environment interface. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Nigeria. Descriptive and analytical statistical analyses were performed at 95% confidence levels. All the 384 recruited stakeholders responded. The majority (96.2%) of animal health practitioners (AHPs) and 56.7% of pastoralists were aware of the recent anthrax re-emergence in Nigeria (p < 0.001). Noteworthy, 88.5% of the AHPs and 32.2% of pastoralists mentioned that anthrax has an environmental component in its transmission to humans and animals. From the environmental perspective, 87.7% of AHPs and 24.0% of pastoralists significantly perceived that soil and aerosol contamination with anthrax spores are highly plausible explanation routes for its re-emergence. Extreme weather events (high rainfall, flooding, winds, and drought) (p = 0.001); grazing of livestock on pastures grown on contaminated soil (p < 0.001), transboundary movement and trade of animals (p = 0.001); introduction of new animals into the herds without quarantine (p = 0.001); and bioterrorism (p < 0.001) were more likely to influence the re-emergence and spread of anthrax. To tackle gaps in knowledge and risk perceptions, and address the socio-economic and anthropogenic drivers, cooperation and collaborations through the lens of the One Health approach are needed. The partnership will promote an integrated disease surveillance system from planning to implementation for the realization of elimination or reduction of the burden of anthrax and other zoonoses in Nigeria and contribute to achieving food safety, food security, and public and ecosystem health.

Analyzing sedimentation patterns in the Naumure Multipurpose Project (NMP) reservoir using 1D HEC-RAS modeling

Naumure Multipurpose Project (NMP) featuring a 169 m high Concrete Face Rock Filled Dam (CFRD) is the proposed reservoir project in the West Rapti River with an installed capacity of 218.34 MW. Most of the rivers in Nepal carry significant sediment loads that will consequently catalyze reservoir sedimentation. This phenomenon prevails as the primary factor in reducing reservoirs useful life, making ineffective for both flood control and hydroelectricity generation. Ultimately, such process of sedimentation has adverse impacts on projects economic feasibility and long-term sustainability. Therefore, the objective of this research was to examine the expected sediment deposition pattern in the NMP reservoir throughout its operational period by employing 1D HEC-RAS model to simulate the sedimentation process. The model was simulated for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years. Yang’s equation as a sediment transport function, Active layer as a bed sorting method and Toffaleti as a fall velocity method were best suited for the river reach. The delta deposition was formed between 11 km and 22 km upstream of the dam region in the Jhimruk river, with the sediment deposition depth reaching peaks of about 23 m, 38 m, 39 m, 41 m and 49 m in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years, respectively. Similarly, the delta deposition was formed between 13 km and 33 km upstream of dam region in the Madi river, with the sediment deposition depth reaching peaks of about 47 m, 62 m, 60 m, 68 m and 75 m in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years respectively. Headcutting of delta deposition occurred between 20 and 30 year due to high flood during low stage of reservoir. Furthermore, the study revealed that about 6.22%, 11.61%, 15.94%, 22.96% and 25.65% of the storage capacity of NMP reservoir will be depleted in 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years respectively.