Changing climate shifts timing of European floods


Blöschl, G, Hall, J, Parajka, J, Perdigão, P, Merz, B, Arheimer, B, Arheimer, GT, Bilibashi, A, Bonacci, O, Borga, M et al (show 36 more authors) (2017) Changing climate shifts timing of European floods. SCIENCE, 357 (6351). pp. 588-590.

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Abstract

A warming climate is expected to have an impact on the magnitude and timing of river floods; however, no consistent large-scale climate change signal in observed flood magnitudes has been identified so far. We analyzed the timing of river floods in Europe over the past five decades, using a pan-European database from 4262 observational hydrometric stations, and found clear patterns of change in flood timing. Warmer temperatures have led to earlier spring snowmelt floods throughout northeastern Europe; delayed winter storms associated with polar warming have led to later winter floods around the North Sea and some sectors of the Mediterranean coast; and earlier soil moisture maxima have led to earlier winter floods in western Europe. Our results highlight the existence of a clear climate signal in flood observations at the continental scale.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 13 Climate Action
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 16 Aug 2017 10:14
Last Modified: 15 Mar 2024 06:42
DOI: 10.1126/science.aan2506
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3008630
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