The Oder – a river that floods: the problem of environmental adaptation in literary texts

This article discusses inter and post-war works of fiction written by Polish and German-speaking authors with biographical connections to Oder River regions. The literary texts provide insights into the vulnerability to and resilience constructions of floods, which are related to such cultural factors as migrant histories and traditions, regional beliefs and religion, and the political background of changing frontiers in 1919 and 1945 that affected residents of this cross-border area.

The capacity to cope with the flooding Oder, especially after the major flood in 1997, intertwines with the problematic Polish-German relationship, including Silesia. For Polish communities, whose environmental cultures have been distorted by wars, resettlement and communism, vulnerability and resilience perceptions lack representations of the tangible river. It is culturally bounded in the stigmatising image of the Oder as the border of division, revived after 1945 and exposed by the Polish communist party in the so-called ‘Polonisation’ of the ‘Recovered Territories’. Fiction detects the problem of overworking the difficult past in response to the Oder’s hazardous nature. Writers representing an emotional attachment to the river and an aquacritical approach express the need to learn about the river’s lively nature, both in cooperating and sharing space, which is called the environmental adaptation.     

Are floods getting worse in the Ganges,Brahmaputra and Meghna basins?

Abstract

The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna/Barak rivers are lifelines for millions of people in South Asia in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh. They supply water for food and fibre production and for industrial and domestic purposes. They are also sources of disastrous floods that cause substantial damage to agriculture and infrastructure in these countries. There are claims that flood discharges, areal extent, and damage-costs are getting worse in the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna/Barak basins. The validity of these claims was examined by applying four different statistical tests to the peak discharge time series and flooded areas. The results indicate that no conclusive changes have occurred over the last few decades. Reports of increased flood damage may be due to a combination of other factors, such as improved damage assessment techniques, and the expansion and intensification of settlement in flood-prone areas, but this was not tested in this paper and should be top priority for future research.     

Flood disaster monitoring and evaluation in China

Abstract

China frequently experiences natural disasters, of which flooding is the most serious. How to monitor and control natural disasters, assess damage, and provide relief is the most urgent problem for the Chinese government and disaster experts. A national integrated system using remote sensing, geographic information systems, the Global Positioning System, and other technology for monitoring and evaluating flood disasters has been assembled and tried out for 3 years. The system has played an important role in flood mitigation during the trial and has become a key part of the flood management system at China's National Flood Control Headquarters. This paper presents an overview of the system and its use in China.     

Flood insurance and floodplain management: the US experience

Abstract

With over six million buildings located within the boundaries of the 100-yr floodplain, flood losses across the United States are widespread (88% of US counties experienced at least one flood disaster during the second half of the twentieth century). To deal with this problem, the federal government provides flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, which was initiated by Congress in 1968 and amended significantly in 1969, 1973, and 1994. This article describes the US approach to flood insurance and notes a number of problems that have limited its effectiveness. Flood hazard identification is incomplete, and methods used are flawed. Mitigation has failed to contain increasing exposure to property damage in floods and coastal storms, and it has failed to markedly reduce exposure to loss of older buildings located in flood hazard areas. Market penetration of flood insurance is low, in spite of mandatory purchase requirements for new construction and the availability of subsidized insurance rates for older buildings located in flood-hazard areas. These problems, although serious, can be remedied through a variety of actions taken by governments at the federal, state, and local level.     

全球变暖与中国旱涝灾害大势的初步研究

旱涝灾害受气候变化的制约，还深受人类活动的影响。本研究一方面用历史类比方法研究近５００年我国历史冷朝时期的旱涝分布特征，另一方面分析人类活动，特别是城市建设发展对旱涝灾害的影响。最后将两者叠加，勾划出全球变化和未来社会经济形势下我国旱涝灾害分布大势。结果显示：在未来稳定暖的时期，长江中下游、江南、华南及嘉陵江上游地区易涝，其中以东南沿海为甚；黄淮、华北、环渤海湾地区易旱，其中以黄淮为甚。     

Modeling flooding extent from Hurricane Floyd in the coastal plains of North Carolina

Abstract

In this article two modeling approaches were developed based on the use of US Geological Survey digital elevation model (DEM) data. These models were utilized to delineate the extent of flooding induced by precipitation from Hurricane Floyd in a portion of Pitt County, North Carolina. The patterns of flood extent derived from the two models were compared to the extent of flooding indicated on a digital aerial photograph taken two days after peak flood levels had been reached. In addition, floodplain boundaries based on Federal Emergency Management Agency Q3 maps were compared to the extent of flooding on the aerial photo. Actual emergency response operations undertaken through the Pitt County Emergency Operations Center during the flood event are described, and are used to provide a context for evaluating the potential utility of these models. The flood extents produced by the modeling methods performed well at representing the actual extent of the flooding.     

深圳市洪涝灾害的数值模拟与分析

深圳市自建特区以来,沿河沿海低地迅速城市化,流域内大规模的开发活动加剧了水土流失,河道淤塞严重,行洪能力降低,新增市区防洪排涝设施不足,使深圳市洪涝灾害更趋频繁,经济损失急剧增长,为配合深圳市制定新的防洪(潮)规划,本研究开发了城市洪水演进一、二维不恒定流混合模型,分现状与规划措施实施后两种情况对各典型年暴雨、高潮的组合在深圳市可能造成的洪涝灾害进行了模拟和分析,其结果为深圳市合理评价防洪(潮)规划提供了依据。     

Hazardscapes in reunified Germany

Abstract

German reunification had significant political, economic, social, and environmental impacts. A major environmental impact involved changes to the German technological hazardscape (especially in the East). Hazardscapes are defined here as the spatial distribution and attributes of human engineered facilities such as industrial plants, military bases and power stations that contain or emit substances harmful to humans and the environment. The purpose of this paper is to explain how and why the German technological hazardscape changed after reunification. A cursory analysis might ascribe hazardscape change to the application of strict West German environmental laws and sophisticated environmental protection technologies to the East. This paper contends, however, that it was a political economy rather than an environmental imperative that drove the changes to the hazardscape, and that this continuing conflict may have serious repercussions on the future environmental health of eastern Germany.     

Influence of road characteristics on flood fatalities in Australia

ABSTRACT

An analysis of published flood fatalities in Australia occurring between 1960 and 2015 revealed that 49% of 229 flood fatalities were vehicle related. After reviewing previous work on vehicle-related flood fatalities, this study examines attributes of roadways that may have influenced driver decisions to enter floodwaters and the survivability of people in vehicles that did so and concludes by discussing policy implications. Characteristics most frequently present were small upstream catchment length that may influence the rate of rise of floodwaters; the absence of roadside barricades; deep flooding immediately adjacent to the roadway; the absence of lighting; dipping road grades that lead floodwaters to increase once a vehicle enters them; the lack of curb and guttering and the inability of motorists to easily turn around. Each of these factors were observed in at least 50% of the cases studied and provide a risk-based means of assessing other sites vulnerable to flooding but where fatalities have not been observed to date.     

Flood management in Canada at the crossroads

Abstract

Although Canadian flood management efforts have gained worldwide recognition, flood damages continue to increase. The current practice for preventing, responding to and recovering from floods in Canada is described by focusing attention on the 1997 Red River and 1996 Saguenay River floods. A set of cultures is identified that contribute to the trend of increasing flood damages. These include a culture of conflict, a culture of land development, a culture that impeded native people from easily implementing flood management programs, a culture of institutional fragmentation and a culture of dependency. These foster an inevitable cycle of increasing flood damages. The potential of recent proposals made by Emergency Preparedness Canada and the Insurance Bureau of Canada to address these cultures is assessed. While these documents represent significant progress, they continue to adopt an intermittent project rather an ongoing program perspective, fail to identify the need to adopt specific initiatives tailored for aboriginal communities, and ignore the need to enhance the operational capacity of relevant public and private participants. Addressing these requirements will further reduce future losses and vulnerability.     

Optimisation patterns for the process of a planned evacuation in the event of a flood

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of the article is to develop an optimisation pattern for the process of a preventive evacuation of people from flood-risk areas (at the first sign of a flood), aimed at mitigating the negative effects of the flood performed through the application of modern computer tools. It has been assumed that the use of both GIS tools and apps for vehicle traffic modelling (the research includes the use of a method developed by the authors) in emergency procedures implemented in response to a flood may increase the efficiency of the anti-flood campaign (here: the evacuation of residents from flooded areas), and thus, it may also minimise the negative effects of the flooding itself. The article distinguishes 14 stages of research, which were chiefly completed by means of the following methods: distance-based accessibility, cumulative accessibility, the Enhanced Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Method (E2SFCA) and the Two-Step Floating Catchment Area Method (2SFCA), the vehicle routing method, algorithms by Dinitz, Edmonds-Karp, and Ford-Fulkerson, and a comparative method applied to draw a comparison between the actual state of affairs and the optimum condition determined by the aforementioned methods.     

美国防洪政策演变

回顾了近３００年来美国防洪战略转移的历史进程。美国陆军工程兵团曾根据国家防洪与发展航运的需要,实施“堤防万能”的防洪政策,然而,１９２７年的大洪水冲毁了“堤防万能”的神话,迫使国会通过１９２８年的防洪法,进行水库、行洪区、分洪区与堤防协调防洪。随着联邦洪水及其它灾害救济费用的不断攀升,促使美国颁布１９６８年的洪水保险法与１９７３年的洪水灾害防御法,实行洪水风险区划与土地利用规划,以减轻洪水灾害。１     

Improving flood warnings in Europe: a research and policy agenda

Abstract

Warnings and emergency planning for flooding are based on the reality that no matter how thorough our investigations and flood prevention efforts through engineered structural works or land use management, some risk will always remain. This paper examines recent experience with flood warnings in the UK and continental Europe. It combines this experience with an overview of the relevant literature to identify lessons for incorporation into policy, and problem areas which would most obviously benefit from additional research. Throughout, the emphasis is on the non-engineering aspects of warning systems. Results indicate that much is being achieved in terms of the detail of warning design, but the broader issues seem to be largely ignored by both the research literature and practice. First among these broader issues is the failure, by those charged with warning system development and operation, to conceptualise the warning task as one based explicitly on the needs of those at risk. Making this happen will require the development of processes to build the necessary culture of cooperation and learning among the many organisations involved.     

上海洪涝灾害发生特征、致灾因子及影响机制研究

基于上海1949-1991年间洪涝灾害发生频次和程度数据,综合考虑城市化和区域环境变化对洪涝灾害的可能影响,系统探讨了研究时期内上海洪涝灾害发生的基本特征和趋势性。选取汛期降雨量、米市渡和黄浦公园年最高潮位以及逐年河道消失数作为主要致灾因子,分析了它们对上海洪涝灾害发生的影响程度和方式。研究表明,选取时段内上海洪涝灾害发生频率有下降趋势,灾害程度趋于减轻;水利工程对洪涝灾害的发生具有决定性的影响。致灾因子自身变化与城市化进程及其区域环境变化有一定的响应关系,其致使洪涝灾害发生的作用方式呈阶段性变化。降水和潮位的致灾影响基本是即时性的,河道消失的致灾影响则具有滞后性和持续性。多元回归分析表明,采用米市渡年最高潮位、年河道消失数和汛期雨量指标,可以进行洪涝灾害发生的趋势性预测。     

Local perception of infrequent,extreme upland flash flooding: prisoners of experience?

The United Kingdom has experienced several exceptional summer flash floods in recent years and there is growing concern about the frequency of such events and the preparedness of the population. This paper uses a case study of the upper Ryedale flash flood (2005) and questionnaire and interview data to assess local perceptions of upland flash flooding. Experience of a major flash flood may not be associated with increased flood risk perception. Despite local residents’ awareness of a trend towards wetter summers and more frequent heavy rainfall, the poor maintenance of rivers was more frequently thought to be a more significant factor influencing local flood risk than climate change. Such findings have important implications for the potential success of contemporary national flood policies, which have put greater emphasis on public responsibility for responding to flooding. This study recommends, therefore, the use of fresh participatory approaches to redistribute and raise awareness of locally‐held flood knowledge.     

珠江三角洲腹地洪水位异常变化及成因分析

珠江三角洲是我国东南沿海的经济发达地区.三角洲地区的防洪安全保障对区域的社会、经济发展具有举足轻重的作用.由于三角洲地区复杂的网河及口门构成,以及径流和潮汐共同影响的水动力条件,使三角洲的洪水水势表现出随时间和空间复杂变化的动态特征.20世纪80年代以来,三角洲地区受水土资源无序开发的人类活动的影响,90年代的洪水表现出了网河腹地河段洪水位异常壅高的现象,使区域的防洪安全受到严重威胁.结合"94.6","98.6"洪水期间三角洲腹地洪水水位异常壅高现象,综合分析了区域洪水位异常壅高的外部及内在成因,为科学制订三角洲地区防洪对策提供技术依据.     

基于GIS的长江中下游地区洪灾风险分区及评价

国内外近几年的发展表明,在所有可能避免和减轻自然灾害的措施中,最简单有效的方法就是通过在科学研究基础上进行风险区划,将自然灾害管理提高到风险管理的水平.在长江流域数字化地图的基础上,选取不同重复期(20,50,100年),及包括1870年历史洪水和1931,1935,1954,1991,1995,1996,1998,1999和2002年共10次洪水,借助Arcview地理信息系统的空间分析和叠加功能,对长江中下游地区的洪水灾害危险性进行了初步评价.首先参考洪水灾害淹没图和相关历史文献记录资料,构建10次洪水受灾县(市)分布图;其次对这10次洪水受灾县(市)分布图进行叠加,得到长江中下游地区洪涝灾害风险性评价图.分析表明:长江中下游地区洪水风险的分布是有规律的,而且具有明显的地理意义.有4个明显的高危风险区,分别是洞庭湖、鄱阳湖两湖平原的湖滨地区和公安以下的长江中游河段的沿江一带,尤其是荆江河段以及两江相夹地势低洼的江汉平原;沿高危风险区外侧为高风险地区,重点在汉江下游、资、沅、澧水、清江流域、皖沿江地区以及太湖流域的部分地区;沿长江于高危风险和高风险地区两侧分别为风险较小地区;其他地区对于洪水灾害而言则为安全地区.评价结果与长江中下游的实际情况基本吻合.     

黄河下游堤防保护范围的研究

历史上,黄河山东段曾多次泛滥,为了解定黄河下游堤防的保护范围及保护范围内的洪水风险,本文利用二维不规则网格非恒定流洪水仿真模型,研究了黄河下游山东段堤防的保护范围,该研究对于黄河下游堤防建设及两岸地区的防洪灾害具有重要的指导意义。     

龙湖水系与郑州市城市防洪关系研究

随着城市化的发展，郑州市城市防洪的压力不断增加，而规划中位于城市下游的龙湖水系是一项集生态、景观、旅游、水资源利用等多种功能于一体的综合性系统工程。本文分析了修建龙湖工程后发生各种重现期暴雨洪水时，与龙湖水系密切相关的城市河道的水情状态;通过水文水力计算，明确了龙湖工程与城市防洪的关系;论证了龙湖参与城市防洪的必要性和可能性，以及参与城市防洪的程度和条件。     

中国1840—1996年洪水灾害若干特征分析

在中国１８４０￣１９９６年洪水灾害相关资料的基础上,运用一般统计方法和分形理论分析了１８４０￣１９９６年洪水灾害的若干特征,包括１８４０￣１９９２年中国七大江河各等级水灾发生特征、中国１８４０￣１９８９年七大江河每十年洪水灾害发生频率的演进特征、中国１９５０￣１９９６年水灾受灾面积统计特征、中国１８４０￣１９４９年水灾受灾县数时间序列与１９５０￣１９９６年水灾受灾面积时间序列的分形特征等。