flood mitigation strategies<\/a>. Without accurate assessments, resources may be distributed inequitably, leaving vulnerable populations at greater risk.<\/p>\nEconomic stability also hinges on accurate modelling, as businesses in flood-prone areas require precise risk assessments to make sound operational and investment decisions.<\/p>\n
By transitioning to advanced modelling techniques, scientists can provide a more accurate and comprehensive picture of flood risks.<\/p>\n
This, in turn, empowers communities, governments, and industries to take meaningful and evidence-based actions to mitigate the impacts of flooding.<\/p>\n
The problem with bathtub modelling<\/h3>\n Bathtub modelling, a method that assumes floodwaters spread evenly across affected areas like water filling a bathtub, has long been used to visualise potential flood impacts.<\/p>\n
While straightforward and visually intuitive, this method often fails to represent the complexities of real-world flooding.<\/p>\n
This technique does not account for key factors that influence flood behaviour, including the role of storm drains, levees, and pumping systems that manage water flow.<\/p>\n
Additionally, it overlooks tidal amplification, the impact of rising groundwater, and the friction and dynamics that shape flood events.<\/p>\n
As a result, bathtub models can both overestimate and underestimate flood risks, leading to unreliable hazard maps.<\/p>\n
The researchers point out that studies using bathtub modelling often produce critical success index (CSI) scores below 0.5.<\/p>\n
This score, which measures the accuracy of flood extent predictions, indicates that bathtub models perform worse than a random classification.<\/p>\n
The authors argue that models need a CSI of at least 0.65 to be locally relevant and useful for practical applications.<\/p>\n
Misleading projections and their impact<\/h3>\n The limitations of bathtub modelling are compounded by the way its results are sometimes presented to the public.<\/p>\n
Dramatic visualisations of flooded cities, often based on oversimplified data, can mislead policymakers and the public about the true risks of flooding.<\/p>\n
While these images may attract attention, they fail to provide actionable insights, potentially leading to poor decision-making.<\/p>\n
For communities in flood-prone areas, inaccurate models can erode trust. If projections do not align with lived experiences, residents may be less likely to prepare for future risks.<\/p>\n
Conversely, exaggerated forecasts can create unnecessary panic or lead to inefficient allocation of resources for flood defences. These missteps emphasise the need for more precise flood risk assessments<\/a> to guide policy and planning effectively.<\/p>\nA call for change<\/h3>\n The researchers behind this study stress that the climate science community must move away from outdated approaches like bathtub modelling.<\/p>\n
While these methods have been widely used for their simplicity, their inaccuracies make them unsuitable for the growing challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels.<\/p>\n
Improved modelling techniques are needed to produce trustworthy flood hazard maps that can guide mitigation strategies, inform policymaking, and empower communities.<\/p>\n
Without accurate and reliable models, efforts to adapt to increasing flood risks may fall short, leaving people and assets vulnerable to devastating impacts.<\/p>\n
As the frequency and severity of flooding events continue to rise, ensuring that projections are both scientifically robust and practically relevant is more important than ever.<\/p>\n
By adopting more advanced methods, scientists can provide the tools necessary to build resilience in the face of a changing climate.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Discover why experts are urging a shift from outdated bathtub modelling to more accurate flood risk assessment methods.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":53785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24433],"tags":[24549,758],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Advancing flood risk analysis: transitioning from bathtub modelling<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n