Regionalised impacts of climate change on flood flows
This project assessed whether a regional approach could be used for guidance on how climate change might affect the highest water flows in specific catchments.
Documents
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email: defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.
Details
This project assessed whether a regional, rather than national, approach could be used for guidance on how climate change might affect the highest water flows in specific catchments.
Background
‘The flood and coastal defence project appraisal guidance’ - FCDPAG3 (October 2006) recommended increasing the predictions of peak flows between 2025 and 2115 by 20% in all catchments, based on evidence available at the time. This project was designed to increase the evidence available to see if a more targeted regional approach could be used.
The research found that the 20% increase, which had been seen as a precaution rather than necessarily accurate, was in fact no longer sufficient. it did not cover predicted changes in many catchments. It also found strong evidence that the way a catchment responds to climate change is influenced by factors specific to that catchment. This means that a single national increase might not be the most useful approach. It might be possible to develop regional allowances based on the type of catchment.
Outcome
The project provided vital information for developing regional guidance on climate change and flood flows in Britain (since carried out as part of project FD2648, ‘Practicalities for implementing regionalised allowances for climate change on flood flows’).
The project was started in 2005 and completed in 2009 at a cost of £236,683.