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The Role of Global Data Sets for Riverine Flood Risk Management at National Scales
Author(s) -
Bernhofen Mark V.,
Cooper Sarah,
Trigg Mark,
Mdee Anna,
Carr Andrew,
Bhave Ajay,
SolanoCorrea Yady Tatiana,
PencueFierro Edgar Leonairo,
Teferi Ermias,
Haile Alemseged Tamiru,
Yusop Zulkifli,
Alias Nor Eliza,
Sa'adi Zulfaqar,
Bin Ramzan Muhamad Anwar,
Dhanya C. T.,
Shukla Prabhakar
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2021wr031555
Subject(s) - flood myth , vulnerability (computing) , scale (ratio) , environmental resource management , risk management , flood risk management , hazard , geography , environmental planning , emergency management , population , business , environmental science , computer science , cartography , economic growth , environmental health , economics , computer security , medicine , chemistry , archaeology , finance , organic chemistry
Abstract Over the last two decades, several data sets have been developed to assess flood risk at the global scale. In recent years, some of these data sets have become detailed enough to be informative at national scales. The use of these data sets nationally could have enormous benefits in areas lacking existing flood risk information and allow better flood management decisions and disaster response. In this study, we evaluate the usefulness of global data for assessing flood risk in five countries: Colombia, England, Ethiopia, India, and Malaysia. National flood risk assessments are carried out for each of the five countries using six data sets of global flood hazard, seven data sets of global population, and three different methods for calculating vulnerability. We also conduct interviews with key water experts in each country to explore what capacity there is to use these global data sets nationally. We find that the data sets differ substantially at the national level, and this is reflected in the national flood risk estimates. While some global data sets could be of significant value for national flood risk management, others are either not detailed enough, or too outdated to be relevant at this scale. For the relevant global data sets to be used most effectively for national flood risk management, a country needs a functioning, institutional framework with capability to support their use and implementation.