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Coping with variability and change: Floods and droughts
Author(s) -
Kundzewicz Zbigniew W.,
Budhakooncharoen Saisunee,
Bronstert Axel,
Hoff Holger,
Lettenmaier Dennis,
Menzel Lucas,
Schulze Roland
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/1477-8947.00029
Subject(s) - flood myth , climate change , coping (psychology) , vulnerability (computing) , natural disaster , environmental science , environmental resource management , warning system , environmental planning , natural resource economics , water resource management , geography , climatology , meteorology , economics , computer science , ecology , psychology , telecommunications , computer security , archaeology , psychiatry , biology , geology
Floods and droughts are natural phenomena for which the risks of occurrence are likely to continue to grow. Increasing levels of exposure and insufficient adaptive capacity are among the factors responsible for the rising vulnerability. The former is conditioned by anthropopressure (e.g., economic development of flood–prone areas) and adverse effects of climate change; scenarios for future climates indicate the possibility of amplified water–related extremes. This article presents the current situation of coping with extreme hydrological events within the pressure–state–response framework. Among promising response strategies, the role of forecast and warning, and of watershed management are reviewed. Sample success stories and lessons learnt related to hydrological extremes are given and policy implications discussed.