Generation of Spatially Heterogeneous Flood Events in an Alpine Region—Adaptation and Application of a Multivariate Modelling Procedure

• Main Authors: Klaus Schneeberger, Thomas Steinberger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-01-01
• Series: Hydrology
• Subjects: spatially heterogeneous flood events; multivariate modelling procedure; seasonality of runoff; Heffernan and Tawn model
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5338/5/1/5

Flooding often has a negative impact on society. In particular, widespread flood events can cause a lot of damage. These events are often spatially and temporally heterogeneous and should be duly considered for an appropriate analysis of flooding. Therefore, a conditional multivariate approach is adapted and applied in order to (i) contribute to a better understanding of the spatial characteristics of fluvial floods and (ii) to deliver sets of synthetically generated flood events. The present paper focuses on a simulation procedure consisting of careful data preparation and selection and the application of a conditional multivariate approach. The conditional approach is adapted to account for the seasonality of runoff data. Model checks attuned to the model are presented to ensure the consistence of simulated and observed data. The Austrian Province Vorarlberg was chosen as the study area. A thorough data analysis of runoff time series showed that the hydrological behaviour is characterized by a strong seasonality that was considered within the applied modelling procedure. The analysis of the spatial dependence of high river flows identified regions where floods likely occur simultaneously and regions with low spatial dependence. The main result of the modelling procedure, a large set of widespread flood events, was successfully generated.