Documenting largest floods in the Wet Tropics catchments using geomorphology, hydrological and archival data
Lim, HanShe, McCloskey, Gillian, and Wasson, Robert (2024) Documenting largest floods in the Wet Tropics catchments using geomorphology, hydrological and archival data. Report. QLD Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (QDESI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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Abstract
This project combined palaeohydrological approaches and historical documentation to provide a solid basis for understanding extreme floods in the Wet Tropics of Far North Queensland. Importantly, the work has shown that extreme floods, larger than the Flood of Record (FoR), have occurred in the past and are likely to occur again in the future. A review of tropical and subtropical rivers in Australia reveal that palaeoflood discharges are generally greater than FoR, indicating that flood frequency using the short modern day gauged record may not adequately capture the larger floods that have occurred in the past. The palaeofloods studied fall within the scope of the Australian Envelope Curve (AEC) with the tropical rivers of Queensland lying on the AEC. It is likely that larger palaeofloods exist but their flood discharges have not been calculated, making these sites important areas for future flood studies. Climate drivers, ENSO and IPO, are important drivers of flooding for the Barron River. Key areas of future work include investigations into the role climate drivers play in floods in the Wet Tropics, hydraulic modelling of the Barron River fan delta area to assess flood risk given that the recent ex-TC Jasper flood (17 December 2023), improved estimates of mass loads for extreme flood events as well as communicating the results of this work to local communities.
| Item ID: | 82481 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Report (Report) |
| Funders: | QLD Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (QDESI) |
| Projects and Grants: | (QDESI) Queensland Water Modelling Network |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Jun 2024 02:01 |
| FoR Codes: | 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4199 Other environmental sciences > 419999 Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified @ 100% |
| SEO Codes: | 19 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL HAZARDS > 1904 Natural hazards > 190404 Hydrological hazards (e.g. avalanches and floods) @ 100% |
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