Hydrological flood risk assessment for Ceatalchioi locality, Danube Delta

Authors

  • Marian Mierlă Department of Geography,Faculty of Geography and Geology,“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania
  • Gheorghe Romanescu Department of Geography,Faculty of Geography and Geology,“Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Romania

Keywords:

Danube Delta, flood hazard, flood vulnerability, flood risk

Abstract

The paper presents a method to assess flood risk for a village in the Danube Delta. The Danube Delta was declared a Ramsar site in 1991 (Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and rational use of wetlands and their resources). This delta is one of the largest area of wetlands in Europe and has the largest compact reed surface on the continent. In 1992 Danube Delta was declared a Biosphere Reserve, having two main features the rich biodiversity and the presence of human communities. Human communities in the Danube Delta are represented mainly by rural settlements (except Sulina, in fact, the only city in the delta). These localities are at risk from flooding as their location is in the vicinity of the watercourse. Flood risk has little significance without taking into analysis the anthropic component. Each village has its specificity in many respects, including the flood. Flood risk assessment which takes into account the fact that it is directly proportional with hazard and vulnerability. The method by which the risk calculation is based on the application of GIS techniques (Geographical Information Systems) in revealing hazard and vulnerability. As a result, this paper aims to obtain flood risk map for the area of the Ceatachioi village. The result of this work is useful to policy makers to draw up action plans to reduce and even eliminate the risk and the effects of floods. These plans may include structural and/or non-structural measures.

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Published

2013-10-31

Issue

Section

Articles