HWRS Flood Seminar 2011

HWRS 696F Section 002 jump to class schedule

Advanced Topics in Surface Hydrology and Modeling

Flood Hydrometeorology & Hydroclimatology
—Implications for Global Change and Extreme Hydrology
1-3 units on Thursdays 5:15 – 7:45 pm
Tree-Ring Laboratory Conference Room
104c West Stadium Map & Directions

Instructor: Katie Hirschboeck , Associate Professor of Climatology Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research & Chair, Global Change GIDP

Email: katie@ltrr.arizona.edu
Office: 208 West Stadium -- MAP with directions to my office
Office Hours: Wed 2 - 3 pm or by email appointment

Course Description: This graduate seminar course will focus on the meteorological and climate-related causes of floods, both regionally and globally. After an overview of flood-generating processes, participants will examine and present case studies of a selection of past major flood events in the United States based on published post-flood reports (USGS, NOAA). In tandem with these case studies, we will review and discuss the relevant classic and current scientific literature on flood hydrometeorology, hydroclimatology, extreme precipitation events, and flooding and climate change. To apply the knowledge gained, participants will conduct a detailed analysis of a selected watershed’s flood history to assess the past, present, and (projected) future climate-related drivers of the watershed’s flooding variability. The semester will close with readings and discussion on the policy and planning implications that emerge from this physically based, climate-linked understanding of the underlying causes of flooding variability.

UPDATED CLASS SCHEDULE WITH READINGS

Useful links: USGS Publication Warehouse Katie's Quick Access to Journals NOAA US Daily Weather Maps Project

Wk	DATE	TOPIC / CLASS ACTIVITY	READINGS
	FLOOD GENERATING PROCESSES
1	Jan 13	Overview of Course Introduction to Flood Hydroclimatology KKH Presentation: A Process-Based “Bottom-Up” Approach for Addressing Changing Flood-Climate Relationships	Be ready to discuss the readings on the corresponding class date. Discussion preparation guidelines to be posted soon.
2	Jan 20	Hydrometeorology & flood generating processes “Flood Climates” & Synoptic-scale flood patterns KKH presentation: Overlapping Scales and the Atmospheric Causes of Floods	Hirschboeck, 1988 Flood Hydroclimatology Hirschboeck et al., 2001 Hydroclimatology of Meteorologic Floods Hirschboeck, 1991, Climate and Floods (handout) Hayden, 1988 Flood Climates Hirschboeck, 1987 Catastrophic Flooding and atmospheric circulation anomalies
3	Jan 27	Case study selections Instead of class: open office hours: 9 am – 5 pm for one-on-one meetings with KKH to select case study => Sign up on the Doodle (to be emailed) for a time slot	National Water Summary (Floods & Droughts) WSP 2375 [requires djVu plugin ] National Water Summary (Surface-Water Resources) WSP 2300 [requires djVu plugin ] Dartmouth Flood Observatory Hirschboeck, 1987 Catastrophic Flooding and atmospheric circulation anomalies
4	Feb 3	local flash floods and meso-scale patterns KKH Presentation: Hydroclimatic Context of Monsoon & Other Flooding in the SW	Michaud et al., 2001, Regional variations in small- basin floods in the United States Maddox et al. 1979. Synoptic and meso-a scale aspects of flash flood events Maddox et al., 1980, Meteorological characteristics of flash flood events over the Western United States Doswell et al. , 1996, Flash flood forecasting: an ingredients-based methodology
	FLOOD CASE STUDIES Guidelines for Case Study Presentations Case Study Reference List
5	Feb 10	Arizona floods RAM presentation: Flash Flood Forecasting: An Historical Perspective	(review readings posted above for Feb 3rd)
6	Feb 17	Nevada / Western U.S. floods Caitlin's presentation: Western US Floods: Eldorado Canyon Flood and other notable floods in Nevada	see REFERENCE LIST
7	Feb 24	Ohio Floods Flooding in Ohio A Breakdown of the Effects of Flood Causing Events	see REFERENCE LIST
8	Mar 3	Northeastern U.S. floods Patrick's presentation Flooding in the Mid-Atlantic States & Notable Western flash floods Stephen's presentation Notable Western U.S. Flash Floods	see REFERENCE LIST
9	Mar 10	Louisiana floods Natashia's presentation Notable Floods in Louisiana & Texas floods Erin's presentation	see REFERENCE LIST
	Mar 17	Spring break – no class
	PAST & PRESENT FLOODING & TRENDS EXTREMES
10	Mar 24	Past floods / paleoflood records VRB presentation & discussion	Baker, V.R. , 2008, Paleoflood hydrology: origins, progress, prospects: Jarret, R.D. (1991) Paleohydrology and its value in analyzing floods and droughts in USGS WSP 2375 - begins on p 117 in National Water Summary online publ: http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/djvu/WSP/wsp_2375.djvu) House, P.K., and Hirschboeck, K.K., 1997, Hydroclimatological and paleohydrological context of extreme winter flooding in Arizona, 1993.
11	Mar 31 SEES Earthweek	Instead of class this week, attend Earthweek events	Earthweek Plenary Speaker: Jorge Cham ( creator of Piled Higher and Deeper comics) will speak on "The Power of Procrastination" Thursday 4:00 pm @ North Ballroom, Student Union
12	Apr 7	Recent notable global floods Trends in extreme precipitation vs. extreme flooding readings discussion	readings to be posted
	POLICY & PLANNING IMPLICATIONS
13	Apr 14	Implications of flood hydroclimatology for the “100 Year Flood” readings discussion	Background article explaining the origins of the 100 -year flood manual: Guidelines for Determining Flood Flow Frequency, Bulletin 17B: Benson, M. 1968 Uniform flood-frequency estimating methods for federal agencies, WRR v 4, p 891-908 Two engaging critical essays about FFA: Klemes, V. 1987, Hydrological and Engineering relevance of flood frequency analysis in Hydrologic Frequency Modeling, V.P. Singh (ed), D. Reidel Pub. Co. Klemes, V. 1989, The improbable probabilities of extreme floods and droughts in Hydrology of Disasters, O. Starosolszky and O.A. Melder, (eds). WMO Two additional essays (mentioned in class) about "dilettantism": Klemes, V. 1986, Dilettantism in Hydrology: Transition or Destiny? WRR v 22, p 177S-188S Hirschboeck, KK, A room with a view: some geographic perspectives on dilettantism, cross-training, and scale in hydrology: Annals, AAG v 89, p 696-706 A more recent review article: Kidson, R and Richards, K.S. 2005, Flood frequency analysis: assumptions and alternatives, Progress in Physical Geography 29, 3, p 392-410. Lastly, a provocative article on what's wrong with our understanding of the nation's flood problems: Pielke, Jr., R.A, 1999, Nine Fallacies of floods , Climatic Change 42, 413-438 Two additional essays (mentioned in class) about "dilettantism": Klemes, V. 1986, Dilettantism in Hydrology: Transition or Destiny? WRR v 22, p 177S-188S Hirschboeck, KK, A room with a view: some geographic perspectives on dilettantism, cross-training, and scale in hydrology: Annals, AAG v 89, p 696-706
14	Apr21	no class this week	work on term projects this week!!
15	Apr 28	Climate change and future flooding readings discussion	see Flood Trends REFERENCE LIST
TBD		Class Finale: Research presentations & Class Wrap Up student research presentations	Details on presentaions to be posted soon