engleski

An overview of flooding in coastal cities in Croatia

In the last decades, coastal flooding linked to climate change has an upward trend, and the vulnerability of nature, people, infrastructure, and economic sector aggregates. Torrential floods of smaller watercourses due to short-term high- intensity rains, pluvial flooding in urban areas, sea storm surge floods by extreme weather are increasing and posing threats to Croatian coastal cities. Although coastal flooding is identified as a hazard relevant for Croatia, risk assessment is yet to be created. Adriatic coastal river basins of Istria and Dalmatia encompasses 33% of Croatian river basins, where 1.025 areas of potentially significant flood risk have been identified. Area of 11.586 km2 and 1.171, 986 inhabitants living in the coastal area are exposed to different flooding types. We analysed confirmed data of coastal floods, including extreme tidal levels and/or storm surges in the coastal area between 1966 and 2018. In total, 66 events have been reported, with an evident increase in trend in the last decade. Most of the floods were triggered by heavy rain accompanied by strong Jugo wind during the winter season. Coastal towns of Rovinj, Rijeka, Bakar, Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik, and Vela Luka's island settlements (Korčula Island) and Jelsa (Hvar Island) have been identified as highly exposed to flooding. Besides the official number of sea flooding events, the actual number of floods in these cities is much higher and occurs annually. Adriatic coastal area is steep, and the effect of a sea-level change should not present a level of threat such in a low-lying coastal area of western Adriatic. Particular geomorphology, geology, meteorological, and climatological conditions coupled with urbanisation create perfect urban flooding conditions regardless of their origin. In order to establish the level of vulnerability, comprehensive coastal analysis needs to be conducted. The development of a regional coastal vulnerability index is needed for establishing all underlying vulnerability factors.

coastal flooding, sea-level, vulnerability, Croatia

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