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Stormy geomorphology: geomorphic contributions in an age of climate extremes

Stormy geomorphology: geomorphic contributions in an age of climate extremes
Stormy geomorphology: geomorphic contributions in an age of climate extremes
The increasing frequency and/or severity of extreme climate events are becoming increasingly apparent over multidecadal timescales at the global scale, albeit with relatively low scientific confidence. At the regional scale, scientific confidence in the future trends of extreme event likelihood is stronger, although the trends are spatially variable. Confidence in these extreme climate risks is muddied by the confounding effects of internal landscape system dynamics and external forcing factors such as changes in land use and river and coastal engineering. Geomorphology is a critical discipline in disentangling climate change impacts from other controlling factors, thereby contributing to debates over societal adaptation to extreme events. We review four main geomorphic contributions to flood and storm science. First, we show how palaeogeomorphological and current process studies can extend the historical flood record while also unraveling the complex interactions between internal geomorphic dynamics, human impacts and changesin climate regimes. A key outcome will be improved quantification of flood probabilities and the hazard dimension of flood risk. Second, we present evidence showing how antecedent geomorphological and climate parameters can alter the risk and magnitude of landscape change caused by extreme events. Third, we show that geomorphic processes can both mediate and increase the geomorphological impacts of extreme events, influencing societal risk. Fourthly, we show the potential of managing flood and storm risk through the geomorphic system, both near-term (next 50 years) and longer-term. We recommend that key methods of managing flooding and erosion will be more effective if risk assessments include palaeodata, if geomorphological science is used to underpin nature-based management approaches, and if land-use management addresses changes in geomorphic process regimes that extreme events can trigger. We argue that adopting geomorphologically-grounded adaptation strategies will enable society to develop more resilient, less vulnerable socio-geomorphological systems fit for an age of climate extremes.
0197-9337
166-190
Naylor, L.A.
f7ad4a24-fdc6-4981-ac45-9c272f88cdc1
Spencer, T.
2d8afa33-43b1-4253-b6c2-94de274f2ced
Lane, S.N.
93abcd8c-0d79-4dbc-9945-8792ec934a74
Darby, S.E.
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Magilligan, F.J.
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Macklin, M.G.
fadb2bc3-503f-44ba-9ade-d2f8b0c9ea27
Moller, I.
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Naylor, L.A.
f7ad4a24-fdc6-4981-ac45-9c272f88cdc1
Spencer, T.
2d8afa33-43b1-4253-b6c2-94de274f2ced
Lane, S.N.
93abcd8c-0d79-4dbc-9945-8792ec934a74
Darby, S.E.
4c3e1c76-d404-4ff3-86f8-84e42fbb7970
Magilligan, F.J.
9695aa96-2cca-45bc-ba13-bbf6dc557f5b
Macklin, M.G.
fadb2bc3-503f-44ba-9ade-d2f8b0c9ea27
Moller, I.
53542685-b995-43dc-ae14-2db2cbbbd4ab

Naylor, L.A., Spencer, T., Lane, S.N., Darby, S.E., Magilligan, F.J., Macklin, M.G. and Moller, I. (2017) Stormy geomorphology: geomorphic contributions in an age of climate extremes. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 42 (1), 166-190. (doi:10.1002/esp.4062).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The increasing frequency and/or severity of extreme climate events are becoming increasingly apparent over multidecadal timescales at the global scale, albeit with relatively low scientific confidence. At the regional scale, scientific confidence in the future trends of extreme event likelihood is stronger, although the trends are spatially variable. Confidence in these extreme climate risks is muddied by the confounding effects of internal landscape system dynamics and external forcing factors such as changes in land use and river and coastal engineering. Geomorphology is a critical discipline in disentangling climate change impacts from other controlling factors, thereby contributing to debates over societal adaptation to extreme events. We review four main geomorphic contributions to flood and storm science. First, we show how palaeogeomorphological and current process studies can extend the historical flood record while also unraveling the complex interactions between internal geomorphic dynamics, human impacts and changesin climate regimes. A key outcome will be improved quantification of flood probabilities and the hazard dimension of flood risk. Second, we present evidence showing how antecedent geomorphological and climate parameters can alter the risk and magnitude of landscape change caused by extreme events. Third, we show that geomorphic processes can both mediate and increase the geomorphological impacts of extreme events, influencing societal risk. Fourthly, we show the potential of managing flood and storm risk through the geomorphic system, both near-term (next 50 years) and longer-term. We recommend that key methods of managing flooding and erosion will be more effective if risk assessments include palaeodata, if geomorphological science is used to underpin nature-based management approaches, and if land-use management addresses changes in geomorphic process regimes that extreme events can trigger. We argue that adopting geomorphologically-grounded adaptation strategies will enable society to develop more resilient, less vulnerable socio-geomorphological systems fit for an age of climate extremes.

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Accepted/In Press date: 10 October 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 5 December 2016
Published date: January 2017
Organisations: Earth Surface Dynamics

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 403591
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/403591
ISSN: 0197-9337
PURE UUID: 1296a07b-5e23-497f-bbc3-04b48d05b452
ORCID for S.E. Darby: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8778-4394

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Date deposited: 07 Dec 2016 09:11
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 02:59

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Contributors

Author: L.A. Naylor
Author: T. Spencer
Author: S.N. Lane
Author: S.E. Darby ORCID iD
Author: F.J. Magilligan
Author: M.G. Macklin
Author: I. Moller

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