Drs Andy Large and Andy Russell, of Newcastle University's Earth Surface Processes Research Group, have secured Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Urgency funding to investigate the impact of the November 2009 floods on the river Derwent in Cumbria.
The year-long project grant, jointly held with Durham and Northumbria Universities, is supported by NERC's Airborne Research and Survey Facility (ARSF), who have acquired aerial photos and LiDAR (Light Detecting and Ranging) data of the flood impacted areas.
Between 18-20 November 2009, NW England was hit by an unprecedented total of 372 mm of rainfall - equivalent to a normal month's worth - setting a new UK record for extreme precipitation (previously 279 mm).
“The resulting flood was the most severe recorded in this region, and had major consequences for the population and infrastructure over a large area, as well as sadly involving loss of life,” said Dr Russell.
“Due to its huge impact, this recent flooding presents an unparalleled opportunity to gain insight into the impact of an extreme flood within both upland and lowland parts of a large area,” he added.
The team have to work quickly as most of the evidence they need to record and reconstruct the flood's path is transient.
This field-based project, which has received nearly £70k in funding, will examine the whole river corridor of the river Derwent from its source and through Bassenthwaite Lake to the lowland agricultural and urban areas.
“Greater understanding of flood processes and impacts is crucial if we are to accurately identify flood hazard and mitigate risk within ever-changing river systems,” said Dr Russell.
The research builds on Newcastle University's recent NERC-funded work on the 2008 Northumberland floods and also on glacier outburst floods within Arctic and sub-Arctic fluvial systems in Iceland and Greenland.
British Geological Survey pictures of the November 2009 flooding are also available online.
published on: 26th January 2010