New research has concluded that northern Britain is experiencing the largest increase in flood events in Europe due to climate change, with major increases in flood risk expected.
An international research team involving 35 institutions across 24 European countries - including the University of Liverpool - analysed river data from thousands of locations over a 50-year period.
Increasing flood events
The researchers found that flood events are becoming increasingly severe in north western Europe, but particularly in northern England and southern Scotland - which have seen an 11 per cent increase per decade in flood levels since 1960.
The study was the largest of its kind to date, with the researchers saying the findings provided the clearest evidence yet that climate change is linked to increased severity of flooding in Europe.
The data showed clear regional differences across the continent, with floods increasing in central and north western countries but decreasing in southern and eastern Europe.
North ‘must adapt’
If the trends continue, the researchers said major increases in flood risk and rising costs from flood damage can be expected.
The University of Liverpool’s Dr Neil Macdonald, co-author of the study, said: “Flood management must adapt to the realities of our changing climate and associated flood risk over the coming decades.”
Separate research led by the University of Liverpool recently found that the extreme floods which hit the North West in 2009 and 2015 were the region’s largest in over half a millennia.
In related news, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has predicted that climate-induced water stress in southern England could result in water supplies in the North being re-routed to other regions.
