Risk Mapping of Coastal Flooding Areas. Case Studies: Scilla and Monasterace (Italy)

Abstract

Coastal flooding is a danger to people who live near coasts. It is therefore necessary to increase knowledge of the causes of coastal flooding through scientific research. Furthermore, the correct assessment of flooding areas is very important for the management of coastal areas. Given this, the current European legislation (Directive 2007/60/EC) requires flood areas to be mapped, but to date in Italy each region is still adopting different procedures to map their flood areas. This paper, through two case studies, analyzes the hazard, damage and risk mapping of coastal flooding areas. The cases are related to two Calabrian towns, located along the Ionian coast (Monasterace), and the Tyrrhenian coast (Scilla), with both particularly prone to coastal flooding. In particular, with regards to the hazard mapping, the effects of sea storms and climate changes were taken into account. The damage assessment followed an "ex ante" approach, based on the employment of land use maps, in accordance with current Italian legislation. Furthermore, risk maps were added, and obtained by combining both damage and hazard maps. Finally, a comparison with previous events allowed us to verify the validity of the proposed methodology.

Possible Increases in Floodable Areas Due to Climate Change: The Case Study of Calabria (Italy)

“…In addition, climate change has consequences on wave motion [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] and on the increase in frequency and intensity of various natural events such as floods, sea storms, and extreme events [31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. These events, in addition to average sea level rise, can cause coastal erosion [38][39][40][41] and coastal flooding phenomena [42][43][44][45][46]. Additionally, the significant increase in anthropogenic pressures observed in the second half of the last century [47][48][49][50][51][52][53] have caused an increase in impermeable surfaces, with negative consequences on vulnerability of territories under the action of climate change and natural events, especially in the case of concurrent events [54][55][56][57][58].…”

Beach and Dune Erosion: Causes and Interventions, Case Study: Kaulon Archaeological Site

“…Often these alterations are caused by anthropogenic factors such as the construction of buildings, infrastructures, ports and coastal defense works in coastal areas [17], and the construction of hydraulic structures interfere with fluvial dynamics such as levees, dams, and inert drains from riverbeds [18,19]. On the other hand, the short-term variations are mainly related to natural factors such as single sea storm [20], cluster of sea storms [21,22], extreme flood events [23], or concurrent events [24][25][26] which cause coastal flooding [27]. Instead, a full dune recovery generally can take several decades [28].…”

Coastal Erosion Hazard and Vulnerability: Case Study of Porticello, South Calabria, Italy

“…Furthermore, due to anthropogenic pressure there is an increase in the vulnerability of coastal areas to the action of floods and sea storms [27]- [29], especially in case of concurrent events [30]- [32]. The frequency and the intensity of these events can be increased by climate change, which also have consequences on sea level rise and, therefore, on erosive processes [33], [34].…”