Effect of urbanization on flash flood risks andestimation in rural areas: A case study of BabolRiver in Iran

The rapid urbanization and universal industrialization negatively affect flash flood risk. In this researchwe investigated the effect of urbanization on flash flood risk and its estimation in rural area. In linewith that, we collected hydrological data (e.g. annual rainfall, annual runoff etc.), soil type and annualpick disgrace (Q) from ۴۰ basins of Babol River in IRAN. It was observed that the annul runoff values insub-basins number A, B, ۶ - ۱۱ and ۱۷ were increased up to ۴۰% due to urbanization and reducing thesoil filterability in these basins. The results of the flood estimation through using Q-A graph revealedthat, the k values increased from ۰.۰۰۵۶ to ۰.۰۰۸ which means urbanization can affect flood estimationup to ۴۲% lower than the actual flood of the high risk basin. This case study proved that urbanizationin rural area can increase flood risk up to ۵۰% (۱.۵ fold) which is a severe problem that should beaddress appropriately

Keywords:

Urbanization , Flash flood risk , Flood estimation , Babol River