Terrain data from aerial mapping company Bluesky is being used to upgrade the first national climate change flood model for the UK. Created by flood risk modelling firm Ambiental Risk Analytics, the FloodFutures map brings together the latest river flow, rainfall, storm surge and climate change predictions and addresses all major sources of flooding.
“The impact of global warming and rising sea levels is intensifying, and the UK is witnessing higher temperatures and changing rainfall patterns resulting in more intense storms, more extreme flash flooding and more frequent droughts,” said Rob Carling of Ambiental Risk Analytics. He said the partnership with Bluesky will underpin the creation and promotion of his firm’s evolving Climate Suite products.
FloodFutures, part of Climate Suite, addresses all major sources of flooding for current and future emissions scenarios – including rivers, tidal, and surface water (which is also known as pluvial flooding). Ten flood scenarios are presented, allowing a quick assessment of risk in relation to physical infrastructure, environmental features and population. Information is provided for the present day, and three different climate scenarios (low, medium and high emissions) in three future epochs (2020s, 2050s and 2080s). This release of the FloodFutures range is based on UKCP climate predictions.
