2 datasets found

OpenLISEM is an open-source hydrological model suited for the simulation of floods, flash floods and erosion events. The following sections provide an overview of the results from the OpenLISEM model used in the exposure mapping A 30x30m flood map (maximum flood height) for the BuPuSa region was developed for several points on the intensity-frequency-duration curve. This curve represents the extreme value analysis (EVA) for the rainfall across the BuPuSa area. Based on 50 years of historic rainfall data from TAMSAT the EVA is developed for a 1000 year period. From this different rainfall intensities area taken which are referred to at the return period. The statistical possibility of a certain rainfall intensity to happen once in X many years. Flood maps were developed for the following return periods: 1/2, 1/10, 1/50, 1/100 and 1/1000. In addition to 5 different return periods, two different scenarios were modeled. A short high intensity rainfall event that typically causes flash floods, and a longer term lower intensity rainfall event that typically causes fluvial (river) floods. These events were represented by respectively a 6h rainfall event and a 14 day rainfall event. As a result 10 different flood maps were developed.

Zimbabwe is exposed to multiple weather-related hazards, suffering from frequent periodic cyclones, droughts, floods, and related epidemics and landslides. On 15 March 2019, tropical Cyclone Idai hit eastern Zimbabwe, and at least 172 deaths were reported, more than 186 people were injured and 327 were missing, while over 270,000 people were affected across nine districts, particularly in Chimanimani and Chipinge. Of those affected, 20,002 households (61.5%) or 100,106 people (74.2% of the 2012 population) were in Chimanimani. Meanwhile, ecosystem damage also occurred where boulders and mud were dumped downhill, affecting wildlife habitats, water quality, tourism activities and usability of land resources. The cyclone’s aftermath has therefore increased environmental risks, which will in turn affect local adaptation. Loss of vegetation cover means the natural defense against future flood waters and landslides is no longer available. Similar events in future are therefore likely to cause even more destruction. The overall objective of the initiative is therefore to reduce the vulnerability of communities in the Chimanimani and Chipinge Districts to natural disasters, such as floods, droughts and landslides; and to enhance water resource management as well as ecosystem services in response to the uncertainty of future climate change. The project is designed to approach the water-related risk and vulnerability through an integrated strategy that targets several aspects of disaster risk reduction, and provides scalable implementation of the project through a modular pathway and the development of case studies in target flood and landslide prone areas.