A new £40 million project will see scientists utilise real-time data to better predict the locations of future droughts and floods across the UK.
The project will establish the UK’s first nationwide network dedicated to understanding the impact of extreme weather. Led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), the project aims to pinpoint vulnerable areas and develop strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme weather events.
“Flooding and droughts can devastate UK communities, from leaving people stranded, to destroying homes, gardens, roads and businesses, and even claiming lives,” explained Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.
“With climate change sadly making extreme weather events more common and adding an eye-watering cost to the economy, there is no time to waste in backing our researchers and innovators to ensure we are better prepared for floods and droughts striking.”
The project will leverage a range of advanced technologies, including sensors, real-time computer monitoring, and a vast database encompassing river profiles, atmospheric conditions, ground saturation levels, water movement, and water abstraction and storage data. By analysing this wealth of information, researchers aim to gain a clearer understanding of when and where extreme weather events are likely to occur.
Floods and droughts pose significant threats to the UK, with the former causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and agriculture, and the latter impacting water supplies and ecosystems. The economic cost of such events is estimated at £740 million annually.
The research will be conducted at UKCEH offices around the country, with contributions from the British Geological Survey, the University of Bristol, and Imperial College London. The findings will be shared with organisations such as the Environment Agency to inform the national response to extreme weather. The project will also serve as a hub for innovation, with discoveries disseminated globally to help other countries limit the impacts of climate change.
“In the case of extreme flooding and drought, preparation and prediction are everything. Our new institute will bring together a team of world-leading researchers and the latest technology to ensure our communities, businesses, and farms are protected from these devastating events,” commented Floods Minister Emma Hardy.
This initiative forms part of a wider government investment of £5.6 billion in flood defences between 2021 and 2027.
“Earth’s changing climate means the number of extreme floods and droughts will increase in the UK, impacting homes, businesses, and services,” said Professor Louise Heathwaite, Executive Chair of NERC.
”But predicting their location and measuring their intensity and impact needs the sort of scientific advances that this programme will bring to overcome the data and analytical constraints that are currently very challenging.”
Over 100 coastal risk management projects are already underway to protect thousands of properties from flooding. Additionally, a new Flood Resilience Taskforce will soon be launched to expedite the delivery of flood defences, drainage systems, and natural flood management schemes.
(Photo by Chris Gallagher)
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