A METHOD FOR IDENTIFICATION OF SMALL CARPATHIAN CATCHMENTS MORE PRONE TO FLASH FLOOD GENERATION. BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF SOUTH-EASTERN PART OF THE POLISH CARPATHIANS - Carpathian Journal of Earth And Environmental Sciences

The European Union has obligated all Members States, to perform a preliminary assessment to identify the catchments at risk of flooding. Usually, hydro-meteorological data and historical information about flooding are used to determine whether a catchment is at risk of flooding or not. Such information is missing for many small Carpathian catchments. Therefore, a method, enabling identification of small catchments more prone to flash flood generation, was proposed. The method focused on physiographic parameters of catchment. Eighty-five catchments where flash floods were well-documented, were described by physiographic parameters. The parameters described dimension, shape, relief, hydrological and geological conditions and land use. Then, the influence of those parameters on flash flood formation process was studied. The results revealed that physiographic parameters of those catchments made them more sensitive to flash flood generation. On the basis of these parameters, types of the Carpathian catchments more prone to flash flood generation were created. The method was tested in south-eastern part of the Polish Carpathians. Catchments resembling the types were identified within a group of 366 catchment located in this area. The results revealed that many flash flood events recorded in the study area, had taken place within catchments identified by use of the method. This fact suggests that the method enable to identify catchments more prone to flash flooding in the geographical space. Therefore, the method may be a valuable tool in the process of flood risk management in the Carpathians.