Important study by a team of researchers from Newcastle and Northumbria Universities into the effects of flooding is extended

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND, October 08, 2010 (Press-News.org) An important study which will help emergency response agencies, local authorities and communities cope with flash floods, like those experienced in the North East of England and Cumbria has been awarded additional funding by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

A team of researchers from Newcastle and Northumbria Universities has been awarded a GBP65,000 grant to extend their study into the environmental impact of flooding caused by the recent volcanic activity in Iceland.

Andy Russell, Professor of Physical Geography at Newcastle University's School of Geography, Politics and Sociology (GPS), leads the research team. Professor Russell has spent his career examining the effects of flooding and high impact natural disasters.

Professor Russell explains: "The additional funding is fantastic news for the project. Iceland's regular volcanic activity and extensive glaciers make it the perfect natural laboratory for us to advance the science of flooding.

"The results of our investigations will be used to inform environmental management plans, assist emergency response provision and flood prevention schemes to help communities prepare and cope with freak flooding incidents, the likes of which we've experienced both in the North of England and in other parts of the UK in recent years."

In March, Professor Russell and his team were studying the Eyjafjallajökull volcano and surrounding glaciers just before it erupted. "The potential for a significant natural disaster was evident because the Icelandic volcano is capped by a large glacier, which if melted, could have caused serious flooding, said Professor Russell.

"Our ongoing study of the landscape in Iceland primarily looks at issues including how flood water, sediment and ice travel along river channels and affect man-made structures such as bridges and flood barriers. In Iceland, flood flow around icebergs is comparative to how flood water from UK river systems travels around natural obstacles such as trees and woodland. The knowledge and understanding we are gaining through the Icelandic research can help to shape where and how things are built in the future."

Welcoming the NERC funding, Dr Sue Loughlin, head of volcanology at the British Geological Survey, said: "Glacial floods in Iceland can be devastating, wiping away homes, farms, roads and bridges with little or no warning.

"Based on their work before the eruption, Newcastle University are in a unique position to study the deposits and impacts of the Eyjafjallajökull glacial floods (jökulhlaups) and they will also gain important insights into the processes taking place during a subglacial eruption."

Professor Russell and the team will now be making regular trips to Iceland to continue gathering data.

"Post flood surveys are necessary because they will provide input data for flood models which help to inform us about the travel time, routing and intensity of future floods during the course of an eruption. We're currently working in partnership with the Icelandic Meteorological Office, to help the authorities over there that are responsible for risk communication and risk education," adds Professor Russell.

The research team will also meet with various community groups and individuals to disseminate their results to help increase community awareness of the hazards and risks from such events as well as associated planning and mitigation strategies.

To date, the team has already shared their March fieldwork findings with pupils at Ponteland Middle School in Northumberland and will meet with community groups in the North of England this autumn as part of an ongoing effort of public engagement.