Title: Global Floodplains Face Unprecedented Human Destruction, New Study Reveals
Subtitle: Scientists Call for Urgent Action to Restore and Preserve Crucial Ecosystems
Date: [Current Date]
A groundbreaking study, led by a hydrologist from the University of Texas at Arlington, has unveiled the devastating extent of human-induced alterations to vital floodplains worldwide. The comprehensive research, published in the prestigious journal Scientific Data, provides a dire assessment of the loss and highlights the urgent need for informed strategies to restore and conserve these essential ecosystems. By utilizing satellite data and geospatial analytics, scientists have underscored the critical importance of mitigating flood risks and preserving biodiversity hotspots in these regions.
Adnan Rajib, an assistant professor at UT Arlington’s Department of Civil Engineering and lead author of the study, collaborated with a team of scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and The Nature Conservancy. The research was made possible through funding from NASA and the National Science Foundation. Rajib’s doctoral student, Qianjin Zheng, played a vital role in its development.
The study reveals that between 1992 and 2019, the world witnessed the alarming loss of approximately 600,000 square kilometers of floodplains due to human disturbances. These disturbances include infrastructure development, industrial expansion, and the encroachment of agriculture. Such alterations pose a significant threat not only to wildlife but also to clean water supplies and the safety of communities vulnerable to flooding.
The researchers employed cutting-edge satellite remote sensing data and geospatial analytics to examine 520 major river basins globally. Their landmark study uncovers previously unknown spatial patterns and alarming trends of human impact on floodplains. While efforts to map floodplains and understand flood risks have gained traction, a comprehensive global assessment of human disturbances in floodplain ecosystems has not yet been achieved.
One of the study’s grim findings is that wetland habitats, crucial to the overall health of floodplains, are particularly at risk. The research shows that one-third of the global loss of floodplain wetlands occurred in North America, underscoring the magnitude of the threat faced by these ecosystems. By analyzing satellite images spanning nearly three decades, the team observed both positive developments, such as the planting of trees and the creation of parks, as well as troubling outcomes, including the extensive construction of buildings and inadequate stormwater runoff management, such as the proliferation of parking lots.
Co-author Kris Johnson, emphasizing the importance of floodplains as biodiversity hotspots, said, “We hope this study sheds light on this critical habitat we’re losing as well as ways in which we can reverse the trend.” The study’s findings should serve as a vital tool for planners and policymakers to reduce flood risks for communities and guide future development decisions in the face of a changing climate.
Melanie Sattler, chair and professor of the Department of Civil Engineering at UT Arlington, hailed the significance of Rajib’s work, stating, “This study can be our lens to help guide future development in order to decrease susceptibility to floods in a changing climate. And, in some cases, we hope this study can help us correct mistakes we’ve made through past development decisions.”
The results of this compelling study are documented in the paper titled “Human alterations of the global floodplains 1992–2019,” authored by Adnan Rajib, Qianjin Zheng, Charles R. Lane, Heather E. Golden, Jay R. Christensen, Itohaosa I. Isibor, and Kris Johnson. The paper was published on July 28, 2023, in Scientific Data.
As the world grapples with the alarming loss of floodplains, scientists and environmentalists around the globe are rallying for immediate action to rehabilitate and protect these crucial ecosystems. The fate of floodplains, and the myriad of benefits they provide, hangs in the balance, necessitating urgent and informed development strategies to mitigate flood risks and preserve biodiversity hotspots for generations to come.