Modelling of sea level rise and river system

• Published in: Disaster prevention and management Vol. 20; no. 2; pp. 108 - 114
• Main Author: Mah, D.Y.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bradford Emerald Group Publishing Limited 26-04-2011
• Subjects: Climate change; Floods; Freshwater; Hydrology; Marine; Mathematical models; Modelling; River flow; River networks; Rivers; Sea level; Sea level rise; Spring tides; Tides; Water resources management; Malaysia; Coastal regions; Modelling; Malaysia; Floods
• ISSN: 0965-3562; 1758-6100
• DOI: 10.1108/09653561111126058

Purpose - This paper aims to present a hydrodynamic river modelling by incorporating river flow and sea-level rise interactions.Design methodology approach - Predicted sea levels from renowned studies are put to test on flow scenarios of the Sarawak River in the deltaic city of Kuching, Malaysia. Three cases are drawn for investigation, including one extreme flood event, one normal flow with low tide, and another normal flow with spring tide.Findings - The model predicts a worst case that nearly 5-6 km2 of urban land along the Lower Sarawak River would be under water due to the rise.Practical implications - Such an indication would draw a clearer picture for strategy and mitigation planning.Originality value - Generally sea level estimation involves ocean-atmospheric modelling. However, the paper argues here that a river model is credible for practical hydrological site-specific analysis to include increase of sea levels.