Flooding study in the desert climate zone: case study of M’zab valley (Algeria)

Abstract

The aim of this research is the modelling and mapping of flood risk zones in the M’zab valley of Ghardaia city by combining the hazard map and the flood vulnerability map. The undertaken research utilizes the hydrologic engineering centre-hydrologic modelling system as the modelling tool to simulate the runoff in the watershed and hydrologic engineering centre – river analysis system to model the water levels of different river locations based on steady flow analysis and to define flood-prone areas. The flood risk map allows the identification of five classes ranging from a low to a very high risk of flooding. Thus, the low to very low-risk areas extend over roughly 70.58% of the total surface area of Ghardaia city. These areas, which are located in the southern part of the alluvial plain, are considered as low vulnerability regions, while areas with high-risk cover more than 20% of the city.

Keywords:

• Hydrological modelling
• HEC-RAS
• flooding hazard
• vulnerability
• flood risk
• Touzouz river (Ghardaia)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplemental data

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here. https://doi.org/10.1080/23249676.2022.2030253.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ouardia Gueciouer Teffah

Ouardia Gueciouer Teffah, Ph.D. student/Researcher (Laboratory climate, environment and sustainable development). Faculty of earth sciences, university of science and technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), Algiers, Algeria. Engineer in land use planning and Magister degree in climate, environment and sustainable development at USTHB University Algiers. University teacher in university1 of Algiers. She is interested in the subjects of climate change, modelling, geographic information system (GIS) and digital cartography.

Mohamed Said Guettouche

Mohamed Saïd Guettouche, Professor in Geomorphology (Laboratory of Geomorphology and Georisks) Earth Science Faculty, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB). Algiers, Algeria. Currently, Domains of interest: Applied Geomorphology, Modeling, Geomatics, Natural Risks, Protection of the environment and impact Study.

Ayoub Zeroual

Ayoub Zeroual, Ph.D./Researcher in Water Engineering and Environment Laboratory, National Higher School for Hydraulics ENSH, Blida, Algeria. Domains of interest: climate change, water resources engineering, watershed management, floods and hydrological modeling.

Salima Charifi Bellabas

Salima Charifi Bellabas, Ph.D./Researcher (Laboratoire de recherche des sciences de l’eau LRS-Eau) Department of Hydraulics, Polytechnic National School, Algiers, Algeria. Hydraulic engineer and Doctoral degree in hydraulics from Polytechnic National School, Algiers. Currently, she is interested in field topics related to hydrology, hydraulics, modeling, climate change, Geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing.