inundaties

Inundaties, more commonly rendered in English as inundations, refer to the flooding of land when water overflows boundaries such as river banks, coastlines, or drainage systems. The term is used in geography, hydrology, and risk assessment to describe both the event and the extent of submerged areas.

Causes include high rainfall and rapid snowmelt that raise river levels, storm surge and high tides that push seawater inland, and sudden releases from dams or ice jams. In coastal regions, inundation is often driven by a combination of sea level rise and meteorological events. Urban areas may experience surface-water inundation when drainage cannot evacuate rainfall quickly enough.

Assessment relies on inundation or flood maps that delineate floodplains and potential depths of water. Techniques combine digital elevation models with hydrological and hydraulic modeling, sometimes incorporating climate change scenarios to project future risk. Data sources include satellite imagery, stream gauges, and weather forecasts.

Impacts can be extensive, affecting homes, businesses, agriculture, transportation, and ecosystems. Recovery and adaptation involve engineered defenses such as levees and seawalls, nature-based solutions like wetlands restoration, zoning and land-use planning, improved drainage, flood forecasting, and emergency response planning.