NERC Flood Risk from Extreme Events (FREE) Research Programme
Introduction
Flood Risk from Extreme Events (FREE) is a NERC Research Programme investing in research to predict floods minutes to weeks and seasons to decades ahead. The programme uses environmental science to investigate the physical processes involved in generating extreme events, so they can be better forecasted. The FREE programme will research what causes and propagates floods, so helping to forecast and quantify flood risk, and inform our society about the likely effects of climate change. It brings researchers in the hydrological, meteorological, terrestrial and coastal oceanography communities together in an integrated research programme for the first time.
Background
Climate change will probably bring more frequent and intense storms to the UK, in turn bringing more floods. At present, flood damage costs the UK about £1 billion each year. So it's essential that the UK improves the ability to forecast, quantify and manage flood risks, and mitigate the effects of climate variability and change, especially for maintenance of a sustainable economy. The improvements and mitigation must be underpinned by sound environmental science.
The FREE programme will research what causes and propagates floods, so helping to forecast and quantify flood risk
