Coastal flood risk is a major concern in Europe for the years to come. Indeed adaptation to climate change in coastal management is a priority set in the 2009’s White Paper on Adaptation (Adapting to climate change: Towards a European framework for action – COM 2009 147 final).
In this activity we implement assessments of exposure to coastal flooding due to storm surge. The aim is to produce accurate georeferenced information on potential economic damage from coastal flooding. We assess coastal flooding arising from storm surges or extreme events such as exceptionally high tides or large waves.
Coastal flooding is usually the result of the coincidence in time of high tides and/or large waves with storm surges. Potential effects of climate change and adaptation policies are also being considered.

Meteorological and geographic factors of storm surges and coastal floods

Source: Barredo, J.I., Salamon, P., Bódis, K. (2008) Towards an assessment of coastal flood damage potential in Europe.
JRC Scientific and Technical Reports, EUR 23698 EN.