IMPROVEMENT IN THE PREDICTION OF FLOODS IN THE MURA RIVER BASIN

Abstract

With the aim of more accurate and unified flood warnings in Slovenia and Austria, the CROSSRISK project improved the existing hydrological forecasting system in the Slovenian-Austrian part of the Mura river basin. In doing so, the Slovenian Environment Agency cooperated closely with the hydrological service of the Provincial Government of Styria (Department 14 – Water Management, Resources and Sustainability). The Mura river model was upgraded in four steps, each resulting in an independent model setup: three deterministic and one ensemble model setups. The upgraded model will enable better forecasting of the Mura river flows and more accurate flood warnings, especially during the snowmelt period. The ensemble hydrological forecast provides information on the uncertainty of the hydrological forecast. The hydrological service of the Austrian federal province of Styria has prepared a catalogue of flood scenarios for the Slovenian-Austrian border Mura section, based on another, 2D, hydrodynamic model.