A hydrodynamic model coupled with GIS for flood characteristics analysis in the Biebrza riparian wetland

Abstract

Abstract The paper presents the application of the hydrodynamic 1D unsteady model for calculating hydro-ecological flood characteristics in the Lower Biebrza River Basin located in northeastern Poland. The 1D model is combined with the Digital Elevation Model for determining of flood extent. The model was calibrated using measurements of flood extent and verified comparing calculated flood extent to satellite images. Consequently, the flood characteristics important for plant communities of the riparian wetland were calculated for vegetation season (February-September) daily time series (1961-1996). Then, their relations to particular generalized groups of vegetation were analyzed. The results show a significant congruity between the type of vegetation and calculated flood characteristics. The hydrodynamic model was confirmed to be a useful tool for calculating flood characteristics.