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A. Magnuszewski
March and April. If they occur in the middle of winter, they have a limited magnitude
due to thermal conditions controlling the rate of snow cover thawing.
The frequency of floods in Poland has been a subject of study of [3] who analyzed
hydrological data from the period 1946–2001. They have outlined the following
regions of the highest frequency of catastrophic floods occurrence:
– Sudety mountains – upper Nysa Kłodzka, Bystrzyca, Kaczawa.
– Western and Central Carpathian Mountains – Dunajec, Soła.
– Holly-Cross Mountains – Kamienna, upper Pilica, upper Warta.
– Valleys of transit rivers especially at the confluence of major tributaries – Vistula,
Odra.
This chapter focuses on method how to calculate flood potential index for Polish
rivers and how to interpret its value in the context of flood risk. Flood potential index
can be understood as a measure showing the effectiveness of the catchment to produce
maximum run-off. The area of the catchment is the most important parameter, but
catchment properties especially altitude and storage capacity are also very important.
14.2 Study Area
Poland is located in a East-Central Europe, it has an area of 312 thousand km
2 .
Relief of the country is dominated by the lowlands, only 3% of Poland is located at
the altitude higher than 500 m. amsl Southern border of the country is separated by
the two mountain ranges of Sudety Mountains and Western Carpathian Mountains.
The highest elevation is Mount Rysy, which rises 2499 m and is located in the Polish
Tatra Mountains. The largest territory is occupied by the central lowlands, north of
the country has a relief of lake land shaped during last Vistulian glacition. Poland has
a moderate climate with transitional properties between maritime and continental.
The average annual precipitation sum for Poland is 600 mm. Western Carpathian
Mountains and Sudety Mountains enhance precipitation totals which reach maximum
of 1300 mm. Lowest precipitation sums of 550 mm are in the central part of the Poland
in the area of lowlands. Major Polish rivers are Vistula Rivera and Odra River, both
have their mouths in the Baltic Sea. The Vistula Basin is located in the eastern and
central part of Poland its major tributaries are San River, Bug River, Narew River.
Drainage density is high in the mountains and poorly developed in the lowland area.
In the belt of the northern lakelands river run-off is attenuated by the large share
of lakes and swamps in the catchment area. Floods at Polish rivers are formed in a
spring time March–April due to a snow melt and in summer June–August caused by
intensive and long lasting rains of frontal origin.
A. Magnuszewski
March and April. If they occur in the middle of winter, they have a limited magnitude
due to thermal conditions controlling the rate of snow cover thawing.
The frequency of floods in Poland has been a subject of study of [3] who analyzed
hydrological data from the period 1946–2001. They have outlined the following
regions of the highest frequency of catastrophic floods occurrence:
– Sudety mountains – upper Nysa Kłodzka, Bystrzyca, Kaczawa.
– Western and Central Carpathian Mountains – Dunajec, Soła.
– Holly-Cross Mountains – Kamienna, upper Pilica, upper Warta.
– Valleys of transit rivers especially at the confluence of major tributaries – Vistula,
Odra.
This chapter focuses on method how to calculate flood potential index for Polish
rivers and how to interpret its value in the context of flood risk. Flood potential index
can be understood as a measure showing the effectiveness of the catchment to produce
maximum run-off. The area of the catchment is the most important parameter, but
catchment properties especially altitude and storage capacity are also very important.
14.2 Study Area
Poland is located in a East-Central Europe, it has an area of 312 thousand km
2 .
Relief of the country is dominated by the lowlands, only 3% of Poland is located at
the altitude higher than 500 m. amsl Southern border of the country is separated by
the two mountain ranges of Sudety Mountains and Western Carpathian Mountains.
The highest elevation is Mount Rysy, which rises 2499 m and is located in the Polish
Tatra Mountains. The largest territory is occupied by the central lowlands, north of
the country has a relief of lake land shaped during last Vistulian glacition. Poland has
a moderate climate with transitional properties between maritime and continental.
The average annual precipitation sum for Poland is 600 mm. Western Carpathian
Mountains and Sudety Mountains enhance precipitation totals which reach maximum
of 1300 mm. Lowest precipitation sums of 550 mm are in the central part of the Poland
in the area of lowlands. Major Polish rivers are Vistula Rivera and Odra River, both
have their mouths in the Baltic Sea. The Vistula Basin is located in the eastern and
central part of Poland its major tributaries are San River, Bug River, Narew River.
Drainage density is high in the mountains and poorly developed in the lowland area.
In the belt of the northern lakelands river run-off is attenuated by the large share
of lakes and swamps in the catchment area. Floods at Polish rivers are formed in a
spring time March–April due to a snow melt and in summer June–August caused by
intensive and long lasting rains of frontal origin.