H. J. Barneveld, R. M. Frings, E. Mosselman, J. G. Venditti, M. G. Kleinhans, A. Blom, R. M. J. Schielen, W. H. J. Toonen, D. Meijer, A. J. Paarlberg, R. P. van Denderen, J. S. de Jong, J. G. W. Beemster, L. A. Melsen, A. J. F. Hoitink
{"title":"Extreme river flood exposes latent erosion risk","authors":"H. J. Barneveld, R. M. Frings, E. Mosselman, J. G. Venditti, M. G. Kleinhans, A. Blom, R. M. J. Schielen, W. H. J. Toonen, D. Meijer, A. J. Paarlberg, R. P. van Denderen, J. S. de Jong, J. G. W. Beemster, L. A. Melsen, A. J. F. Hoitink","doi":"10.1038/s41586-025-09305-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and magnitude of river floods<sup>1</sup>. Floods not only cause damage by inundation and loss of life<sup>2,3</sup> but also jeopardize infrastructure because of bank failure and riverbed erosion processes that are poorly understood. Common flood safety programs include dike reinforcement and river widening<sup>4–9</sup>. The 2021 flood in the Meuse Basin caused 43 fatalities and a multibillion-dollar damage to infrastructure<sup>10</sup>. Based on analysis of the Meuse flood, we show how uneven widening of the river and heterogeneity of sediment deposits under the river can cause massive erosion. A recent flood safety program widened the river<sup>11</sup>, but created bottlenecks where widening was either prevented by infrastructure, or not yet implemented. Riverbed erosion was exacerbated by tectonic uplift that had produced a thin top gravel layer above fine-grained sediment. Greatly enhanced flow velocities produced underwater dunes with troughs that broke through the gravel armour in the bottlenecks, exposing easily erodible sands, resulting in extreme scour holes, one over 15 m deep. Our investigation highlights the challenges of re-engineering rivers in the face of climate change, increased flood risks, competition for river widening space, and calls for a better understanding of the subsurface.</p>","PeriodicalId":18787,"journal":{"name":"Nature","volume":"107 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":48.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nature","FirstCategoryId":"103","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09305-3","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and magnitude of river floods1. Floods not only cause damage by inundation and loss of life2,3 but also jeopardize infrastructure because of bank failure and riverbed erosion processes that are poorly understood. Common flood safety programs include dike reinforcement and river widening4–9. The 2021 flood in the Meuse Basin caused 43 fatalities and a multibillion-dollar damage to infrastructure10. Based on analysis of the Meuse flood, we show how uneven widening of the river and heterogeneity of sediment deposits under the river can cause massive erosion. A recent flood safety program widened the river11, but created bottlenecks where widening was either prevented by infrastructure, or not yet implemented. Riverbed erosion was exacerbated by tectonic uplift that had produced a thin top gravel layer above fine-grained sediment. Greatly enhanced flow velocities produced underwater dunes with troughs that broke through the gravel armour in the bottlenecks, exposing easily erodible sands, resulting in extreme scour holes, one over 15 m deep. Our investigation highlights the challenges of re-engineering rivers in the face of climate change, increased flood risks, competition for river widening space, and calls for a better understanding of the subsurface.
期刊介绍:
Nature is a prestigious international journal that publishes peer-reviewed research in various scientific and technological fields. The selection of articles is based on criteria such as originality, importance, interdisciplinary relevance, timeliness, accessibility, elegance, and surprising conclusions. In addition to showcasing significant scientific advances, Nature delivers rapid, authoritative, insightful news, and interpretation of current and upcoming trends impacting science, scientists, and the broader public. The journal serves a dual purpose: firstly, to promptly share noteworthy scientific advances and foster discussions among scientists, and secondly, to ensure the swift dissemination of scientific results globally, emphasizing their significance for knowledge, culture, and daily life.