Spatio-temporal patterns of flooded areas in the lower part of the Sana river basin (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Abstract

Floods are the most frequent and devastating natural hazard event in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The detected increase in extreme precipitation over the study area in the last period has altered flood event patterns due to climate changes. Higher frequency of flood events and lack of flood protection infrastructure has a severe impact on socio-economic sectors and natural ecosystems. This paper focuses on the identification of flooded areas for each single flooding event in the lower part of the Sana river basin during the period 2016-2020. For delineating flooded areas, both radar and optical satellite imagery were used. Data obtained after processing remote sensing images were overlaid with a detailed land cover map in order to get insight into flooded land cover types. From temporal aspects, floods are most common during the spring season. They are usually caused by rapid snowmelt and prolonged excessive precipitation. Considering spatial aspects, flooded areas vary from 110 to 522 hectares in the study area. Over 95% of the flooded areas are arable land, meadows and pastures. Most affected settlements by floods are urban and suburban area of Prijedor, Gomjenica, Hambarine, Rakovcani, Rizvanovici, Brezicani, Donja Dragotinja, Vitasavci, Svodna, Blagaj Rijeka and urban area of Novi Grad. The applied methodological approach represents a starting point for further investigation of flooded areas in the Sana basin and data obtained by this analysis can be used in water management, spatial planning and emergency planning.