Natural Hazards Group, Trinity College Dublin

Big Down-Under Associate Professor J. Croke, University of , Australia Haughton Lecture Theatre, Museum Building, TCD May 6th, 4pm The year 2010-2011 was a year of extremes globally with many parts of the world experiencing some of the most catastrophic meteorological conditions ever recorded. Climate change research indicates 2011 was not unique and the previous decade as a whole saw an exceptional number of unprecedented extreme weather events, the majority causing major human suffering and economic damage. It was the wettest year on record for Queensland State, Australia and the wettest year since 1974 for Southeast Queensland (SEQ). The extremely heavy rain in early January 2011 fell on the catchments of the near-saturated River system resulting in an area of inundation equivalent to the total land area of France and Germany combined. The 2011 was Australia’s most expensive natural disaster in history with a damage bill estimated at over $2B and a cost to the economy at over $10B. A follow-up in January 2013 when ex-tropical Cyclone Oswald delivered widespread rain produced another major flood event of lesser magnitude and prompted a detailed investigation into flood magnitude and frequency in SEQ. This lecture reviews key findings from a multi-institutional Industry funded project investigating the geomorphic response and landscape resilience to such extreme events. Using key concepts in geomorphology, it addresses the magnitude- frequency of such events, the resultant patterns of hydrological and sediment connectivity and unit stream power distributions. Findings reveal some important insights into how landscape attributes and geomorphology play a key role in evaluating risk and flood mitigation in catchments.

A/Prof Jacky Croke is a fluvial geomorphologist based at the University of Queensland in Australia. She has worked extensively on river systems both within Australia and overseas at a range of spatial and temporal scales. Email: [email protected]

Enquiries to: Dr. Bourke, Department of Geography, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. [email protected]