Theoretical and Practical Analysis of Flood Risk in Madeira Archipelago

Based on the recent history of floods in Madeira Island, it is evident that phenomena previously considered rare have become increasingly frequent, driven by global climate change. Besides the cyclical aspect of climate variation acting on the planet, human actions have contributed considerably to the worsening of this problem, especially with regard to floods. This phenomenon occurs due to the disorderly growth of cities that has caused an increase in the soil sealing index, which is the main cause of surface runoff and the consequent flooding of urban centers.The watercourses of a hydrographic basin are responsible for channeling all the volume of precipitated water to a common point: the mouth. In this sense, it is essential to verify the intrinsic characteristics of these channels - i.e. type of channel (natural or artificial), roughness coefficient, height, width, slope and especially the flow capacity.