What is flooding? And how do we tackle it?

This episode of The Naked Scientist explores the causes, types, and growing risks of flooding in the UK and globally, emphasizing the increasing role of climate change and human land use. Host Chris Smith is joined by experts including former BBC weather forecaster Peter Gibbs, who breaks down three main types of flooding—fluvial (river overflow), pluvial (flash flooding from intense rain), and coastal (storm surges)—and highlights how urbanization, deforestation, and degraded peatlands worsen flood risks. Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre and the University of Reading explain how tide gauges, satellite data, and computer models are used to forecast storm surges and compound flooding, where sea levels, rainfall, and river flow interact. The discussion turns to nature-based solutions like green roofs, rain gardens, and restored salt marshes and seagrass beds as sustainable alternatives to traditional hard engineering. Professor Nicoletta Leonardi from the University of Liverpool demonstrates how AI-driven models can simulate future scenarios, test interventions, and assess the effectiveness of natural defenses. The episode concludes with a call for better land planning, early warning systems, and long-term investment in resilient infrastructure to combat the escalating threat of flooding in a changing climate.