Assessment of Flood Vulnerability in Arid Basins from a Geomorphological Prospective (Wadi Musa in Southern Jordan: Case Study)

This study aims to assess flood risk in an arid environment located in the southern part of Jordan (i.e., Wadi Musa) from a geomorphological prospective. The morphometric ranking method was used through integrating hydrologic models with geographical information systems. DEM files were used to extract the morphometric variables which included the areal, vector, shape, terrain, and hydrologic network.
These variables were grouped into two groups according to their correlation to risk levels. The groups were classified into five risk classes ranging from 1 (no risk) to 5 (very risky). After that, the risky levels were reclassified into three classes of flood vulnerability such as (i) low (57-69.7), medium (69.71-82.3), and high (82.31-85).
Results show the importance of morphometric variables in defining flood vulnerability in arid basins; for example, Wadi Siq Al-Gurab was found to have the highest level of flood vulnerability (95 degrees). Wadi Sail Wadi Musa and Wadi Altahona had the lowest degrees of flood vulnerability such as 67 and 57 degrees, respectively. The secondary basins of Wadi Qernat bin Saad, Aldlayah, Alhay, Alnabi Haroun, Alsiq, and Um Methla had medium levels between 73-81 degrees.