Science Café at Overton Park

Flash flooding, known to scientists as Urban Pluvial Flooding, is a type of sudden flooding that happens in cities due to heavy rain that falls very quickly—usually within a few minutes to a couple of hours. This intense precipitation creates a lot of stormwater, which can lead to flooding either because water starts ponding in place, or else because it overwhelms local drainage systems. As Memphians know, flash floods can cause significant damage to property and even loss of life.

In Overton Park Conservancy’s March Science Café, Dr. Claudio Meier will discuss urban resilience in the face of flooding, and “grey” versus “green” stormwater management systems. He’ll also share insights he’s learned from his group’s research on quantifying extreme rainfall, improving modeling, and reducing the risks associated with urban pluvial flooding. 

Dr. Claudio Meier is Professor of Civil Engineering at The University of Memphis. He is a fly fisherman who in his free time also happened to get a broad education as a Hydraulic-Hydrologic Engineer, but with a twist (a PhD in River Ecology). He was digging streams in his backyard at age 9 (ouch, those water bills…) and has never stopped researching hydraulics and hydrology since then. He has taught in Chile, Mexico, Italy, and Tennessee, and conducts research on extreme rainfall, urban floods, and river processes.

Register at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/opceventform/event/sciencecafe/.