CONTEXT

We are a group of 10 students working on a project to address the impact of recent flash flood events on the French Riviera, particularly in the Saint-Martin-de-Vésubie area. Notable incidents include flash floods in 2015, 2016, 2020 (Alex storm), and 2023 (Aline storm). The Var Catchment, covering Alpes-Maritimes and part of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, has an area of 2,800 km2 with varying altitudes.

In 2020, the Alex storm caused severe damage, resulting in over $1.75 billion in losses and nine casualties due to unprecedented rainfall and convective cells. Similar extreme flood events occurred in 1994 and 2015, posing challenges such as the destruction of measurement instruments and water pollution. Climate analysis by Meteo France suggests an increased frequency of such events in Mediterranean coastal cities in France and Italy.

The focus of the project is twofold:

• Assess and explain the hydraulic functioning of the Saint-Martin-de-Vésubie area when a flash flood like the Aline storm happened

• Find a suitable location to rebuild a WWTP for Saint-Martin-du-Var.