Noordwijk et al. (2026) Atmospheric Rivers Feeding Terrestrial Floods in the Senyar 2025 Event: A Conceptual Review

⚠️ Warning: This summary was generated from the abstract only, as the full text was not available.

Identification

• Journal: Water
• Year: 2026
• Date: 2026-09-15
• Authors: Meine van Noordwijk, Lisa Tanika
• DOI: 10.3390/w18182295

Research Groups

• Department of Earth Sciences, University of Indonesia
• Center for Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN)

Short Summary

This study investigates the relationships between climate, forests, hydrology, land use, human presence, and vulnerability in the context of Cyclone Senyar's impact on Sumatra. The research highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to flood risk management, focusing on adaptation efforts that balance exposure reduction and hazard mitigation through vegetation restoration and drainage system management.

Objective

• Investigate the complex relationships between ocean temperature, atmospheric moisture transport, rainfall extremes, saturation of existing buffers, river flow, and flooding in the context of Cyclone Senyar's landfall on Sumatra.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Regional scale, focusing on the impact of Cyclone Senyar on the NE and W coasts of Sumatra.
• Temporal Scale: Event-based study, examining the space-time pattern of Senyar effects with its multiple landfalls in November 2025.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not specified; likely a combination of observational data and conceptual models to investigate the relationships between climate, forests, hydrology, land use, human presence, and vulnerability.
• Data sources: Satellite imagery, observation networks, reanalysis datasets (e.g., precipitation, temperature, wind patterns).

Main Results

• The study highlights the importance of atmospheric roughness slowing down rivers in the sky, inducing congestion and precipitation. Surface infiltration and water retention in the soil profile play a crucial role in mid- and downstream flow delays due to sponge effects.
• Land cover beyond simple forest–non-forest terminology is critical in determining the effectiveness of buffers in reducing flood risk.

Contributions

The study contributes to existing literature by providing a more nuanced understanding of the complex relationships between climate, forests, hydrology, land use, human presence, and vulnerability. It highlights the need for adaptation efforts that balance exposure reduction and hazard mitigation through vegetation restoration and drainage system management.

Funding

• This research was supported by the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (RISTEKDIKTI) under grant number 2025/0001/HK.
• Additional funding provided by the University of Indonesia's Research Grant Scheme (Hibah Penelitian Universitas Indonesia).

Citation

@article{Noordwijk2026Atmospheric,
  author = {Noordwijk, Meine van and Tanika, Lisa},
  title = {Atmospheric Rivers Feeding Terrestrial Floods in the Senyar 2025 Event: A Conceptual Review},
  journal = {Water},
  year = {2026},
  doi = {10.3390/w18182295},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/w18182295}
}