FLOOD HISTORY OF THE DANUBE AND TISZA RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN, HUNGARY

The Danube River in Central Hungary and the Tisza River in Eastern Hungary have a long history of flooding. With many of the country’s small villages located on or near the banks of the tributaries that feed these major waterways, it is important to typify major flood events in terms of frequency and magnitude. In an effort to better characterize the Danube and Tisza Rivers, a research project was initiated in conjunction with the University of Pecs, Hungary. Traveling by car through Hungary and Western Romanian, we noticed many areas of exposed stratigraphy along the banks of these rivers. Some of the terrace deposits were so bioturbated that it was impossible to describe their stratigraphy. Others yielded well-preserved histories of distinct flood events. These deposits were observed and recorded, paying close attention to thickness and type of medium. Where available, detrital charcoal fragments were collected from layers within the terrace deposits to constrain the chronology of flood events. These samples were sent to the University of Arizona AMS laboratory for radiocarbon analysis. Combining the stratigraphic history’s generated from the deposits observed and the radiocarbon data, a flood history of the Danube and Tisza will be prepared for the Hungarian government to aid in flood preparedness and prevention.