Towards a typology for hybrid compound flood modeling

Abstract

Modeling compound flood events requires sophisticated approaches that can capture complex nonlinear interactions between multiple flood drivers. While combining different data-driven and physics-based modeling approaches has shown promise, the criteria for classifying such combinations and the underlying terminology to describe them remain inconsistent in the literature. To establish classification criteria, we introduce a systematic framework for defining and categorizing hybrid physical-statistical modeling approaches in compound flood modeling. Hybrid compound flood models offer significant advantages in terms of prediction accuracy and computational efficiency over traditional single-model approaches, particularly in coastal regions where multiple flooding mechanisms frequently interact. We identify three categories of hybrid models: sequential, feedback, and ensemble. Through illustrative examples, we demonstrate how each category leverages the strengths of its component models while also maintaining their independence. The proposed framework enables a systematic evaluation of different hybrid modeling strategies, enhancing model comparability and supporting the development of more effective compound flood prediction tools.