Geomorphological Factors Driving Flood Susceptibility In Recife: Identifying High-Risk Zones For Effective Mitigation

Extreme events such as heat waves, droughts and floods have become more intense and frequent, resulting in significant socio-environmental and economic damage. Recife, the capital of Pernambuco, Brazil, faces ongoing challenges due to flooding caused by its geographical location and rapid urban growth. In this context, the aim of this work is to assess the susceptibility to flooding of the city of Recife, using the Analytical Hierarchy Method (AHP) to identify which areas have the highest risk of flooding. To this end, four geomorphological factors were considered: slope, hypsometry, pedology, and land use and cover. The results show that slope is the most influential factor in susceptibility, followed by altitude, land use and cover, and pedology. The study reveals that the areas most susceptible to flooding are concentrated in the central and eastern regions of Recife.