Journal of Geographic Information System, 2017, 9, 717-751 http://www.scirp.org/journal/jgis ISSN Online: 2151-1969 ISSN Print: 2151-1950 DOI: 10.4236/jgis.2017.96045 Dec. 28, 2017 717 Journal of Geographic Information System Assessment of Flash-Flood Hazard in Arid Watersheds of Jordan Yahya Farhan 1 , Atef Ayed 2 1 Retired Professor, Amman, Jordan 2 Geography Department, University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan Abstract Flash flood hazard initiated by heavy rainstorms is common in arid Jordan, and often has induced immense damage to life and infrastructures. The cur- rent study presents a flash flood assessment for Wadi Rajil (northern Jordan) and Wadi Wuheida (southern Jordan) watersheds using ASTER DEM, GIS, and geomorphic field observation. A total of 23 morphometric parameters of paramount relation to flash flood risk estimation were extracted and calcu- lated using ASTER DEM, GIS, and mathematical formulae developed for this purpose. Two methods were employed to assess flash floods and to generate flooding risk susceptibility maps. The first method is El-Shamy’s approach, and the second is the morphometric hazard degree assessment method. Con- sequently, sub-basins with high and extreme flooding susceptibility were de- marcated and displayed spatially using GIS. The maps so produced are meant to help planners and decision makers to devise appropriate plans to mitigate harmful flooding impacts, and to deal with flooding hazards. Keywords Flash Flood, ASTER DEM, Morphometry, Arid Watersheds, El-Shamy’s Approach, Jordan 1. Introduction Morphometric analyses of drainage basins based on geoinformatics techniques and field collected data, are essential tools for flash floods hazard assessment. Relevant evaluation parameters can be employed to predict the hydrological be- havior of the catchment, and geomorphic processes produced by exceptionally heavy rainstorms, and the resultant flash floods, including erosion type, rate, and sediment yield [1]. Hydromorphic explanation can be refined regarding the How to cite this paper: Farhan, Y. and Ayed, A. (2017) Assessment of Flash-Flood Hazard in Arid Watersheds of Jordan. Journal of Geographic Information System, 9, 717-751. https://doi.org/10.4236/jgis.2017.96045 Received: November 19, 2017 Accepted: December 25, 2017 Published: December 28, 2017 Copyright © 2017 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Open Access