The world that geographers study is complicated. Models are a simplified means of representing reality. Models can be tested and improved using evidence. They help us to identify the key elements of the phenomena we are interested in (such as push and pull factors in migration); they help us see how the elements operate in different situations; and they even help us predict future developments and impacts.
In geography we are often interested in situations where very many factors are in play — locally, nationally or globally. Flood risk assessment is a great example of why models are important for geographers. The causes, exact locations and the degrees of risk are complicated, so the models help to cut through some of the complexity. The models have to account for hydrological sources (for example, excess rainfall), for pathways (how water flows across different landscapes and through drainage systems), for receptors (or arrival points, where people and infrastructure are located) and for eventual impacts (considering the vulnerability of people to harm and the susceptibility of infrastructure to damage). In turn, models and their outputs are vital for understanding the different ways in which risk can be managed in order to reduce flood impacts, and to appreciate how risk might change into the future.
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