Extreme floods are among the most destructive forces of nature, and there is a perception that they are occurring with higher frequency now than in the past, which is cause for international concern and calls for an understanding of the circumstances that might generate such disastrous events. This was the motive for this symposium in Reykjavik, Iceland. Flood processes, prediction and abatement in, e.g. the Himalayas, the Mediterranean, and on Mars, as well as Iceland, are all discussed. The International Association of Hydrological Sciences is the world's premier member-based organization promoting the study and practice of Hydrology. Our books are authored, edited and produced at the highest level of quality, with the most current and thorough research. Our publications and our work advance the science and the professional practice of Hydrology in a variety of Science and Engineering fields around the world. The areas that we publish in include: -Ground water -Surface water -Snow and ice hydrology -Drought and desertification -Runoff modelling -Watershed -Remote sensing -Water quality -Water resources and management -Ecohydrology/hydro-ecology -Erosion and sediment -Tracer hydrology