Predicting Floods   
       
   July 22, 2015:  In the pantheon of natural disasters, floods are among the   
   worst. By any metric-from financial ruin to human toll-floods rank alongside   
   earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis. In fact, the most deadly disaster of   
   the 20th century was the China floods of 1931, which may have resulted in more   
   than a million deaths.   
       
   Predicting floods is notoriously tricky.  They depend on a complex mixture of   
   rainfall, soil moisture, the recent history of precipitation, and much more.    
   Snowmelt and storm surges can also contribute to unexpected flooding.   
       
   Thanks to NASA, however, the predictions are improving.   
       
   https://youtu.be/dfcr-4XmxNY   
       
   Predicting floods is notoriously tricky. Sponsored by NASA, a new computer   
   tool known as the "Global Flood Monitoring System" is improving forecasts.   
   A computer tool known as the Global Flood Monitoring System, or "GFMS," which   
   maps flood conditions worldwide, is now available online. Users anywhere in   
   the world can use the system to determine when flood water might engulf their   
   communities.   
       
   "On our global interactive map, you can zoom into a location of interest to   
   see whether the water is at flood stage, receding, or rising," explains the   
   University of Maryland's Robert Adler, who developed the system with colleague   
   Huan Wu. "You can also look around to see whether there is a rain event   
   upstream, whether the rain is over, and how the water is moving downstream."   
       
   GFMS works 24/7, even when there is cloud cover or other interference.   
       
   "At times, our system might be the only way people can get information," says   
   Adler.   
       
   Here's how it works.   
       
   GFMS relies on precipitation data from NASA's Earth observing satellites.   
   Originally, the system relied on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission   
   satellite. Earlier this year, GFMS transitioned to the new Global   
   Precipitation Measurement satellite, or "GPM." Rainfall data from GPM is   
   combined with a land surface model that incorporates vegetation cover, soil   
   type, and terrain to determine how much water is soaking in--and how much is   
   feeding the streamflow.   
       
   Users can view statistics for rainfall, streamflow, water depth, and flooding   
   every 3 hours at each 12 km gridpoint on a global map.  Forecasts for these   
   parameters go out to 5 days. Users can also zoom in further to see inundation   
   maps (areas estimated to be covered with water) as fine as 1 km resolution.   
       
   Organizations like the Red Cross and the UN World Food Program are already   
   using GFMS before, during, and after floods when ground information is lacking   
   - which is often the case.   
       
   "They use it to figure out when and where a flood has occurred and to estimate   
   how big it is. They use that information in tandem with population maps to   
   target relief efforts."   
       
   Adler is already looking forward to major improvements to the system, courtesy   
   of the new GPM satellite.   
       
   "Advances by GPM will allow us to estimate floods and landslides across the   
   globe more accurately. Also, GPM's global coverage, as compared to TRMM's   
   tropical latitude focus, will allow more accurate [forecasts] at middle and   
   high latitudes."   
       
   Adler plans to work with international groups like the Global Flood   
   Partnership to help spread the word.   
       
   More information about the system is available at http://flood.umd.edu/   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- D'Bridge 3.99   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)