Recent findings from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predict a rise in both the frequency and intensity of local flooding, as extreme precipitation events become more common due to climate change. Flooding, the most common weather-related natural disaster, has intensified in recent decades, leading to profound losses worldwide. Since 2000 alone, global economic damages have exceeded $735 trillion and more than 130,000 flood-related fatalities have been recorded worldwide. River flooding is projected to double in impact by 2030, putting more than 132 million people at risk of displacement, disease, and food insecurity by the end of the decade. These alarming statistics highlight the need for sophisticated flood monitoring tools to help communities prepare for and adapt to the intensifying impacts of climate change, safeguarding human health, well-being, property, and infrastructure.
Satellite-based technology has proven essential in responding to flood disasters. The NOAA Flood team, consisting of experts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and George Mason University (GMU), has developed a suite of VIIRS Flood Products that utilize observations from the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) to provide global near real-time visualizations of flood-affected areas. The flood products enhance situational awareness for emergency responders, weather bureaus, and affected communities worldwide.
The NOAA Flood team first developed products in response to a devastating 2013 flood in Galena, Alaska, where limited monitoring left the town unprepared and underwater. JPSS satellite observations filled this gap, and VIIRS Flood Products have since evolved to include visualizations of horizontal flood extent (as seen above) and three-dimensional data on floodwater depth (as shown below), which is crucial for understanding flood severity in different terrains.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), which oversees Australia’s weather and climate services, provides a compelling example of the global application of VIIRS Flood Products. Led by Dr. Robert Pipunic, the BoM’s Observations and Assimilation/Science and Innovation Group utilizes satellite-derived flood maps where ground-based monitoring is scarce. “We are trying to exploit satellite data for flood situational awareness, impact analysis, and other things,” explains Pipunic. Leveraging VIIRS, the BoM has notably improved its response times, supporting communities at risk of supply cutoffs during severe flooding events, such as the prolonged heavy rains in Australia’s Northern Territory in late February 2024. “Using VIIRS products we can pick a region and respond,” he reiterates.
Along with U.S. agencies like FEMA, international organizations like the International Disasters Charter have also recognized the value of VIIRS Flood Products, using them in disaster-prone regions to improve resilience and preparedness. By providing open access to flood data through RealEarth™, the NOAA Flood team ensures that decision-makers and emergency responders worldwide can make informed choices, minimizing damage and protecting communities.
As climate change heightens flood risks, VIIRS Flood Products will play an increasingly crucial role in flood management. Stay tuned for a deeper exploration into this topic in the upcoming 2024 LEO Science Digest, published in January. In the meantime, the 2023 Science Digest offers a range of articles highlighting the diverse applications of LEO satellite data beyond flood mapping.