Dartmouth Flood Observatory

Global Runoff and River Discharge Measurements

Current Flooding

Flood-generating Watersheds (experimental and uncalibrated)

Provided by River Watch , and special processing of NASA/Japanese Space Agency AMSR-E data through a collaborative effort between the Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Itlay (GDACS project) and Dartmouth College.

Current 7-day Wet and Dry Runoff Anomalies, based on AMSR-E River Discharge Measurements

Provided by River Watch , special processing of NASA/Japanese Space Agency AMSR-E data, and our global watershed database. Yellow watersheds: runoff < 90% mean for this seven day period. Red watersheds: runoff > 160% for this seven day period. Under Construction

The Flood Observatory is directed by Dr. Robert Brakenridge and is hosted by the Departments of Geography and Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College.

We use orbital remote sensing to detect, measure, and map river discharge and river flooding, world-wide. Observatory components include:

River Watch, a satellite-based flood measurement and hazard mapping system,
World Atlas of Flooded Lands, a global compilation of all floods mapped,
Active Archive of Major Floods, a catalogue with geographic locations, 1985 to present, and
Rapid Response Inundation Maps, produced and published while floods are underway.

We facilitate maximum practical use of the satellite-based information for disaster relief, flood risk assessment, and water resources research. The Observatory is an international clearinghouse for GIS data concerning mapped flood inundation, and we invite your input and support.

2008 Powerpoint non-technical presentation "Satellite-based Flood Detection and Flood Risk Assessment"

Special Note: In early 2008, a new version of River Watch is being implemented. Over 2500 AMSR-E (a NASA/Japanese Space Agency sensor aboard AQUA) gauging sites, distributed world-wide will monitor river discharge changes on a near-daily basis. This includes floods, unusually low flows, river ice status, and wetland surface water status. We are proceeding, one by one, to calibrate each site to actual river discharge using available ground-based information. Please note that the plots now being installed within River Watch show, in many cases, relative discharge changes only and using place-holder rating equations for discharge. Your comments are welcomed as we implement this first ever global discharge and runoff monitoring system.

Direct Questions to:
Bob Brakenridge
Elaine Anderson

This work is made possible by data obtained by NASA, JAXA, ESA, and other space agencies, and by funding support from the Earth Surface and Interior Focus Area and the Applied Sciences Program, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, and from the European Commission, through the GDACS project, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy.