World Atlas of Flood Hazard

Dynamic Atlas of the Earth's Surface Water: E40N50

Satellite data are obtained by the Flood Observatory, processed to detect water/land boundaries, geocoded to standard UTM map projections, and analyzed to produce surface water limits in vector GIS format. The maps are continually updated as archival satellite data are obtained, in order to map past flood events, and also as new floods or droughts occur. The Atlas is becoming increasingly comprehensive as new events are added. It provides information fundamental to determinations of future flood risk and to evaluation of the severity of on-going floods or droughts.

Map sheet number gives geographic coordinates of upper left corner of map. Most maps measure 10 degrees in longitude and latitude.

In the online version of this Atlas, clickable red dots access the Flood Observatory's River Watch (2002-present) measurement sites.

The Atlas shows mapped flood history (2000 to present) as well as current surface water status (click on the red dots). Increasingly, River Watch status can be translated into inundation prediction: compare previous floods and discharges to current discharge. Quantitative flood hazard assessment can also be accomplished at some locations: compare mapped floods to the River Watch time series. Numerical recurrence intervals shown on Atlas sheets are based on such comparison.

Caution: Floods in mountainous regions are exceptionally hazardous, but they are difficult remote sensing targets and not always observable. Additionally, cloud cover or other constraints restrict the ability to always capture peak inundation. The maps do not illustrate all areas of flood hazard.

Author: G. Robert Brakenridge, Dept. of Geography, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH 03755, 2008.

Elaine Anderson and Christopher Farmer assisted in data collection and map production, and Sebastien Caquard helped design earlier versions of these maps.

This Map:

E40N50

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, from the Africa-SERVIR project, from the Pacific Disaster Center, and from the European Commission (GDACS project, Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy).