The role of satellite information in forecasting, modeling, and mapping the 2019 Mozambique flood
JOURNAL OF FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT, vol.18, no.1, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 18 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2025
- Doi Number: 10.1111/jfr3.12843
- Journal Name: JOURNAL OF FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Environment Index, Geobase, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Keywords: extreme events, mapping of hazard and risk, remote sensing
- Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The application and value of the Global Flood Monitoring System (GFMS) andvarious remote-sensing-based flood products are examined in the context ofthe severe flood event in Mozambique associated with Cyclone Idai in March2019. Short-term forecasts of rainfall and flooding are shown to be useful andvalidated to some degree by satellite-based rainfall from the Global Precipita-tion Monitoring (GPM) Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG)product. However, detailed validation of the satellite-based rainfall for thisevent is limited and examination of other similar cases indicates a possibleunderestimate at high rainfall amounts. GFMS inundation based on theIMERG rainfall and models are compared to Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)and other inundation estimates. Results indicate a generally good correspon-dence, but with the GFMS calculations underestimating the area of broadflooding, but overestimating in smaller streams. The GFMS underestimationcompared to a SAR-based estimate in one particular area seems related to rain-fall underestimation. Similar generally good results were found when compar-ing the GFMS calculations to the FloodScan passive microwave-basedinundation. The various inundation estimates are available at different laten-cies and likely have different accuracies, indicating a need for integration ofthese types of information to provide the user community with the best consol-idated information and in a timely manner.