Flood

The training date is in the past. However, videos and resources of the training can be accessed here.

Optical satellite remote sensing depends on cloudless, well-illuminated areas to produce quality data. This is especially problematic for collecting data during nighttime or when there is cloud cover. Radar is an ideal sensor because of its ability to “see” the surface through clouds or regardless of day or night conditions. In addition, the radar signal can penetrate through the vegetation canopy and provide information about conditions underneath, such as whether there is flooding. Also, techniques such as interferometry can track surface deformation on the order of centimeters, such as displacement caused by earthquakes.

This webinar series builds on ARSET's previous webinar,…

Implementing science to save lives: A Decade of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service

The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS) celebrates a decade of operation as a world leader in emergency mapping, early warning tools and open-access disaster information.

For the past ten years, CEMS has provided a global service as a fully operation emergency mapping service at no cost to users and with open access data.

Some highlights on the contribution of CEMS in global disaster risk management activities:

• 576 Rapid Mapping Activations with 5,500+ maps delivered
• Designed and implemented the world’s first Global Flood Monitoring tool
• Ten years of wildfire forecasts up to ten days into the future
• Average of 200+ flood and 500+ flash flood notifications to Member States and authorised users each year
• Offers a current and historical database of 7,000+ drought episodes since 1950

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On 10 May 2022, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the University of Energy and Natural Resources of Ghana, and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW) inaugurated the 5th International Conference on the Use of Space Technology for Water Resources Management. The conference, held in Accra from 10 to 13 May 2022, aims to promote the use of space technology in water management in developing countries.

During the opening segment of the conference, high ranking authorities noted that there have been many success stories related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but unfortunately some of these were eroded by the COVID 19 pandemic. They remarked that Ghana is hosting this conference to see how best to foster new partnerships to address the SDGs, and to facilitate a constructive discussion on two key issues essential to sustainable development: Space technologies and sustainable use of water…

On 11.03.2022, Tropical Cyclone Gombe led to extensive flood events in northern and central Mozambique. 

More information here: https://floodlist.com/africa/mozambique-cyclone-gombe-march-2022 

Preliminary impacts reported by INGD indicate that many houses and power lines have been destroyed or damaged; twelve people have been reported killed, several have been injured, and overall more than thirty thousand people have been affected. There are also over one hundred schools damaged or destroyed, one bridge has collapsed, and several roads have been affected.

As a consequence, Copernicus EMS and the International Charter Space and Major Disasters, making use of the potential of space-based technologies for emergency mechanisms, were active. Below, you find a collection of links to the activations…

Heavy rainfalls connected to tropical storm Ana have triggered severe flooding events in eastern Africa, affecting Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. Flooding began after heavy rain in Madagascar on 17 January and continued with tropical storm Ana passing over the countries from 22 January.

In an effort to support the national authorities and their disaster management agencies, several emergency mechanisms making use of space-based technologies have been activated. These mechanisms aim to provide a rapid assessment of the situation, giving information about the extent of the event, affected population, and a first damage assessment.

By utilizing and analyzing available optical and radar satellite imagery, this crucial data and information can be generated, put into maps, services, and reports, which are provided to and accessible by the authorities and other assisting organizations for more efficient disaster response.

Below, you find a selection of links…