The document discusses global flood detection from space using passive microwave remote sensing. It describes how the Joint Research Center has developed a Global Flood Detection System using AMSR-E data to provide near real-time flood monitoring and mapping. This includes producing daily flood maps and integrating flood alerts into the GDACS multi-hazard system for humanitarian response. Further improvements involve coupling with other data sources and reducing noise to improve the technique.

9. Novel normalization methodology: Water signal T b dry wet T b dry wet Dry pixel Wet pixel Influence of clouds is eliminated by comparing dry and wet signal Water has a lower brightness temperature than land 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 ISCRAM Conference 11 May 2009 flood signal

13. Rapid flood mapping ISCRAM Conference 11 May 2009 Flooded area mapped by the Dartmouth Flood Observatory based on MODIS optical imagery Flooded area mapped by JRC based on AMSR-E microwave data

14. Map and observation site ISCRAM Conference 11 May 2009 First media reports

15. Africa, early March 2009 ISCRAM Conference 11 May 2009 Okavango delta Barrier lakes Etosha Pan Caprivi floods Etosha floods Upper Zambezi

16. Floods Caprivi, Namibia, 2009 Flood map based on AMSR-E passive microwave data at 36.5GHz, processed using the JRC Global Flood Detection technique. GLIDE: FL-2009-000062-NAM Datum/Projection: WGS1984/Geographic Map production: JRC Background map: Global Discovery Contact: tom.de-groeve@jrc.it 100% water 0% water

17. Daily flood detection ISCRAM Conference 11 May 2009 http://www.gdacs.org/floods