Remote Sensing-Based Flood Mapping and Flood Hazard Assessment in Haiti
www.dartmouth.edu/~floods/ csdms.colorado.edu Remote Sensing-based Flood Mapping and Flood Hazard Assessment in Haiti “Rebuilding for Resilience: How Science and Engineering Can Inform Haiti's Reconstruction, March 22 - March 23, 2010, University of Miami - Coral Gables, FL Prof. G. Robert Brakenridge Dartmouth Flood Observatory, Dartmouth College, and Visiting Scientist, Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System, University of Colorado Dr. Scott D. Peckham (Presenter) Community Surface Dynamics Modeling System, University of Colorado 1) Floods commonly produce catastrophic damage in Haiti 2) Not all such floods are from tropical cyclones On May 18-25, 2004, a low-pressure system originating from Central America brought exceptionally heavy showers and thunderstorms to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Rainfall amounts exceeded 500 mm (19.7 inches) across the border areas of Haiti and the Dominican Republic At the town of Jimani, DR, 250 mm (10 inches) of rain fell in just 24 hours. NASA Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) data. Lethal Major Floods in the Dominican Republic / Haiti are a Near-Annual Event The Dartmouth Flood Observatory data archive dates back to 1985. Between 1986 and early 2004 (prior to Hurricane Jeanne in November), at least, fourteen lethal events impacted the island, including: Year Month Casualties 1986 early June >39 1986 late October 40 1988 early September - Hurricane Gilbert 237 1993 late May 20 1994 early November – Hurricane Gordon >1000 1996 mid November 18 1998 Late August – Hurricane Gustaf >22 1998 late September - Hurricane Georges >400 1999 late October - Hurricane Jose 4 2001 mid-May 15 2002 late May 30 2003 early December - Tropical Storm Odette 8 2003 mid-November 10 2004 late May >2000 NASA’s two MODIS sensors, Aqua and Terra, are an important flood mapping tool: • Visible and near IR spectral bands provide excellent land/water discrimination over wide areas.
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