A flash flood control system based on the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS/FFCS)

Abstract

Water-related hazards usually occur as causes and consequences of large water cycle fluctuations on global and regional scales, while disasters and damages due to these hazards happen through strong linkage with human activities on a local scale. The observations and predictions of water-related hazards and their damages can be enhanced by combining global Earth observation and prediction systems and local information. In this context, downscaling of the water cycle from global to regional and local scales is a key integration function. General circulation models currently used for predicting weather and climate have coarse spatial resolution and thus cannot capture the details of topography and land use nor resolve important cyclonic disturbances or similar-sized circulation features. This precludes an accurate representation of precipitation on the scales of individual grid boxes. The method to obtain regional-to-local scale information from larger-scale general circulation model data is referred to as downscaling. The flash flood control system of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems takes maximum advantage of global Earth observations and predictions and develops a downscaling system coupled with satellite-based data assimilations and distributed hydrological models to disseminate usable information on a river basin or smaller scale for decision making in disaster mitigation and water resource planning.