Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 6.3 UN FAO Global Fire Information Management System (GFIMS) (Source: http://www.
fao.org/nr/gfi ms/en/ , accessed on 10 May, 2013)
6.3.5
Hydrometeorological Hazards
6.3.5.1
Floods
Currently, there are several national warning systems already operational, such as in
Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Belize,
Czech Republic, and Germany. However, they do not provide public access to infor-
mation. In Europe, the European Flood Alert System (EFAS), an initiative launched
by EC-JRC in 2005, provides fl ood warning information up to 10 days in advance.
On a global basis, the Dartmouth Flood Observatory provides public access to
satellite images and estimated discharge for major fl oods worldwide but does not
provide forecasts. NOAA provides observed hydrologic conditions of major US
river basins, predicted values of precipitation for rivers in the United States, and
information on excessive rainfall that could lead to fl ash-fl ooding. In this case,
NOAA would then issue warnings with 6 h in advance.
The Global Flood Alert System (GFAS), an initiative promoted by the Japanese
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA), was launched on a trial basis in 2006, in order to sup-
port fl ood forecasting and warning worldwide. GFAS, which is hosted by the
International Flood Network (IFNet), provides fl ood forecasting and warning infor-
mation, global and regional rainfall maps, as well as heavy rainfall information
(based on precipitation probability estimates). In case real-time rainfall exceeds the
estimated precipitation of a 5- or 10-year return period in a given river basin, GFAS
also sends e-mails to preregistered meteorological or disaster management agencies
to provide them with fl ood warning information.
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