| Over the past decade,
hydrometeorology has emerged as an important area for basic and applied research at the
IIHR. Research has focused on the application of physically based models for flood
forecasting and water resources analysis, remote sensing of atmospheric and hydrologic
processes, and assessment of hydrometeorological hazards. |
|
A combination of meteorological and hydrological models is
used to forecast flash floods. Local quantitative precipitation-prediction models, coupled
with land surface hydrology and channel routing models, are used to provide probability
forecasts of flood occurrence and magnitude. |
| An ongoing research effort investigates ways to incorporate
remotely sensed data into hydrometeorological modeling systems. Research in remote sensing
includes the use of radar glider and satellite sensors to estimate changes in hydrologic
fluxes and hydrologic storage, the evaluation of the uncertainties of remotely sensed
estimates, and the evaluation on how these uncertainties affect hydrologic model
predictions. |
|
Our third focus area is assessing the hazards of
hydrometeorological extremes, such as the 1993 Midwest flood. Drought, another case of
extremity, is predicted by reconstructing streamflows with past records and tree-ring
information. IIHR is developing better methods for flood frequency analysis and floodplain
mapping in the complex settings of urban environments. |
|
