NASA-MODIS Rapid Response Record of 2011 Bangladesh Flooding
(See also the Ganges Brahmaputra Surface Water Record)
Explanation
The above shows, in red, the extent of flooding as imaged by the two MODIS sensors aboard Terra and Aqua during the accumulation period indicated. Dark blue illustrates "normal" surface water as imaged by MODIS prior to the flooding (in March, 2000), and light red is flooding as imaged earlier this year but where land is now dry. Light blue is all flooding mapped since MODIS first light, in early 2000 (much data still to be added).
NASA's MODIS sensors provide always-on coverage of the Earth's surface at a maximum spatial resolution of 250 m. Such remote sensing is often the first available after a major disaster and covers a very wide area twice daily. The follow-on sensor VIIRS, scheduled to be launched by 2013, will extend such valuable sensing capabilty.
MODIS band 1 and 2 data are processed to provide consistent water/land classification and boundaries. The data are then ingested into GIS (geographical information system) software. Output data products include map displays such as the above, but also the GIS water area outlines (in .shp and other standard formats). These can be accessed by end users in an ftp directory at http://csdms.colorado.edu/pub/flood_observatory/MODISlance.
These maps are online publications of the Dartmouth Flood Observatory, G. R. Brakenridge, A. Kettner, F. Policelli, and D. Slayback, 2011. Please cite the source.