Application of suomi-npp/viirs data in near real time flood detection

As the costliest natural disaster over the globe, floods are predicted to become more frequent in most climate change forecasts. In high latitudes, floods are caused by ice jam and snow melt almost every break-up season. Floods caused by intense rainfall also threaten lives and social infrastructures. Near real-time satellite-derived flood maps are invaluable to river forecasters and decision-makers for disaster monitoring and relief efforts.