Monitoring flash floods over the Thar and Negev deserts using remote sensing

Abstract

Flash floods represent a significant and escalating global threat, causing substantial damage to infrastructure and loss of life. Arid regions, characterized by their sparse vegetation and limited water resources, are especially vulnerable to these flash floods, which can severely impact local populations and fragile ecosystems. As a result, there is a need for efficient flash flood monitoring systems that can improve prediction and support more effective management of water resources in regions that are at high risk. Traditional monitoring methods, such as ground-based hydrometric stations, are often insufficient due to their limited spatial coverage, highlighting the need for more comprehensive approaches. This research addresses these challenges by developing a methodology to monitor flash flood events in arid areas using remote sensing data analysis. The goal is to map and create databases of flash flood distributions, particularly in regions where ground-based data are lacking. The project uses optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data to detect changes in soil moisture signal remaining after flash flood events, focusing on the arid regions of India and Israel, where flash floods significantly affect local communities and the environment. Change detection methods are employed to map active and inactive channels following storms, utilizing the short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral indices. Additionally, SAR data, which is capable of penetrating cloud cover, is to be integrated with SWIR values. © © 2025 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).