This picture captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission reveals the impression of extreme flooding following heavy rain that hit Australia’s Northern Territory in March 2024.
Zoom in to discover this picture at its full decision or click on on the circles to be taught extra.
Based on the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, March 2024 was the second wettest March on report for the territory, with rainfall far exceeding the typical. To make issues worse, tropical cyclone Megan struck the already drenched space, additional exacerbating the state of affairs.
This false-colour radar picture combines knowledge from two acquisitions, one from 10 March previous to the rainfall, and one from 22 March after the downpour. Flooded areas are highlighted in purple, whereas darkish areas signify everlasting water our bodies or fields which can be incessantly submerged.
Tarrabool Lake, the big darkish patch within the backside proper, is a seasonal lake whose water stage fluctuates. Its swampy wetlands and the close by tropical forests present an important habitat for small mammals, reptiles, and quite a few chicken species.
Though fed by varied creeks, Creswell Creek, flowing down from the northeast, is its principal water supply and seems to have overflowed, as did most rivers within the space.
Owing to their significance as a breeding website for waterbirds, Tarrabool Lake and the Eva Downs swamp system are listed as an Necessary Chicken Space by BirdLife Worldwide, as is Lake Woods, a big ephemeral freshwater wetland, seen as a black patch within the high left nook.
Usually round 350 sq km, Lake Woods can increase considerably during times of seasonal heavy rainfall, supporting as much as 116 000 waterbirds when totally inundated.
Copernicus Sentinel-1’s radar means to ‘see’ by way of clouds and rain, and in darkness, makes it significantly helpful for monitoring floods. These photographs can supply rapid data on the extent of inundation, aiding reduction efforts. Additionally, after such occasions, satellite tv for pc photographs are a worthwhile useful resource for assessing injury and planning restoration.
