UPSC Articles
South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-I – Natural disasters & GS-III – Science and Technology
In news
- Recently, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has launched the South Asian Flash Flood Guidance System (FFGS).
- Aim: To help disaster management teams and governments make timely evacuation plans ahead of the actual event of flooding.
Key takeaways
- A dedicated FFGS centre will be established in New Delhi.
- Weather modelling and analysis of rainfall data observations from member countries will be done there.
- Developed by: US-based Hydrologic Research Centre
- Based on the rainfall and potential flooding scenario, flash flood warnings will be issued to respective nations.
- Flash flood threat warning will be issued six hours in advance.
- Flood risk warning will be issued 24 hours in advance.
- Warnings about watershed level will be issued 12 hours in advance.
Important value additions
Flash Floods
- These are sudden surges in water levels during or following an intense spell of rain.
- These are localised events of short duration.
- The peak is usually very high.
- The duration is less than six hours between the occurrence of the rainfall and peak flood.
- The flood situation worsens if the drainage lines are choked or the natural flow of water is obstructed.
