NASA Satellite Monitors Post-Hurricane Gulf Coast Flood Potential Images and Animation

Data from NASA's QuikScat satellite are being used to monitor changes in surface water resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Mississippi River basin. In these images, the colors represent increases in surface soil moisture resulting from rainfall. Rainfall from the two hurricanes can take several weeks to manifest itself as increased river discharge in large rivers such as the Mississippi. Additional hurricanes in this region this season could thus significantly increase the potential for significant flooding.