U.S.- Italy Research Workshop on the

Hydrometeorology, Impacts, and Management of Extreme Floods

Perugia (Italy), November 1995

HYDRO-METEOROLOGICAL AND REMOTE SENSING ANALYSES: THE CASE OF RECENT EXTREME FLOODS IN NORTHERN ITALY

P. La Barbera and L. Lanza

Environmental Monitoring Center

University of Genova

Genova, Italy

Some recent events over Northern Italy, including the event of November 4-6th, 1994 are analyzed by means of the available satellite-borne monitoring devices. The use of remote sensing techniques provides that ‘far-from-the-object’ perspective that proves extremely useful in many hydrological applications including flood forecasting. The information content of geosynchronous satellite data is discussed in this paper with specific reference to image sequences as provided by the radiometer borne on the ESA-Meteosat platform in the thermal infrared band. Further useful information is derived from ERS-1/SAR images and from the passive microwave sensors presently flying on two spacecraft of the NASA DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program). The role of each source of information is discussed in the integrated use of multisensor produced data.