Oxford has developed the most complete river map in the world
A group led by researchers at Oxford University has created the most complete map of the world rivers, which is a significant step forward in the forecast of floods, climate risks and water resources management in the warming world. They have developed a mapping system that will finally show how the rivers actually flow and branch and connect the landscapes.
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Researchers at Oxford University have created the world’s most complete global river map.
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This map accurately depicts the flow, branches and behavior of rivers.
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Introduced under the name GRIT, the system uses high resolution satellite images and topographic data.
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The map helps to manage flood protection, water management and climate risks.
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The procedure is automated and can be updated continuously with the new data.
Rivers support life, but are also increasing risk. By becoming more unpredictable and rising sea levels Floods are expected to become more frequent and more severe in many parts of the world. However, the existing global river maps are obsolete and too simplified, assuming that the rivers flow in one direction and never break. Complex features are often ignored, for example, when a river channel is divided into multiple channels. These branched river systems are important because they are often found in densely populated, flood -hazardous regions. In addition, they are vital to understand the water movement on the surface of the Earth – Write the Sciencedaily.
They assessed complexity
To eliminate the limits of existing river maps used for water management and flood forecasts, the research team has developed a new global river network system, Global River Topology (GRIT), which contains these branching rivers and large channels, grabbing complexity. The system creators of the system published in the Water Resources Research journal in a study show the system.
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Grit was created by combining high-resolution satellite images of the rivers and advanced height data from the ground surface. Grit not only contains the main river channels, but also provides information about the flow direction, width of the rivers and the separation points of the rivers. The total length of the Grit River Network contains 19.6 million kilometers and contains 67,000 branches. The system can significantly improve applications in hydrology, ecology, geomorphology and flood treatment.
« We needed a global map that reflects the actual behavior of the rivers. It is not enough to assume that rivers go down a straight line, especially if we try to predict floods, understand ecosystems, or design climate effects. newsletter dr. Michel Wortmann, who has developed Grit at Oxford as a scientist at the Evoflood project.
Increasingly dangerous rivers
Rivers are vital to ecosystems and human life, but as climate change causes an increasingly extreme weather, they become more dangerous, especially during floods. To prepare, scientists and governments need to understand that water is likely to Where does. Grit gives a much more complete picture of water movements, helping to improve flood models, water management systems and disaster design.
Due to climate change, rivers are becoming increasingly dangerous. Floods are now more predictable thanks to the Oxford Grit System / Photo: Getty Images
The new river network also supports the development of global data control (AI) models for floods, droughts, water quality, habitat protection and environmental risks. Although Grit is already a big step forward, the Oxford team notes that this is just the beginning.
« Grit was built to develop in a way with satellite images and topographic data to understand changes in rivers and landscape, ”said Louise Slater, a professor of hydrochlimatology at Oxford University According to Sciencedaily.
