Warning & forecasting of floods

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is working on systems to forecast natural disasters that could be used as input by states / disaster management agencies. ISRO is carrying out studies to facilitate best use of satellite derived information to develop methodologies for forecasting natural disasters. Some of the methodologies used are listed below:

1. ISRO has developed methodologies for forecasting cyclone formation, its track and intensity using satellite based observation and this technique has been transferred to IMD who is mandated for cyclone forecast
2. Flood Early Warning Systems: The North Eastern Space Applications Center (NESAC) of ISRO has developed the Flood Early Warning System (FLEWS) as a research and development project in Assam state in association with Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). This model in being used in all 25 flood prone districts of Assam. Another model for forecasting floods in Godavari flood plains in Andhra Pradesh is developed by National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of ISRO. The methodology is being used by Central Water Commission (CWC). ISRO is developing similar systems for Krishna, Brahmani-Baitarani, Ghagra, Gandak and Kosi rivers.
3. Space Applications Center (SAC) of ISRO has developed a model for heavy rainfall/cloud burst alerts, which is experimentally carried for Indian region. The information is made available on ISROs Meteorological and Oceanographic Satellite Data Archival Centre (MOSDAC)
4. Rainfall triggered landslide alerts for the Uttarakhand region has been developed as an experimental early warning system for use along the pilgrimage route corridors leading to Gangotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath as well as along the Pithorgarh-Malpa route in Uttarakhand. The forewarning is generated based on the statistical relation between the terrain (geological, morphological) and temporal (primarily long term rainfall events) factors 
5. ISRO has developed experimental methodologies for early warning extreme weather events such as heat wave using Numerical Weather Predictions (NWP). The information derived is being made available on the MOSDAC website.

ISRO has realised two satellite missions:

1. Meghatropiques launched in October 2011 and
2. Saral launched in Febuary 2013 in collaboration with French National Space Agency (CNES)

Currently ISRO is working with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), for a joint realisation of a satellite mission called NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) to be launched in 2020-21. Fund allocation for Meghatropiques is 81.6 crore, SARAL is 73.75 crore and for NISAR is 513 crore.