Rivers play a crucial role in supporting life but also pose increasing risks as climate change progresses. With rainfall patterns becoming unpredictable and sea levels rising, floods are anticipated to become more frequent and severe globally. Existing river maps, however, are outdated and overly simplistic, often missing complex features like branching river systems that are significant for understanding water movement.
To address these shortcomings, researchers have developed a new global river network called Global RIver Topology (GRIT). This network includes branching rivers and large canals, capturing the complexity of these waterways. GRIT was created using high-resolution satellite imagery combined with advanced elevation data of the Earth's surface. It provides detailed information on river flow directions, widths, and bifurcation points.
Dr Michel Wortmann from Oxford University stated, "We needed a global map that reflects the way rivers actually behave." He emphasized that understanding rivers' true nature is essential for predicting floods and planning for climate impacts.
GRIT represents a major advancement in flood prediction and climate resilience. As extreme weather events increase due to climate change, it becomes crucial to understand water movement at large scales for effective flood models and disaster planning. The new network supports the development of AI models for various environmental challenges such as flooding, droughts, water quality issues, habitat conservation, and environmental risk management.
Professor Louise Slater from the University of Oxford highlighted GRIT's capacity for evolution: "Because it’s fully automated... we can keep updating it with the latest satellite images and topographic data."
This project was funded by the EvoFLOOD Large Grant (NE/S015728/1), part of a £3.7 million NERC-funded research program focused on global flood hazard evolution.