JPSS River Ice and Flooding, 2nd Edition

Course Description

This lesson introduces hydrologists, meteorologists, and the education community to JPSS (Joint Polar Satellite System) satellite capabilities and products for monitoring river ice and flooding. The products include VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) Day Land Cloud RGB imagery for detecting river ice and the VIIRS Flood Map product, with essential applications over high latitudes and during winter and spring in the contiguous United States.

A May 2013 Galena, Alaska event demonstrates the use and value of the products during a major ice jam flood event. Two additional mini cases illustrate applications for flooding and ice cover scenarios not related to ice jam events. The cases also highlight the products’ role in supplementing other types of observations that are commonly relied on for monitoring river conditions.

 

Key Updates

Updated: October 2026: The lesson is an update to an original 2016 edition and focuses on current-generation JPSS polar-orbiting satellite products relevant to river ice and flood events. Information about accessing these products and details about their applications and limitations are included.

 

How to Access

Take the course here (MetEd login required).