SWOT-based water surface elevation observations improve flood modeling of the 25·7 Miyun reservoir basin extreme rainfall event

npj natural hazards. 2026 Open access

Read full text
Authors: Jiaqi Yao, Zimeng Zhao, Ming Pan, Yuan Yang, XUE LI, Tong Liu, Zhen Wen, Nan Xu, Hui Lu
DOI: 10.1038/s44304-026-00176-w
Cited by: 4
References: 25

Abstract

Floods are destructive, yet quantifying 3D dynamics remains challenging for traditional satellites. The SWOT mission provides Water Surface Elevation (WSE) measurements for flood monitoring. We assessed the catastrophic Miyun flood (July 2025) where rainfall was extreme. We developed the SWOT-FVE framework to reconstruct hydrographs and volumes, revealing level rises up to 3.2 m and volume increases of 1.54 billion m³. These findings demonstrate SWOT’s unique capability to resolve 3D flood responses, advancing flood assessment and resilience planning.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Flood Risk Assessment and Management Hydrology and Watershed Management Studies Strategic Planning and Analysis

Publication details

Journal / source
npj natural hazards.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
3
Issue
1
Publication date
10 February 2026
Language
EN