2024-04-23 14:56:00
(CNN) — Last week, Torrential rains unprecedented left parts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under water, paralyzing life in Dubai and other places.
Las floods caused by the largest flood on record in the UAE were so intense that the satellites They were able to continue seeing them from space days after the clouds cleared and the last drops of rain fell.
From late Tuesday, April 16 to Wednesday, April 17, heavy rain fell in torrents over much of the UAE. In Dubai, the most populated city in the country, a year’s worth of rain fell in just 12 hours, while in the most eastern areas almost two years’ worth of rain fell in less than 24 hours.
The heaviest rains were recorded north and east of Abu Dhabi, the country’s capital. Rainfall of between 100 and 200 millimeters was recorded, but in some places it reached 250 mm.
The waters rose rapidly and took time to recede as a result of this historic flood, the most intense to occur in the country since records began 75 years ago.
Less than two days after the rains subsided, the Landsat 9 satellite flew over the UAE on Friday, April 19, capturing images of large pools of water still lingering. The satellite collects detailed images of the Earth’s surface and is operated by NASA and the United States Geological Survey.
The deep blue puddles in the images show flood waters, which contrast with the region’s dry, light brown soil. The flooding shown is in the southernmost part of Dubai, but the highly urbanized city center is not captured.
These images were taken with Landsat 9 false color products to highlight the presence of water on dry soil. The colors shown are not exactly what a person would see from space, but they make it easy to spot differences on the ground.
The satellite also captured significant flooding in Abu Dhabi. Small, shallow bodies of water appear light blue. The largest and deepest puddles are dark blue.
Large areas of dry, tanned land also take on a light green tint after rainfall. This probably indicates that the soil in many areas retained moisture from the rain, even if they were not completely flooded.
Satellite images of Abu Dhabi before (left) and after (right) the historic floods. (Credit: NASA)
While these images may not have captured the worst of the country’s flooding, they provide an incredible snapshot of how much the storm left behind.
The torrential rains were associated with a larger storm system that crossed the Arabian Peninsula and moved through the Gulf of Oman last week. This same system also caused deadly flooding in the nearby Oman.
Extreme precipitation of this type is becoming more frequent as the atmosphere warms due to human-caused climate change. A warmer atmosphere is capable of absorb more moisture like a towel and then expel it in the form of torrential rains.
Dry areas that lack the infrastructure to cope with heavy rainfall are more likely to experience severe flooding.
Several vehicles drive through flood water caused by heavy rain on Thursday in Dubai. (Credit: Christopher Pike/AP)
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