UM-Led Team to Develop Flood and Drought Prediction System

NOAA, NASA, NSF, DOE among the funders of this critical collaboration to help mitigate effects of extreme climate on S. Florida June 18, 2012 MIAMI — Each year, the National Hurricane Center estimates that tropical storm-related flood damage costs billions of dollars. In 2011, it was estimated at $8.4 billion. In 2005, one of the most active Atlantic Hurricane seasons in history, which generated Hurricane Katrina, that number topped $51 billion. So, to have a tool that can help forecast the potential for flooding rise means better preparation, and potentially, less damage and costs. A multi-model seasonal climate prediction system has shown it can improve NOAA's operational forecasts when it comes to predicting the possibility of severe floods or droughts, especially in South Florida. Based on phase 1 of this multi-institution research project, NOAA, NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Energy awarded a two-year grant of $1.9M to a team led by University of Miami (UM) Professor and Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science Associate Dean of Research Ben Kirtman. He will spearhead the next phase of the effort, which includes nine other principal investigators from government laboratories, universities and non-profit organizations.