Entire areas were submerged under water in Dubai and elsewhere after torrential rains lashed the United Arab Emirates.
Because of the intensity of the heavy downpours, satellites can still see them from space, days after the clouds have cleared and the rain has stopped
Dubai recorded a year’s rainfall in just 12 hours while areas further east recorded almost 2 years’ worth of rainfall in less than 24 hours.
The heaviest rainfall occurred in areas north and east of the capital Abu Dhabi.
What the Landsat 9 satellite recorded
The Landsat 9 satellite passed over the United Arab Emirates on Friday (19/4) and captured images of the major flooding, less than two days after the rain receded.
The satellite is operated by NASA and the United States Geological Survey and collects detailed images of the Earth’s surface.
In the satellite photos, you can see the bright blue where the remaining flood waters are depicted, in contrast to the typically dry soil of the area (brown or light brown).
Satellite image before the floods
Satellite image after the floods
The satellite also recorded significant flooding in Abu Dhabi. Shallow bodies of water are shown in light blue, while larger and deeper areas of water that remain flooded are shown in dark blue.
Satellite images show the chaos left behind by the heavy rains, although the extent of flooding in the country is not 100% captured.
