Rainstorm Forecasting By Mining Heterogeneous Remote Sensed Datasets

Meteorological satellite data and images have been operationally utilized in weather services for more than 30 years. Since the inception of weather forecasting based on satellite remote sensed data, meteorologists have faced the challenge of using this tool to minimize the potential damage caused during adverse weather conditions by collecting and analyzing these images. Based on this analysis, responsible officers are able to take necessary action to minimize the potential damage caused by weather-related disasters. This is particularly significant and urgent for China, particularly for the Yangtze River Basin, which suffers from frequent flooding that endangers life, disrupts transportation and commerce and results in serious economic losses. For example, the unprecedented, severe flood in the Yangtze River Basin in 1998 resulted in the deaths of 4,150 people and damage to property of approximately 32 billion US dollars. Since almost all floods are caused by heavy rainfall, advance forecasting of these adverse weather conditions has been a key factor in attempts to mitigate casualties and damages caused by floods. ABSTRACT