Sensors to predict UK floods and droughts

The UK government has announced the roll-out of real time monitoring using sensors to predict extreme weather.

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According to a statement, the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure will be funded to the tune of £40 million. The project will be led by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH).

Researchers will be based at the latter’s offices across the UK, with additional input from researchers in the British Geological Survey, University of Bristol and Imperial College London. Findings will be shared with key organisations, such as the Environment Agency.

A government spokesperson said: “The complexity of Earth’s climate makes forecasting floods and droughts a major challenge, with climate change only further complicating the picture. Researchers will use the latest technologies including sensors and real time computer monitoring.

“[They will also use] a huge bank of data, including river profiles and near real-time monitoring of information including on atmospherics, ground saturation, water movement, abstraction and storage. Taken together, this will form a clearer impression of where and when extreme weather will strike.”