Rivers are the arteries of our planet, carrying life-sustaining water across continents and supporting billions of people. Yet monitoring these vital waterways remains one of the greatest challenges in hydrology. How do we measure river discharge across vast, remote basins where traditional gauging stations are sparse or non-existent? The answer lies in a cutting-edge approach called hydrological data assimilation—a powerful method that combines satellite observations with numerical models to paint a comprehensive picture of global water resources.
Over the past ten years or so, flood hazard modeling has taken some big steps forward. What once relied heavily on region-specific tools and disparate methodologies is now evolving into a more coherent, globally consistent effort. A handful of landmark international studies—four, in particular, spanning from 2015 to 2024—along with Canada’s own national push to standardize flood hazard delineation, highlight a shift: from patchy, regional maps to detailed, climate-aware global coverage that’s more than just technically sound—it’s designed for real-world application.