Understand the layers

Use these maps to ask better local questions. Each layer describes a different part of the landscape.

Rainfall is not the same as flooding

The rainfall record estimates how much rain fell in a regional grid cell each month. It does not say which homes flooded or how deep the water became.

Explore the rainfall record ↗

Ask locally

Which dates did residents experience flooding?
Where did water accumulate, and how long did it stay?
Were access roads or water supplies affected?

Surface height is not flood depth

The elevation model includes the surfaces of trees and buildings. A 30 m cell cannot describe every drain, embankment or change in ground height.

Inspect surface elevation ↗

Ask locally

Where are the drainage channels and culverts?
Do ground surveys or drainage plans already exist?
Which low points have actually collected water?

A land-cover class is a starting point

The 2021 satellite map groups pixels into classes such as tree cover and built-up land. A class is not a property boundary, a biodiversity assessment or proof of current conditions.

Explore land cover ↗

Ask locally

Has land cover changed since 2021?
Which places matter for livelihoods, water or tourism?
Can local photographs help verify the map?

Coverage and detail are different

Satellites can cover rural places even where local monitoring is sparse. But global coverage does not guarantee complete facility mapping or enough detail for a village-level decision.

Keep the evidence separate

Record whether a statement comes from satellite estimates, an agency survey, a resident account or an illustrative assumption. Keep its date and source attached.

Try an assumption ↗

From awareness to a local adaptation plan

Use the atlas to discuss priorities with residents and agencies. Collect observations, verify important sites and agree which problems need a local study. The atlas does not designate safe routes, issue warnings or replace official emergency guidance.