To prevent the Xiaolin Village tragedy from repeating itself, the Taiwan Typhoon and Flood Research Institute (TTFRI) of National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) has established a transportable “dual polarization rainfall research radar observational ba
With its steep slopes and strong currents, the mountainous landscape of Taiwan tends to have floods, landslides, and mudslides in times of typhoon and heavy rainfall. The continuous heavy rainfall, brought about by a combination of typhoons and southwesterly flows, seriously threatens Taiwan's social and economic security. For instance, the July 2nd Flood of 2004 was the result of incoming southwesterly flows in the wake of the Typhoon Mindulle(敏督利颱風). Heavy rainfall of 2,000 mm within 2 to 3 days and the subsequent mudslide destroyed Sung Ho Village (松鶴部落) in Heping District, Taichung. Nine thousand five hundred people were evacuated in this event. While in the August 8th Flood of 2009, the combined effect of Typhoon Morakot (莫拉克颱風) and southwesterly flows resulted in a 3-day total rainfall of 2,900 mm in the mountainous areas of Kaohsiung, Pingtung, and Chiayi. This event far exceeds Taiwan's annual average rainfall of 2,500 mm. Hundreds of bridges were damaged, and 699 people were killed or reported missing in Xiaolin Village (小林村), Kaohsiung.
To prevent the Xiaolin Village tragedy from repeating itself, the Taiwan Typhoon and Flood Research Institute (TTFRI) of National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs) has established a transportable “dual polarization rainfall research radar observational ba
How much does it rain in the mountains?
The Central Weather Bureau defines heavy rain, extremely heavy rain, and torrential rain as accumulated rainfall exceeds 50 mm, 130 mm, and 200 mm in 24 hours, respectively. However, typhoons and southwesterly flows may deliver rainfall over 100mm in 1 hour. As mentioned earlier, heavy rainfall in mountainous areas tends to cause landslides, mudslides, and other disasters. Floods occur when rainfall flows through hills and valleys and accumulates in lowlands. Debris carried by the floods may even destroy bridges as it travels downstream.
The current rainfall warning systems are mainly ba
Advanced technology in disaster prevention
To achieve this purpose, the TTFRI began conducting plans for an “integrated southwesterly flow for atmospheric and hydrological observational network” with focus on southwesterly flows and heavy rain in mountainous areas. The first goal was to establish a “dual polarization rainfall research radar observational ba
Taking a leading role in academic research
In the face of unpredictable southwesterly flows and heavy rainfall systems, we need more accurate rainfall detection and longer warning periods, both of which rely on a better understanding of southwesterly flow rainfall and the structure and characteristics of rainfall systems. The TTFRI plans to establish wind profilers and unmanned aircrafts within the next two years. Using these advanced technologies, combined with the existing dual polarization rainfall radar, and the experimental basin project, the integrated southwesterly flow for atmospheric and hydrological observational network can be achived in TTFRI.
In addition to providing information required for disaster warning, the TTFRI will join forces with the Central Weather Bureau and academic institutions such as National Taiwan University, National Central University, and Chinese Culture University for joint observational experiments of southwesterly flows to push technological li
