Unprecedented flooding in Iran: Soar uncovers a huge lake appearing in a mountain basin

Overview location of SE Iran, where the Jaz Murian Depression sits at the base of a large and extensive mountain range reaching up to 4000masl.

The Jaz Murian depression is an inland basin in south-east Iran that covers over 13,000km2 and is fed by two major tributaries: Halil and Bampur Rivers. It is surrounded on all sides by extensive mountain ranges reaching almost 4,000m above sea level (Kuh-he-Jebel Barez and Kuh-he-Bazman). At the lowest, and central point of this depression lies a small, unnamed dry lake bed which experiences major flooding events roughly once in a decade. These flooding events are usually due to summer time tropical rainfall systems which originate in the Arabian Sea and move northwards into the greater Baluchistan region. In most years this perennial lake may increase its size to between 200 to 400km2 depending on the amount of rainfall received in the catchment area.

Specific location and extent of the Jaz Murian Depression: Kerman/Sistan-Baluchistan Province

Historically, the maximum extension of the lake has been estimated to have reached almost 1,500km2 in major flooding events of the past 30 years. However, the scale of the latest flooding has not been observed for at least the 40 years, particularly during a winter rainfall event, and as of the 16th of January 2020, its largest extent of over 3,000km2 was achieved. It is an unprecedented event, and has a result re-activated not only additional seasonal lakes which have been dry for many years, but has caused the overflow of regional dams, irrigation systems as well as the emphatic replenishment of the ground water system.

Uncovering the unprecedented flooding of the Jaz Murian Depression using Soar:

Soar is a free online platform that makes viewing dynamic and up-to-date satellite imagery possible for anyone — as well as incorporating other unique features for drone photographers and map-makers. Soar incorporates feeds from a suite of different satellites from NASA, the European Space Agency and more to allow users to ‘Discover your Earth’.

Below we used Soar’s neat ‘Area of Interest’ (AOI) tool to look at imagery from this region of Iran, after getting a hot tip with the news of flooding. We’ve presented a range of examples from different satellites directly from the Soar platform to show the astonishing scale of the flooding in Iran!

REGIONAL MODIS IMAGERY

BEFORE — 8th January 2020, with the basin and nearby rivers looking mostly dry.

AFTER — 17th January shows significant filling of water and flow through to river systems a mere 9 days later!

SENTINEL-2 (ESA) 10M RESOLUTION IMAGERY

Jaz Murian Depression

BEFORE Access URL: https://api.soar.earth/short/s679900a47

AFTER Access URL: https://api.soar.earth/short/s6a09r6402

Konarak / Chabahar

BEFORE Access URL: https://api.soar.earth/short/s67a94609r

AFTER Access URL: https://api.soar.earth/short/s629o149o0

Kalani

BEFORE Access URL: https://api.soar.earth/short/s76r619274

AFTER Access URL: https://api.soar.earth/short/s640a414aa

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