Hydrometeorological hazards result from the state and behaviour of the Earth’s atmosphere, its interaction with the land and oceans, the weather and climate produced and the resulting distribution of water resources.59 The most frequent and impactful hydrometeorological hazards are typically storms, floods and droughts. These types of hazards can emerge, develop and cause impacts quickly (rapid-onset) or gradually build over time before effects are realized (slow-onset – see chapter 4). The required capability from space technologies for early warning systems depends on the type and characteristics of the hazard. For example, rapidly forming thunderstorms require high-resolution, rapid-scan Earth observations and fast, reliable satellite telecommunications to issue warnings quickly.
