How are flood profiles developed?

Flood profiles are developed by plotting flood elevations and connecting the points at cross sections. This process involves taking data from various locations along a river or floodplain, where measurements of water elevation during flood events are collected. These cross-sectional data points indicate how high water rises in different areas and help to visually represent the relationship between flood elevation and the geographic features of the landscape. This method provides a detailed overview of flood risk across the area, essential for effective floodplain management and risk assessment.

The other options, while relevant to understanding or assessing flood risks in different contexts, do not specifically contribute to the creation of flood profiles. For instance, using satellite imagery can help identify flood extent or changes in land use but does not directly plot flood elevations. Similarly, community surveys gather qualitative data about people's experiences with flooding but do not yield the quantitative elevation data required for flood profiles. Estimating rainfall data is important for forecasting potential flooding events but does not create a flood profile by itself without the supportive elevation data.