Monitoring Tsunami Disaster Areas

Space-based imagery is being used to assess disaster areas and direct relief efforts in areas hit by the tsunamis on 26th December 2004. Canada's RADARSAT-1 satellite previously acquired over 70 archived images of the affected regions and these are being used as baseline information to be compared with newly acquired imagery. Day and night, the satellite provides synoptic coverage up to 500km by 500km per image and collects information through clouds over areas currently experiencing monsoon conditions. This data is used to monitor and map flooding, and to locate areas of standing water creating potential breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying malaria. Environmental agencies can use this data to evaluate destruction to the mangrove swamps and coral reefs that act as protective barriers to coastlines from wave erosion.