1 Application of Space-Based Remote Sensing to Climate Change & Disaster Relief High Level Segment ITU Council 2008 November 13, 2008 Badri Younes Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Communications & Navigation National Aeronautics and Space Administration United States of America

2 Societal Benefits of Remote Sensing Remote sensing provides critical data about the Earths environment. NASA, in cooperation with other US government agencies, and international partners, constantly monitors the state of our planets atmosphere, oceans, and land. This knowledge is freely shared so that all nations can benefit. Such knowledge may be used to help nations prepare for potential natural disasters as well as to recover from them after they occur.

3 NASA Participates in Two Response Environments Regulatory & Operational Regulatory –ITU-D Study Group 2 Question 22/2 Utilization of ICT for Disaster Management, Resources, and Active and Passive Space Based Sensing Systems As They Apply to Disaster and Emergency Relief Situations –Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG) Intersessional Working Group on Disaster Management –Increases Worldwide Awareness of Available Resources and of Need for Continued Regulatory Protection of Remote Sensing Bands Operational –Long History of Scientific Missions Focusing on Observation of Critical Earth and Atmospheric Parameters –Extensive International Scientific Cooperation

4 International Cooperation in Sensor Development

5 Application of Space-Based Remote Sensing Tsunamis Droughts Earthquakes Floods Landslides Pollution Sea Ice Volcanoes

6 Assessing Tsunami Damage

7 Drought in Australia Soil moisture distribution in Australia during October 2005 and This data acquired by AMSR-E on Aqua. Red indicates low soil moisture (dry), while blue indicates higher soil moisture (wet). A drought occurred in south east Australia (Granary area) in 2006.

8 Earthquake Near Sumatra ASTER data showed that Coral reefs off Nias Island, Indonesia were uplifted following earthquakes near Sumatra, Indonesia in December 2004 and March, ASTER

9 Hurricane Dean – August 2007 QuikSCAT GOES GOES imagery shows the character and motion of the hurricane. QuikSCAT produces wind speed and direction.

10 Flooding in Germany Landsat 7, Circa 2000ASTER, August 20, 2002

11 Landslide in Canada RADARSAT-1 InSar Displacement Maps Cover

12 Red Tide Off West Coast of Florida SeaWiFS Observed a Red Tide on November 21, 2004

13 Antarctic Sea Ice Thickness Weddell Sea Ice Thickness from Multichannel Observations made by SIR-C/X-SAR

14 Hawaiian Volcano Activity Note: Ground motion indicates dangerous underground volcanic activity

15 Indonesian Volcanic Hazard Landsat and SRTM combine to identify vulnerable areas and populations

Wildfires Fires in Southern California, October 25, 2003 Observed with MODIS on TERRA.

17 SERVIR The Regional Visualization and Monitoring System Enabling the use of earth observations and models for timely decision making to benefit society Data and Models Online Maps Visualization Decision Support Training Partnerships

18 SERVIR Applications Disaster Analysis Environmental Monitoring Air Quality Assessment Climate Change and Biodiversity Short Term Weather Prediction Flooding Change Analysis in Haiti September 2008 Fires in Guatemala and Mexico Study on Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity

19 South-South, Cross- Continental Geospatial Collaboration Equipment installed and training conducted for initial setup of SERVIR-East Africa node Integrated system development underway for both regional centers Continued advances in data acquisition: -RCMRD & CATHALAC tasking requests of EO-1 satellite Enhancement of visualization capabilities - Beta version of the SERVIR Climate Mapper tool Prototyping and development of new products/applications - Flood potential product (using multiple NASA sensors and/adapting existing NASA models)

20 SERVIR Countries Represented Mesoamerica/Caribbean –Guatemala –Belize –El Salvador –Honduras –Nicaragua –Costa Rica –Panama –Dominican Republic –Southern Mexico East Africa –Kenya –Tanzania –Uganda –Rwanda –Ethiopia Dan Irwins Presentation of SERVIR to the Presidents of Central America and Mexico

21 SERVIR.net For More Information Dan Irwin – SERVIR Director Emilio Sempris – SERVIR Mesoamerica Kate Lance – SERVIR Africa

22 Summary Space-Based Remote Sensing Provides Critical Information –Near Real Time Data for Disaster Relief –Long Term Trends for Assessing Climate Change Remote Sensing Data is Freely Available –Often via Internet International Organizations Can Assist Administrations with Remote Sensing Data Access and Application –Climate Change Assessments –Disaster Management Spectrum is a Key Enabler –Critical Need for Interference-Free Spectrum for Sensing and Communications NASA Will Continue its Long History of International Cooperation –Application of NASA Spaceborne Capabilities to Mitigate Disasters and Combat Adverse Climate Change