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Online Notes
Landslides,
Volcanoes, and
Wildfires: Views
from Above
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Flying a sensor
on a plane or
satellite and
taking "photos"
of the earth is
a remarkably
useful way for
scientists to
explore our
dynamic planet.
This process,
called remote
sensing, is one
of the most
efficient ways
to detect large
scale surface
cover changes.
My research
demonstrates
that Synthetic
Aperture Radar
(SAR), a very
versatile type
of remote
sensing, can be
used to assess
natural
disasters
involving
terrain
resurfacing such
as landslides,
volcanic
eruptions and
fires. These
hazards often
temporarily
remove a natural
vegetation cover
and, in doing
so, modify the
physical
properties of
the land
surface. SAR has
operational
advantages over
optical sensors
for rapid
disaster
assessment
because of its
day/night
acquisition
capability; its
ability to "see
through" smoke,
clouds and dust;
and its
side-looking
viewing
geometry, which
is an advantage
whenever data
collection
directly above
the site would
prove dangerous.
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