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RADARSAT-2 - Featured image archives
South America
Extent of flood devastation in Brazil
Image acquired on January 8th, 2012 by Canadian satellite RADARSAT-2
On January 7, 2012, the dam at Campos dos Goytacezes, Brazil burst causing extensive flooding in the Minas Gerais, Espirito Santos, and Rio de Janeiro regions. At the same time a number of mudslides struck the city of Belo-Horizonte, killing 6 people. The Brazilian authorities have evacuated more than 20,000 people and a state of emergency was declared in the region. Civil defense officials were deployed to handle the worst affected areas in an attempt to prevent further loss of life.
The Ministry of Defense and the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espacials (INPE)(Brazil) requested the acquisitions of Earth Observation (EO) imagery over Brazil in order to better manage the disaster crisis. In response, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) acquired multiple RADARSAT-2 images over affected areas during the week following the flood event. The CSA Earth Observation Applications and Utilizations (EOAU), in close collaboration with Hatfield Consultants Partnership (North Vancouver, Canada), have developed change detection maps with RADARSAT-2 and RADARSAT-1 images in less than 48 hours. The products were developed through the CSA Rapid Information Products and Services (RIPS) initiative.
The following images highlight areas of flood throughout Campos dos Goytacezes and show the extent of devastation. The image on the left depicts the area prior to flooding and the image on the right depicts post flood conditions with newly flooded areas highlighted in red.
Copyrights: RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES LTD. (2012) – All Rights Reserved. RADARSAT is an official mark of the Canadian Space Agency.
This product was developed by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Earth Observation Applications and Utilizations (EOAU) under it’s Rapid Information Products and Services (RIPS) initiative.
Haiti - Les Gonaives: Before and after the passage of hurricane Tomas
Situation Report:
Hurricane Tomas hit the west part of Haiti on November 5th, causing floods in many areas, including Gonaives. Certain regions were only accessible by helicopter since many roads were cut off owing to flooding and land and mudslides.
Note on RADARSAT-2 Imagery:
A set of two images acquired by the Canadian RADARSAT-2 satellite on November 5 (before 'Tomas') and on November 6 (after 'Tomas') were processed to extract information on changes that occured following the hurricane's passage. Generally, the radar signal is sensitive to terrain features, fine-scale surface roughness, and dielectric properties and orientation of materials, e.g. moisture content, buildings. It also provides a clear delineation between land and water surfaces, thus helping to map flooded areas.
November 5, 2010 - Before Tomas
November 6, 2010 - After Tomas
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES LTD (2010) – All Rights Reserved. RADARSAT is an official mark of the Canadian Space Agency.
November 5, 2010 - Before Tomas
November 6, 2010 - After Tomas
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES LTD (2010) – All Rights Reserved. RADARSAT is an official mark of the Canadian Space Agency.
Earthquake in the Republic of Haiti - City of Port-au-Prince
Region: Port-au-Prince, Haïti
Sensor: RADARSAT-2
Acquisition date: January 14, 2010 at 5:47 (EST)
Mode and beam: Ultra-Fine, beam 77
A: Presidential Palace
B: Port-au-Prince Cathedral
C: The Iron Market
D: Public Market
E: Canada-Haiti College
F: Port-au-Prince Airport
G: Pétionville
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES LTD (2010) – All Rights Reserved. RADARSAT is an official mark of the Canadian Space Agency.
B: Port-au-Prince Cathedral
C: The Iron Market
D: Public Market
F: Port-au-Prince Airport
G: Pétionville
To see more images of the Earthquake in Haiti, visit the International Charter Space and Major Disasters web site at the following link: www.disasterscharter.org
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (2010) – All Rights Reserved. RADARSAT is an official trademark of the Canadian Space Agency.
Flooding in Haiti
In less than a month and since August, 2008, four major tropical storms/hurricanes hit Haiti: Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike. The UN stated that Hurricane Ike hit Haiti hardest in the Caribbean and estimated around September 15, 2008 that some 800,000 Haitians, of which 300,000 children, were made homeless. Hundreds were reported dead following the weeks of successive tropical storms and hurricanes. The UN World Food Program said that the deadly storms displaced hundreds of thousands of people and destroyed several homes and plantations. A September 15, 2008 UN news bulletin claimed that about 60% of the Haitian town of Gonaives was under water.
Advanced capabilities of the proven Canadian RADARSAT-1 satellite and its next generation RADARSAT-2 were called upon in this crisis situation. The Canadian Space Agency produced images from its RADARSAT-1 data, while RADARSAT-2 data and image processing was gratefully provided by MDA/GSI in this emergency context to support the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" operations. The Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing used this satellite data to map the limits of the flood extent. Hence, in collaboration with its international partners, Canada is supporting other Nations and their front-line responders by contributing substantial improvements in imaging natural disasters, which is helping improve the management and evaluation of the impact of these disasters on human life and property.
For more information, please see the Charter site: Hurricanes in Haiti www.disasterscharter.org
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES LTD (2008) – All Rights Reserved. RADARSAT is an official mark of the Canadian Space Agency.
Flooding in Haiti – multi-dated image (Right side)
Region: Gonaives et Desdunes, Haïti
Sensor: RADARSAT-2
Acquisition date: September 12, 2008
Mode and beam: Standard 3 (S3), HH
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (2008) – All Rights Reserved. Interpretation and mapping by the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Canada.
Region: Gonaives et Desdunes, Haïti
Sensor: RADARSAT-1
Acquisition date: September 10, 2008
Mode and beam: Fine 3 far (F3f), HH
© Canadian Space Agency, 2008. Interpretation and mapping by the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Canada.
Flooding in Haiti – multi-dated image (Left side)
Region: Gonaives et Desdunes, Haïti
Sensor: ALOS
Acquisition date: February 9, 2008
Incident angle: 34,3 degrees
Space between pixels: 6,25 m
ALOS imagery © JAXA, 2008. Interpretation and mapping by the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Canada.
Flooding in Haiti
RADARSAT-2 Data and Products © MacDONALD, DETTWILER AND ASSOCIATES LTD (2008) – All Rights Reserved. RADARSAT is an official mark of the Canadian Space Agency.
Flooding in Haiti
Region: Gonaives et Desdunes, Haïti
Sensor: RADARSAT-1
Acquisition date: September 10, 2008
Mode and beam: Fine 3 far (F3f), HH
© Canadian Space Agency, 2008. Interpretation and mapping by the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Canada.
