“Using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to Map Natural Hazards and Disasters” with Jeffrey Weissel (May 2004)

“Using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to Map Natural Hazards and Disasters.”
Dr. Jeffrey Weissel

Originally presented 8 May 2004

 

Introductory Presentation by Dr. Michael J. Passow

PowerPoint | HTML

Earth Science Content

We demonstrate how fully-polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can be used to assess natural disasters involving terrain resurfacing processes such as landslides, volcanic eruptions, and fires. In various climate settings, these hazards often temporarily remove a natural vegetation cover and in doing so, modify the physical properties of the land surface. For SAR remote sensing, removal of vegetation cover causes a change in dominant microwave scattering mechanism for the areas affected. Fully-polarimetric airborne SAR data can be “inverted” for parameters that reflect scattering mechanism signatures diagnostic of different surface cover types. To assess the usefulness of fully-polarimetric SAR to hazards mapping, we apply a uniform method to map 1) landslides resulting from the 1999 Mw 7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan, 2) volcanic flows from the major 1996 eruption of Manam volcano in Papua New Guinea, and 3) the extent of damage from the summer 2002 Rodeo – Chediski wildfire in Arizona.

Here is a link to an article about this research effort:
Columbia Researchers Improve Remote Mapping Techniques For Rapid Assessment of Disaster Zones
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/news/2003/10_24_03b.html

 

Technology Tips for the Classroom

by Dr. Cristiana Assumpção

For information on educational technologies and ideas on how to use the Earth2Class materials in your classrooom, see the tutorials in the MENTORING section of our website http://www.earth2class.org/mentoring/technology.htm

 

Resources

Columbia Researchers Improve Remote Mapping Techniques For Rapid Assessment of Disaster Zones
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/news/2003/10_24_03b.html

Atmosphere Radiation Measurements Program http://www.arm.gov/docs/

Atmosphere Radiation Measurements educational activities http://www.arm.gov/docs/education/tlessons.html