Observing of disaster by ALOS

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Observation of concentrated heavy rain in Pakistan by AVNIR-2 onboard "Daichi" (ALOS) (4)

Northwestern Pakistan in the central Asia has been seriously damaged due to floods and mudslides caused by heavy rain which had occurred continuously since July 29, 2010.
Press reported that disaster by floods spread from north to south in Pakistan, bridges and roads collapsed and land route was shut. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has performed the observation to monitor the state of the damage by the Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type 2 (AVNIR-2)* onboard the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS, "Daichi") at 14:46 (JST) or 5:46 (UTC) on August 15, 2010 further to August 6, 2010.

Fig. 1 shows an observed image and is assigned band 3, 2 and 1 of AVNIR-2 as the true color composite. White colored areas show clouds, swollen rivers and floods at agricultural land could be seen among the clouds.

Fig.1: AVNIR-2 image with 0.0 degree pointing angle acquired at 14:46 on August 15, 2010 (JST).
Yellow squares show location of Figs. 2 and 3.
(Click to View Enlarged Image)

Fig. 2 shows enlarged images of flooded areas, which were taken after disaster on August 15, 2010 (left), August 6, 2010 (middle) and before disaster on October 14, 2009 (right). It is located at Alhara Hazari (260 km south-southwest from Islamabad). It is assigned band 4, 3 and 2 of AVNIR-2 as the false color composite, therefore vegetation can be seen in red color and flood areas can be done clear in light gray color. In comparison to both images taken on August 15, 2010 and August 6, 2010, the image taken on August 15, 2010 shows that flooded area shown by yellow circle spreads.

Fig.2: Enlarged images of the swollen rivers at Alhara Hazari
(324 square kilometers, left: August 15, 2010; middle: August 6, 2010; right: October 14, 2009).
(Click to View Enlarged Image)

Fig. 3 shows enlarged images of flooded areas, which were taken after disaster on August 15, 2010 (left) and before disaster on October 14, 2009 (right). It is located at Chund Bharwana (240 km south-southwest from Islamabad). The area in the image taken on August 6, 2010 was covered by clouds, however the image taken on August 15, 2010 indicates that the swollen rivers and farmland was widely submerged.

Fig.3: Enlarged images of the swollen rivers at Chund Bharwana
(324 square kilometers, left: August 15, 2010; right: October 14, 2009).
Yellow box shows location of Fig. 4.
(Click to View Enlarged Image)

Fig. 4 shows enlarged images of Fig. 3 at the bridges. In comparison to Fig. 4 before as well as after disaster, the image taken on August 15, 2010 indicates that the bridge was flooded by swollen rivers since shape of the bridge wasn't clear.

Fig.4: Enlarged images of the bridges at Chund Bharwana
(9 square kilometers, left: August 15, 2010; right: October 14, 2009).
(Click to View Enlarged Image)

JAXA plans continuous observation of this area.

* Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type 2 (AVNIR-2):
AVNIR-2 is a visible and near infrared radiometer for observing land and coastal zones.
It provides 10-m spatial-resolution image and 70-km swath on the ground. The pointing angle of AVNIR-2 is +44 and - 44 degrees. This image was acquired by 0.0 degree. The images taken after disaster on August 6, 2010 and before disaster on October 14, 2009 were acquired by 38 degrees east and 0.0 degree, respectively.

[Reference]
2010/8/10: Emergency observation of concentrated heavy rain in Pakistan by AVNIR-2 onboard "Daichi" (ALOS) (3).
2010/8/9: Emergency observation of concentrated heavy rain in Pakistan by AVNIR-2 onboard "Daichi" (ALOS) (2).
2010/8/5: Emergency observation of concentrated heavy rain in Pakistan by AVNIR-2 onboard "Daichi" (ALOS).

©JAXA EORC