Image Library

Digital Globe, Inc. (DG) voluntary opens access to their satellite images for supporting disaster response in an earthquake struck Nepal on April 25, 2015 (local time)*. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) compared their images and the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS, "DAICHI") archive images in order to find affected terrains in the Nepal Himalayas in the north of Pokhara (Figure 1).

Two material fallings by avalanche and/or landslides reaching the river are interpreted by an image provided by DG acquired on April 29, 2015 at the place A (28°31’32.64”N; 84°26’27.10”E) (Figure 2a). These are not identified in a PRISM image (2.5-m spatial resolution) acquired on January 20, 2010. This difference suggests that the fallings were caused by the earthquake on April 25, 2015. A birds-eye view of the PRISM image overlaid on a PRISM-derived digital surface model shows the material has fallen along a very steep slopes to the river. Although formation of dammed lake is not been identified on April 29, however, it may be caused by seasonal increase of precipitation and melting water of snows and glaciers. Careful monitoring of river flow and terrain feature changes by satellite images and/or other ways may be necessary.

A material falling of avalanche and/or landslide reaching to the river is interpreted at the place B (28°34’19”32N; 84°11’12”74E) above the east face of Annapurna II (7973 m ASL) (Figure 3a). A PRISM image taken on January 20, 2010 shows a village (Bhratang) located very near the fallen materials. New falling event from the surrounding steep slopes may be carefully monitored.

In the place C (28°40’32.00”N; E83°56’11.47”E), two neighboring fallings reached to the river flow were interpreted from the DG image on April 29, 2015 (Figure. 4a). This place was observed by ALOS PRISM (Figure 4b) and its birds-eye view shows that this fallings occurred from a steep slope (Figure 4c). Although formation of dammed lake is not been identified on April 29, however, it may be caused by seasonal increase of precipitation as well as melting waters from snow and glaciers. Careful monitoring of river flow and terrain changes by satellites images and/or other ways may be necessary. This place is located in an upstream of the place B, therefore the second disaster should also be carefully.