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  • Emergency observation of concentrated heavy rain in Pakistan by AVNIR-2 onboard "Daichi" (ALOS)

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

Northwestern Pakistan in the central Asia was seriously damaged due to floods and mudslides caused by heavy rain which had occurred since July 29, 2010. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has decided to observe here by the Panchromatic Remote-sensing Instrument for Stereo Mapping (PRISM) and the Advanced Visible and Near Infrared Radiometer type 2 (AVNIR-2)* onboard the Advanced Land Observation Satellite (ALOS, "Daichi") at 15:02 (JST) or 6:02 (UTC) on August 3, 2010 as an emergency observation.

Fig. 1 shows an observed image of AVNIR-2 at 15:02 on August 3, 2010 (JST). It was assigned by channel 3, 2 and 1 for red, green and blue colors as true color composite. Although the floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of northwestern Pakistan couldn't be identified by clouds, fortunately swollen rivers in the boarder of Afghanistan could be seen.
Fig.1
Fig.1: AVNIR-2 image with 0.0 degree pointing angle acquired at 15:02 on August 3, 2010 (JST). Yellow squares show location of Figs. 2 and 3.
(Click to view enlarged image)
Both Figs.2 and 3 are enlarged images of river basin, which were taken after disaster on August 3, 2010 (left) and before disaster on June 18, 2010 (right). They were assigned by channel 4, 3 and 2 for red, green and blue colors as false color composite. They can be clearly identified the swollen river since water region is seen like blue color. In comparison to the images, the image taken after disaster indicates that the rivers swelled and their width became wide shown by yellow circles. If heavy rain continues, flood damages may be expanded.
Fig.2
Fig.2: Enlarged image at the swollen river in Kan Khun (36 square kilometers, left: August 3, 2010; right: June 18, 2010).
(Click to view enlarged image)
Fig.3
Fig.3: Enlarged image at the swollen river in Pechus (36 square kilometers, left: August 3, 2010; right: June 18, 2010).
(Click to view enlarged image)

JAXA plans continuous observation of this area.

The acquired images were provided to "Sentinel Asia".

* 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.

JAXA EORC