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Anak Krakatau: Finnish radar satellite eyes tsunami volcano | Anak Krakatau: Finnish radar satellite eyes tsunami volcano |
(35 minutes later) | |
Here's a new view of Anak Krakatau, the collapsed Indonesian volcano that generated the 22 December tsunami that devastated local coastlines. | Here's a new view of Anak Krakatau, the collapsed Indonesian volcano that generated the 22 December tsunami that devastated local coastlines. |
The picture was assembled from radar images acquired on Wednesday by the ICEYE-X2 satellite. | The picture was assembled from radar images acquired on Wednesday by the ICEYE-X2 satellite. |
This is a small innovative spacecraft from Finland that will soon be part of a large orbiting network of sensors. | This is a small innovative spacecraft from Finland that will soon be part of a large orbiting network of sensors. |
The volcano continues to evolve, following the cone's catastrophic failure. | The volcano continues to evolve, following the cone's catastrophic failure. |
Its original height of 340m was reduced to just 110m in the disaster, but further eruptions have since begun to re-model the remnant structure. | Its original height of 340m was reduced to just 110m in the disaster, but further eruptions have since begun to re-model the remnant structure. |
"This image indicates the edifice is in a building phase, with the crater no longer connected to the sea as it was in images from a week or so ago," observed Dr Andy Hopper from Leeds University, UK. | "This image indicates the edifice is in a building phase, with the crater no longer connected to the sea as it was in images from a week or so ago," observed Dr Andy Hopper from Leeds University, UK. |
More than 400 people died along the coastlines of Java and Sumatra in the Sunda Strait when the tsunami hit. | More than 400 people died along the coastlines of Java and Sumatra in the Sunda Strait when the tsunami hit. |
Scientists relied heavily on radar satellites in the days immediately after the collapse to try to understand what had happened. | Scientists relied heavily on radar satellites in the days immediately after the collapse to try to understand what had happened. |
Radar will see the ground day or night, and will even pierce thick cloud. | Radar will see the ground day or night, and will even pierce thick cloud. |
Researchers were fortunate that the European Union's Sentinel platform passed overhead just hours after the event. But such observations are not always so timely. | Researchers were fortunate that the European Union's Sentinel platform passed overhead just hours after the event. But such observations are not always so timely. |
Helsinki-based ICEYE hopes to remedy this by putting up a constellation of small radar satellites. | |
ICEYE-X2 is the second spacecraft to be launched. Another five to eight will go up this year. All these platforms are about the size of a suitcase - far smaller than the traditional radar sensors placed in orbit. | |
The image at the top of this page is cropped and compressed, but the original data generates a resolution of 3m by 3m (features larger than this on the ground can be discerned). | The image at the top of this page is cropped and compressed, but the original data generates a resolution of 3m by 3m (features larger than this on the ground can be discerned). |
ICEYE wants to couple this sharp vision with high temporal resolution, meaning a single spot on the Earth's surface could be surveyed multiple times a day. | ICEYE wants to couple this sharp vision with high temporal resolution, meaning a single spot on the Earth's surface could be surveyed multiple times a day. |
A constellation of 30 in-orbit platforms could observe mid-latitude locations, such as London or Paris, say, about 15 times a day. | A constellation of 30 in-orbit platforms could observe mid-latitude locations, such as London or Paris, say, about 15 times a day. |
Indonesia says it will double the size of its disaster relief budget, following its deadliest year for natural disasters in a decade. | Indonesia says it will double the size of its disaster relief budget, following its deadliest year for natural disasters in a decade. |
In addition to the event on 22 December, an earthquake and tsunami cost the lives of more than 2,000 people on Sulawesi island in September. | In addition to the event on 22 December, an earthquake and tsunami cost the lives of more than 2,000 people on Sulawesi island in September. |
The Indonesian finance ministry says $750m will be reserved for immediate post-disaster responses, while another $350m will be reserved for reconstruction efforts. | The Indonesian finance ministry says $750m will be reserved for immediate post-disaster responses, while another $350m will be reserved for reconstruction efforts. |
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |