Satellite Images, Photos, Earth Observation, Geography, History and Remote Sensing Technology

Satellite Image of Pausilypon Archaeological Site and the Seiano Grotto Near Naples, Italy

GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image Pausilypon Archeological Site and the Seiano Grotto, Naples Italy

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This half-meter resolution image shows the Pausilypon Archeological Site and the Seiano Grotto, located approximately 13 km (8.1 miles) west of Naples, Italy. These archaeological ruins include a remarkable amphitheater with 13 rows of seats in the top auditorium, six rows in the middle and an overall seating capacity of two thousand. The entire site has been permanently reopened to the public thanks to the recovery work being done by the Archaeological Sovrintendenza of Naples and Caserta and the contribution of the Commune of Naples. The GeoEye-1 satellite collected the image on April 9, 2012 while flying an average speed of 17,000 mph (four miles per second).

About Pausilypon Archeological Site and the Seiano Grotto

This ancient passageway, which was dug out about two thousand years ago and reinforced in the Bourbon period, snakes through the fascinating half-light of the tunnel and then is struck towards the end by the blinding light from side underground passages on the steep coves, which offer a breathtaking view.

Beyond the cavern, we take a path lined with typical Mediterranean vegetation and come to the area of the villa to which Vedio Pollione, a wealthy Roman knight to Ottaviano Agusto, gave a name of Greek derivation, “Pausylipon”, or “place which stops all the cares” in order to describe the spell and the beauty of this place called Posillipo.

The villa is adaptable to different circumstances, and was enlarged to satisfy the needs of an imperial residence whose full extent will be discovered only when the Archeological Sovrintendenza will complete the work with the final aim of opening this archeological site of Pausylipon to the public.

There are remarkable archaeological remains in this area – a theatre of splendid structure with 13 rows of seats in the top auditorium and 6 in the middle one, an overall seating capacity of two thousand which exploited the natural slope of the hill, in accordance with the typical technique of Greek amphitheaters. On the opposite side are the remains of the Odeion, the ancient roofed theater used for recitals of rhetorical poetry and musical performances, which has a small “cavea” or auditorium positioned in front of the large Theater.For more information, visit here.

Tags: Archeological Site, geoeye-1, Grotta di Seiano, italy, naples, Pausylipon, Posillipo, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, satellite picture, Seiano Grotto

Satellite Images for Mining and Mineral Exploration

Satellite images from sensors such as ASTER and LANDSAT 7 +ETM and recently GeoEye-1 and WorldView-2 have benefited geologists, scientists and exploration managers in earth sciences due to the sensor containing multiple band colors which allows them to interpret wavelengths that cannot be seen by the human eye, such as near infrared, short wave infrared and thermal infrared to identify the difference in structural features of the earth’s surface.

ASTER (15m) Satellite Image Escondida Mine, Chile

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ASTER satellite image of Escondida Cu-Au-Ag open-pit mine is at an elevation of 3050 meters, and came on stream in 1990. Current capacity is 127,000 tons/day of ore; in 1999 production totaled 827,000 tons of copper, 150,000 ounces of gold and 3.53 million ounces of silver. Primary concentration of the ore is done on-site; the concentrate is then sent to the coast for further processing through a 170 km long, 9 pipe. Escondida is related geologically to three porphyry bodies intruded along the Chilean West Fissure Fault System. A high grade supergene cap overlies primary sulfide ore. The above ASTER satellite image displays SWIR bands 4-6-8 in RGB, and highlights lithologic and alteration differences of surface units. Satellite image acquired on April 23, 2000.

GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image Marcona Mine, Peru

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GeoEye-1 (0.5m) satellite image of Marcona, Peru was collected on August 23, 2009. The major industry in the Marcona District is the Marcona Mine, an open-pit iron mine. The mine was acquired in 1992 by Shougang Corporation a state owned Chinese corporation which does business locally as Shougang Hiero Peru.

ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Mine in Baiyun Ebo, Inner Mongolia, China

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ASTER (15m) satellite image of mine in Baiyun Ebo, Inner Mongolia, China is the site of almost half the world’s rare earth production. China is responsible for over 95% of global production of rare earth elements. These elements are critical ingredients in catalytic converters, cell phones, televisions, lasers, magnets, batteries, and other high-tech gizmos. China’s export restrictions have led the US, Japan and the European Union to complain to the World Trade Organization, claiming China was violating trade agreements. The US at one time was a leading producer of rare earths, but most of the mines have been closed. Recently, several US companies are in the process of attempting to re-open these mines and resume mining of rare earths. The ASTER satellite image was acquired on June 30, 2006.

ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Morenci Mine, Arizona

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The Morenci open-pit copper mine in southeast Arizona is North America’s leading producer of copper. In the 1860s, prospectors arrived looking for gold; instead they found copper. Underground mining began in the 1870s, and the first pit was opened in 1939. Phelps Dodge employs over 200 people in the mining and refining operations. Around-the-clock removal of 700,000 tons of rock per day results in production of 382 thousand tons of copper per year. Phelps Dodge is now developing the Safford Mine, about 12 km southwest of Morenci. It will be the first new copper mine in the US in more than 30 years. When production starts in 2008, the Safford Mine will produce 109 thousand tons of copper. This ASTER (15m) satellite image uses short wavelength infrared bands to highlight in bright pink the altered rocks in the Morenci pit associated with copper mineralization. The satellite image was acquired on July 14, 2007.

ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Kondyor Massif, Eastern Siberia, Russia

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This is neither an impact crater nor a volcano. It is a perfect circular intrusion, about 10 km in diameter with a topographic ridge up to 600 meter high. The Kondyor Massif is located in Eastern Siberia, Russia, north of the city of Khabarovsk. It is a rare form of igneous intrusion called alkaline-ultrabasic massif and it is full of rare minerals. The river flowing out of it forms placer mineral deposits. Last year 4 tons of platinum were mined there. A remarkable and very unusual mineralogical feature of the deposit is the presence of coarse crystals of Pt-Fe alloy, coated with gold. This 3-D perspective view was created by draping a simulated natural color ASTER (15m) composite over an ASTER-derived digital elevation model (DEMs). The satellite image was acquired on June 10, 2006.

ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine , California

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The Mountain Pass rare earth mine is an open-pit mine of rare earth elements (REEs) in southeastern California near the Nevada border. REEs are vital for the electronics industry, auto manufacturing, and a wide range of other high-tech products. The mine once supplied most of the world’ rare earth elements until its closure in 2002. Since then, China has taken over as the leading supplier of REEs, producing over 96% of the world’s supply. In 2008, Mountain Pass was purchased by a new operator, who plans to produce 20-25% of the world’s REEs by 2014. The ASTER (15m) satellite image was acquired March 28, 2010.

ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Naica Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico

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The Naica mine in Chihuahua, Mexico, with its enormous gypsum crystals, may well be called the Queen of the Giant Crystals localities. Though the Naica mine is no show mine, but still a working lead-zinc mine hosted in layered limestones, the first of several crystal caves was discovered in 1910. This Cave of the Swords contained extraordinary large sword-like selenite (gypsum) crystals up to 2 meter long. In 2000 another crystal cave system was discovered at 300 meter depth, even more spectacular than the original cave. Inside were free growing gypsum crystals up to 12 meter long and 2 meter in diameter. The ASTER (15m) satellite image uses SWIR bands 4, 6, and 8 in RGB. Limestone is displayed in yellow-green colors, vegetation is red. The satellite image was acquired February 16, 2004.

ASTER Satellite images credit to NASA/GSFC/METI/Japan Space Systems and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation

For more information on remote sensing technology using satellite imagery for mining and mineral exploration, visit here.

Tags: aster, change detection, classification, dems, digital elevation models, earth science, geologic, geology, geospatial, land cover, landsat, mine, mineral exploration, minerals, mines, mining, remote sensing, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photos, satellite pictures, technology, worldview-2

Satellite Image of Yukon Delta – “The Great Tundra”

Landsat 7 – ETM+ (15m) Satellite Image of the Yukon Delta
September 22, 2002

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(Image credit: NASA)

The Yukon River one of the largest river deltas in the world originates in British Columbia, Canada, and flows through Yukon Territory before entering Alaska. In southwestern Alaska, the Yukon Delta spreads out in a vast tundra plain, where the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers meander toward the Bering Sea. Looking a little like branching and overlapping blood vessels, the rivers and streams flow through circuitous channels toward the sea, passing and feeding a multitude of coastal ponds and lakes.

The Yukon Delta is an important habitat for waterfowl and migratory birds, and most of the protected refuge is less than 100 feet (30 meters) above sea level and is currently (2010) protected as part of the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Over such low-lying, mostly treeless terrain, the rivers can change course frequently and carve new channels to find the fastest route toward the sea.

Water abounds in this region today, but it was once far drier. Starting nearly two million years ago, a series of ice ages spawned massive Northern Hemisphere glaciers. As the glaciers grew, sea levels fell. About 20,000 years ago, sea level dropped enough to expose Beringia—a wide expanse of grassland between Eurasia and North America. The grassy plain provided not just a corridor for migrating wildlife, but also a home to the ancestors of today’s Native Americans. People have lived here for thousands of years, and the Yukon Delta is one of Alaska’s most populated rural areas, home to thousands of Yup’ik people. The area has virtually no roads; travel is by Bush plane, or by river boats in summer and snow machines in winter. To read more on the Yukon Delta, visit here.

Tags: alaska, landsat, national wildlife refugee, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photos, yukon delta

Satellite Image of “The Pearl” Doha, Qatar

WorldView-2 Satellite Image (0.5m) – “The Pearl” Doha, Qatar

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The Pearl-Qatar in Doha, Qatar is an artificial island spanning nearly four million square meters. Developed by United Development Company (UDC) and master planned by architecture and design firm Callison, the island is located 350 meters offshore of Doha’s West Bay Lagoon area.

Residential development on the island is intended to incorporate various national and international themes including aspects of Arabic, Mediterranean and European culture. Commercial and educational facilities are also planned to support the various residential precincts.

The name “The Pearl” was chosen because the island will be built on one of Qatar’s previous major pearl diving sites. Qatar was one of the major pearl traders of Asia before the Japanese introduced cheaper more affordable pearls just before Qatar’s oil boom. The Pearl Qatar will help represent Qatar’s rich past in the pearl industry. Once completed The Pearl will represent a string of pearls.

There will be over 13 islands when finished. The largest of the islands will feature a large range of luxury villas, apartments, three 5 star hotels and over two million square meters of international retail, restaurants, cafes and entertainment. Eight other private islands will be for sale to private owners with the opportunity to build whatever they may desire. To read more information on “The Pearl” in Qatar, visit here.

Tags: doha, photography, picture, qatar, satellite image, satellite photo, the pearl, worldview-2

Satellite Image of Alaska North Slope – “The Great Tundra”

QuickBird Satellite Image (0.6 m) – Alaska North Slope

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The Alaska North Slope is the region of the U.S. state of Alaska located on the northern slope of the Brooks Range along the coast of two marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean, the Chukchi Sea being on the western side of Point Barrow, and the Beaufort Sea on the eastern.

The region contains the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, with the bulk of Alaska’s known petroleum until the Prudhoe Bay Oil Field was discovered in 1968, as well as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which itself has been the subject of controversy surrounding the possibility of petroleum drilling within its boundaries. The petroleum extracted from the region is transferred south by means of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System to Valdez on the Pacific Ocean.

Within the North Slope, only a surface “active layer” of the tundra thaws each season; most of the soil is permanently frozen year-round. On top of this permafrost, water flows to sea via shallow, braided streams or settles into pools and ponds. Much of the region is located in North Slope Borough.

For more information on the Alaskan North Slope, visit here.

Tags: alaska, alaskan, arctic national wildlife refugee, earth observation, north slope, quickbird, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photos

Satellite Image of Easter Island Chile – “Mysteries of the Moai”

IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) – Easter Island, Chile

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Called the Navel of the World – and known to its native people as Rapa Nui – Easter Island is home to over a half-dozen volcanoes and more than 880 statues called moai (pronounced mo-eye). Part of Chilean territory, Easter Island is one of the most remote locations in the world that is still inhabited by humans. Ranging from just a few feet to more than 30 feet tall, the enigmatic statues weigh up to 150 tons. They were hewn from volcanic material from quarries on the slopes of the Rano Raraku volcano sometime after 300 AD. While nearly all of the moai face toward the interior of the island, seven moai at Aku Akivi, not shown in the image, face towards the ocean and a point on the horizon where the sun sets during the equinox. Explorer, Captain James Cook gave the island its modern name in 1774. For more information on Easter Island, visit here.

Moai Statues, Easter Island, Chile

Tags: chile, earth observation, easter island, ikonos, moai, rapa nui, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo

Satellite Image of Mt. Everest – “World’s Highest Mountain”

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Mt. Everest – Himalayas in Nepal, China/Tibet

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“Because it is there.” George Mallory aptly summed up the reason mountaineers worldwide respond to the irresistible pull of Mount Everest. On May 29, 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal were the first to complete the hazardous trek to the summit of the world’s highest mountain, rising 29,035 feet above sea level. Scaling Everest is more than a climb: it is the ultimate destination for mountaineers. GeoEye-1 .50 meter resolution collected 21 November 2009. For more information on Mt. Everest, visit here.

Mount Everest, Himalayas in Nepal, China/Tibet

(Image Credit: Wikimedia)

To view a 360 degree panoramic view of Mt. Everest, visit here.

Tags: 3D map, 3d view, 3D visualization, dem, geoeye-1, himalayas, mount everest, mt. everest, nepal, photography, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, tibet

Satellite Image of Ankor Wat – “The Sacred Temple of Peace”

IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) – Ankor Wat Temple, Cambodia

Acquisition Date: April 12, 2004

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Created as a constant reminder of a greater cosmic order, the observatory at Angkor Wat shows several apparent solar alignments with a nearby mountaintop shrine. A person standing at Pre Rup, six kilometers away, could watch the sun set over Angkor Wat at winter solstice. A person standing in the southwestern corner of the temple could watch a rising sun through the eastern gate during the summer solstice.

Ankor Wat Temple, Cambodia

(Image credit: Wikimedia)

The modern name, Angkor Wat, means “City Temple”. Built for king Suryavarman II between 802 and 1220 AD and surrounded by a moat nearly 200 meters wide, the temple is a prime example of Khmer architecture, and it has become symbolic of Cambodian culture, appearing on the nation’s flag. For more information on Ankor Wat, visit here.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view of Ankor Wat, visit here.

Tags: ankor wat, camobodia, ikonos, photography, sacred sites, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, temple

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the World……..

Earth at Night

This composite image, which has become a popular poster, shows a global view of Earth at night, compiled from over 400 satellite images. NASA researchers have used these images of nighttime lights to study weather around urban areas.

To view more satellite images taken around the World, visit here.

Tags: earth at night, earth observation, nasa, photography, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photos

Satellite Image of Taj Mahal in India – “A True Masterpiece of Architecture”

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Taj Mahal, Agra, India

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Located at the city of Agra in the State of Uttar Pradesh, the Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful masterpieces of architecture in the world a style that combines elements of Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. Taj mahal was built in 22 years (1631-1653) by 20,000 workers labored and 32 crore rupees were spent during the construction of the monument and it was built according to Islamic architecture. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar part of the monument, the Taj Mahal is actually an integrated complex of structures. Taj Mahal was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife. It is one of the Unesco world heritage site. For more information on the Taj Mahal, visit here.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view of the Taj Mahal, visit here.

Tags: agra, architecture, earth observation, geoeye-1, history, india, mausoleum, photography, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, taj mahal

Satellite Image of St. Peter’s Basilica Vatican City, Rome, Italy

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy

Easter Services

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Old St. Peter’s Basilica was the fourth-century church begun by the Emperor Constantine between 326 and 333 AD. This church had been built over the small shrine believed to mark the burial place of St. Peter. It contained a very large number of burials and memorials, including those of most of the popes from St. Peter to the 15th century. Originally founded by Constantine in 324, St. Peter’s Basilica was rebuilt in the 16th century by Renaissance masters including Bramante, Michelangelo and Bernini. For more information on St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican, Rome, visit here.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view of St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, visit here.

St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy

(Image credit: Wikimedia)

Tags: cathedral, earth observation, ikonos, image, italy, mausoleum, mosque, photos, rome, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photos, st. peter's basilica, vatican, vatican city

Satellite Image of the Namib Desert in Angola – “The World’s Oldest Desert”

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Namib Desert, Namibia, Angola

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Having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for at least 55 million years, it is considered to be the oldest desert in the world. Some of the most unusual wildlife and nature reserves in the world can be found in the heart of the ‘dune sea’ of the Namib Desert in Namibia, southwest of Angola. Here, the world’s tallest sand dunes rise over 300 meters (984 ft) high. The interaction between wind and sand over 55 million years formed this amazing and vast desert’s complex patterns. For more information the Namib Desert, visit here.

Namib Desert, Angola – Sunset

(Image credit: Wikimedia)

Tags: angola, earth observation, geoeye-1, geography, namib, namib desert, namibia, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photos, world

Satellite Image of Barringer Meteor Crater in Arizona

QuickBird Satellite Image (0.6 m) – Barringer Meteor Crater, Arizona

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The Meteor Crater is located in Arizona 43 miles (69 km) east of Flagstaff. It is also named Barringer Crater after Daniel Barringer who in 1903 claimed that the crater was produced by a meteorite impact. The crater is still today privately owned by the Barringer family. His claims was not proven until 1960 when astro scientist Eugene M. Shoemaker could confirm Barringer’s hypothesis due to some special minerals found in the crater. It is supposed to be between 20,000 to 50,000 years old. The Diameter of the crater is 4,100 feet (1.2 km and it is 570 feet (173 m) deep. The highest point on the rim is 5,723 feet (1,744 m) above sea level. For more information on the Barringer Meteor Crater, visit here.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view of the Barringer Meteor Crater, visit here.

Barringer Crater, Arizona

(Image credit: Wikimedia)

Tags: arizona, crater, earth observation, meteor, quickbird, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo

Satellite Image of Visoke Volcano – Virunga National Parks

Stereo IKONOS Satellite Image (0.8 m)

3D Terrain Model of Visoke Volcano, DRC and Rwanda, Africa

To view 3D Simulation Fly Through of Visoke Volcano, visit here.

To view high resolution satellite image of Visoke Volcano, click here.

Stereo IKONOS Satellite Image of Visoke Volcano in Virunga National Parks contains 790,000 hectares, the greatest diversity of habitats of any park in Africa, from steppes, savannas and lava plains, swamps, lowland and forests to volcanoes. Thousands of hippopotamuses and elephants live in the park’s rivers and its mountains are a critical area for the survival of the mountain and lowland gorillas.

The Virunga National Park lies from the Virunga Mountains to the Rwenzori Mountains in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo which borders the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda. Covering 7,800 Km2 it was established in 1925 as Africa’s first national park and classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979.

(Image credit: Wikimedia)

Click on image to view in high resolution

It has become well known for its mountain gorillas, although poaching and civil wars in the region have seriously damaged its wildlife population.

Established in 1925, the Virunga National Park in the DRC is the oldest park in Africa and connects with six other parks. In 1979, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the park as a World Heritage Site. Such cultural or natural sites are cordoned off LIMITS for protection because of their “outstanding value to humanity.” The southern “Mikeno” sector inside the Virunga National Park holds the distinction of being one of two remaining places where mountain gorillas can be found in the wild.

To read full article and view high resolution satellite images and 3D Simulation Fly through, visit here.

Tags: 3d simulation, 3d view, africa, congo, dem, drc, ikonos, mountain gorillas, rhwanda, rwenzori, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, terrain model, virtual photography, virunga national parks, virungas, visoke, volcano, world heritage

Satellite Image of Crop Art – “Thank You for Freedom”

IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) – Crop Art “Thank You for Freedom!”

Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska

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This one-meter resolution satellite image shows a field located in southeastern Nebraska just northwest of Offutt Air Force Base, home of the 55th Wing or the Fightin’ Fifty-Fifth. The high-resolution image of the field shows the words “Thank You! For Freedom!” and can be seen from Offutt’s air space at takeoff and landing. GeoEye’s IKONOS satellite took the image on November 2, 2010 while flying 423 miles above the Earth at an average speed of four miles per second.

Land art, Earth art, and Environmental art are similar in scale. Crop art the canvas is the size of the fields it stretches over. A major practitioner of this type of Crop art, Earthwork, or Living sculpture is Stan Herd. Herd says an early inspiration for his art was the ancient earth drawings called Nazca Lines after the Nazca people of Peru. One of his first works was the 160-acre portrait of “Kiowa War Chief Satanta” (1981) in southwest Kansas. Herd’s work reflects a spiritual connection with the land, and respect for Native American.

For more Crop Art by Stan Herd, visit here.

Tags: agriculture, crop art, earth art, earth observation, environmental art, farm, ikonos, land art, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photos

Satellite Image of Burj Khalifa (a.k.a Burj Dubai) – “World’s Tallest Building’

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Burj Khalifa, Dubai, UAE

World’s Tallest Building

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This satellite image of Burj Khalifa also known as the Burj Dubai, a skyscraper located in Dubai, was captured by the GeoEye-1 satellite sensor. At 2,717 feet (828 meters), Burj Khalifa is the tallest man-made structure ever built. Burj Khalifa is an unprecedented example of international cooperation, symbolic beacon of progress, and an emblem of the new, dynamic and prosperous Middle East. The architecture and design of the world’s tallest tower was awarded to the global leader in creating ultra-tall structures, the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) with Adrian Smith FAIA, RIBA, consulting design Partner.

Architecture

The architecture features a triple-lobed footprint, an abstraction of the Hymenocallis flower. The tower is composed of three elements arranged around a central core. The modular, Y-shaped structure, with setbacks along each of its three wings provides an inherently stable configuration for the structure and provides good floor plates for residential. Twenty-six helical levels decrease the cross section of the tower incrementally as it spirals skyward.

Burj Khalifa (Dubai) during construction

(Image credit: Wikimedia)

The central core emerges at the top and culminates in a sculpted spire. A Y-shaped floor plan maximizes views of the Arabian Gulf. Viewed from the base or the air, Burj Khalifa is evocative of the onion domes prevalent in Islamic architecture. For more information on the Burj Khalifa, visit here.

Tags: architecture, burj dubai, burj khalifa, geoeye-1, middle east, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, uae, world's tallest building

Satellite Image of Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) – Construction of Palm Jumeirah

Palm Islands, Dubai, UAE

To view an animation of the construction of Palm Jumeirah, click here.

To view in high resolution, click on image.

Palm islands construction project helped engineering companies organize, plan and monitor Dubai’s number one tourist destination. The three large man-made resort islands (Jumeirah, Jebel Ali and Deira) are built on the shorelines of Dubai, UAE which added 520 km of beaches to the city.

Two of the islands are designed in the shape of a date palm tree and the most current project, island Deira will shaped in a corniche which is estimated to be completed by 2015. The islands are artificial peninsulas constructed of sand dredged from the bottom of the Arabian Gulf which is sprayed by dredging onto the required area in a process known as rainbowing due to the way the sand arcs when sprayed. The outer edge of each Palm’s encircling crescent is a large rock to breakwater.

The island supports luxury hotels, freehold residential villas, unique water homes, shoreline apartments, marinas, water theme parks, restaurants, shopping malls, sports facilities, health spas, cinemas and various diving sites. For more information on the Palm Islands, visit here.

Plam Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

(Image credit: Christopher T Cooper/Wikimedia)

For view a 360 degree panoramic view of the inauguration of Hotel Atlantis on “The Palm Island” visit here.

Tags: architecture, construction, dubai, engineering, ikonos, middle east, palm islands, Palm Jumeirah, photography, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, uae

Satellite Image of Leptis Magna Roman Ruins near Tripoli, Libya

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Leptis Magna Roman Ruins, Libya

To view satellite image in full resolution click on image.

Leptis Magna, or Lepcis Magna as it is sometimes spelled, was a prominent city of the republic of Carthage, and later, of the Roman Empire. Its ruins are located 62 miles southeast of Carthage, near Tripoli in the modern country of Libya.

It was a beautiful city which mixed Roman and Arab architecture. The city was first settled by the Phoenicians, a sea-faring people from Lebanon, in 1100 B.C. Carthage had ownership of the city until 146 B.C. After the Punic Wars, the Romans acquired and settled the area, adding it to their republic around 23 B.C. When the emperor Tiberius came to power, the city was officially brought into the Roman Empire and became a major trading center.

Leptis Magna Roman Ruins, Theatre – Lybia

(Image credit: Wikimedia)

Leptis Magna contains some of the most well-preserved Roman buildings known to archaeologists. The theatre, for example, is nearly intact, and is situated so that the audience faces the sea. Another building, called a macellum, or indoor market, is also mostly intact, as is the octagonal platform that surrounds it. But the most unique feature by far is the Hunting Baths, a complex of concrete domes that housed the Roman-style baths. To many visitors, they are similar to many Arab-style buildings.

This Roman city holds a special importance in history, both for its prominence and for its remarkable ruins. It gives archaeologists and tourists alike a special look into Roman-held Africa. For more information on the Leptis Magna Ruins, visit here

Tags: al khums, ancient history, archaeology, architecture, buildings, earth observation, geoeye-1, lepcis magna, leptis magna, leptis magnus, libya, roman, roman ruins, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo

Satellite Image of Ayers Rock in Australia – “The Great Uluru”

IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) – Ayers Rock also known as Uluru, Australia

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Ayers Rock a giant monolith, one of the tors (isolated masses of weathered rock) in southwestern Northern Territory, Australia. It is perhaps the world’s largest monolith. The Aboriginals of the region call it Uluru. Composed of arkosic sandstone, which changes colour according to the position of the sun, the rock is most impressive at sunset, when it is coloured a fiery orange-red by the sun’s rays.

Rising 1,100 feet (335 metres) above the surrounding desert plain, Uluru/Ayers Rock is oval in shape, 2.2 miles (3.6 km) long by 1.5 miles (2 km) wide. Its lower slopes have become fluted by the erosion of weaker rock layers, while the top is scored with gullies and basins that produce giant cataracts after infrequent rainstorms. Shallow caves at the base of the rock, which is within Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park (established in 1958 as Ayers Rock–Mount Olga National Park), are sacred to several Aboriginal tribes and contain carvings and paintings. Sighted in 1872 by Ernest Giles, the rock was named for former South Australian premier Sir Henry Ayers. In 1985 official ownership of Uluru/Ayers Rock was given to the Aboriginals, who thereupon leased the rock and the national park to the government for 99 years.

Ayers Rock, Uluru, Australia

(Image credit: Wikimedia)

The rock and the surrounding park were named a World Heritage site in 1987, and the park was redesignated in 1994 for its cultural significance. For more information on Ayers Rock/Uluru, visit here.

For a 360 degree panoramic view of Ayers Rock, visit here.

Tags: australia, ayers rock, destinations, earth observation, ikonos, monolith, photography, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, tourism, travel, uluru, world heritage site

Satellite Image of Machu Picchu, Peru – “The Lost City of the Incas”

IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) – Machu Picchu, Peru

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One of the most famous Incan cities in the world, sun alignments are found throughout Machu Picchu. Many features, including the Sacred Plaza, The Temple of Three Windows and The Intihuatana platform, align with the summer solstice azimuth of 65-245 degrees. Scientists believe these alignments were primary considerations in the construction of the shrines. A shaft of light, shining through an east-facing window, reportedly illuminates The Torreon, or Temple of the Sun, during the summer solstice. The city was built between 1460 and 1470 AD at an altitude of 8,000 feet.

At its height during the 1400s, the Incan empire was the largest in the world, stretching 2,500 miles north to south and supporting a population of more than ten million people. The temples, extensive roads, elaborate masonry, and treasures of gold and silver associated with the Incas date from around 1200 through the 1400s. The city of Cuzco became the powerful center of an empire that spread to encompass more than 100 small nations. For more information on Machu Picchu, visit here.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view, visit here.

Tags: ikonos, incan, incas, machu picchu, peru, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo

Satellite Image of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi UAE – “World’s Largest Indoor Theme Park”

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Ferrari World, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

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Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is the world’s first Ferrari theme park and largest attraction of its kind. It is an intense multi-sensory experience and a must-visit for families, fans and enthusiasts. The Park offers more than 20 Ferrari-inspired rides and attractions, including a diverse array of rides for adults and children, a wide variety of Italian delicacies, and unique shopping experiences.

Ferrari World owned by Aldar Properties PJSC, Abu Dhabi’s leading property development, management and investment company. Farah Leisure Parks Management L.L.C, a joint venture between Aldar Properties PJSC and ProFun Management Group Inc. (international leisure facilities management and operating company). The Park’s foundation stone was laid on 3 November 2007. The development was completed in a little under three years, opening to the public for the first time on 27 October 2010.

Image credit: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi’s iconic sleek red roof, inspired by the classic double curve side profile of the Ferrari GT body, spans 200,000 SQM, carrying the largest Ferrari logo ever created.The enclosed indoor area accessible to the public is 86,000 SQM – large enough to fit seven football fields “head to toe”.

For more information on Ferrari World, visit here.

Tags: abu dhabi, ferrari world, geoeye-1, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, theme park, uae, yas island

Satellite Image of Abu Simbel Temples Egypt – “Temple of the Sun Gods”

IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) – Abu Simbel Temples, Nubia, Egypt

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In 1257 BCE, Pharaoh Ramses II (1279-13 BCE) had two temples carved out of solid rock at a site on the west bank of the Nile south of Aswan in the land of Nubia and known today as Abu Simbel. Long before Ramses II, the site had been sacred to Hathor of Absek. The temple built by Ramses, however, was dedicated to the sun gods Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte. Because of their remote location near the Sudanese border in southern Egypt, the temples were unknown until their rediscovery in 1813. They were first explored in 1817 by the Egyptologist Giovanni Battista Belzoni.

The sacred area, marked out as a forecourt and bounded on the north and south sides by brick walls, occupied a place between the sandstone cliffs and the river. Ramses’ temple was cut into the face of the cliff, before which is a rock-cut terrace. The temple is approached across this terrace up a flight of steps with an inclined plane in the middle, and enclosed on either side by a balustrade behind which stood a row of hawks and statues of Ramses in various forms.

The rock-cut fa açade of Ramses’ temple represents the front of a pylon in front of which are four colossal seated figures of Ramses. This facade is one 119 feet wide, and 100 feet high, while the colossal statues are 67 feet in height. At the top of the pylon, above the cornice, is a row of baboons, who, as Watchers of the Dawn, are shown with their hands raised in adoration of the (rising) sun. The Egyptians believed baboons played a role in helping the sun god Ra defeat the darkness of night and so were believed sacred to the worship of the rising sun.

(Image Credit: Wikimedia)

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The most remarkable feature of the site is that the temple is precisely oriented so that twice every year, on 22 February and 22 October, the first rays of the morning sun shine down the entire length of the temple-cave to illuminate the back wall of the innermost shrine and the statues of the four gods seated there. Precisely this same effect was apparently also fundamental to the design of the artificial cave of Newgrange in Ireland. For more information on Abu Simbel Temples, visit here.

Tags: abu simbel, egypt, egyptian, ikonos, nubia, Ramses, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, temple

Satellite Image of Shwedagon Pagodas in Burma – “Temple of the Buddas”

WorldView-2 Satellite Image (0.5m) – Ragoon, Burma featuring the Shwedagon Pagodas

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The pagoda lies to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, on Singuttara Hill, thus dominating the skyline of the city. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda for the Burmese with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within, namely the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Koṇāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight hairs of Gautama, the historical Buddha.

(Image credit: Wikipedia)

According to legend, the Shwedagon Pagoda is 2500 years old. Archaeologists believe the stupa was actually built sometime between the 6th and 10th centuries by the Mon, but this is a very controversial issue because according to the records by Buddhist monks it was built before Lord Buddha died in 486 BC. The story of Shwedagon Pagoda begins with two merchant brothers, Taphussa and Bhallika, from the land of Ramanya, meeting the Lord Gautama Buddha and receiving eight of the Buddha’s hairs to be enshrined in Burma. The two brothers made their way to Burma and with the help of the local king, King Okkalapa, found Singuttara Hill, where relics of other Buddhas preceding Gautama Buddha had been enshrined. Read more on the Shwedagon Pagodas, visit here.

Tags: budda, buddhist, burma, imagery, myanmar, rangoon, satellite image, satellite photo, satellite view, shwedagon pagodas, temples, worldview-2

Satellite Images of Antarctica – “World’s Last Great Wilderness”

Landsat Satellite Image (15 m) – Antarctica

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(Image Credit © NASA and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

More than a thousand satellite image scenes captured of Antarctica during a seven year observation have created this visually stunning true-color Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (LIMA) by NASA, USGS, National Science Foundation (NSF) and British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The virtually cloudless satellite view of Antarctica’s frozen landscape provides much greater detail for the entire continent than ever before.

It is a continent almost entirely buried by snow and ice. It is so hostile and remote that it has no permanent residents. Surrounded by the Southern Ocean, Antarctica covers nearly 9% of the Earth’s land, and is 25% bigger than Europe, making it the fifth largest continent. It is also the least polluted of all the continents.

Antarctica is divided into two main areas – East Antarctica (sometimes called Greater Antarctica), and West Antarctica (Lesser Antarctica) separated by the Transantarctic Mountains that stretch 3,540 kilometres across the continent. West Antarctica is the smallest of the two and has a peninsula that sticks out nearly 1,000 kilometres from the South Pole towards the southern tip of South America.

About 99% of Antarctica is covered with a vast ice sheet. It is the largest single mass of ice on Earth and is bigger than the whole of Europe. At least 3 million years old (and possibly as much as 30 million years old in places), the ice sheet averages 2,450 metres deep and holds about 70% of the world’s fresh water. With such a thick layer of ice, Antarctica is the highest of all the continents. The average altitude is about 2,300 metres above sea level, although in places, the bottom of the ice can be as much as 3,000m below sea level. If they weren’t filled with ice, large parts of Antarctica would be under the sea. Vinson Massif is Antarctica’s highest point, rising to a height of 4,897 metres. For more information on Antarctica, visit here.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view of Antarctica, visit here.

Tags: antarctica, arctic, continent, earth observation, ice, landsat, north pole, photography, photos, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, south pole

Satellite Image of El Gouna Ancient Sands Golf Resort – “Egypt’s Jewel of the Red Sea”

QuickBird Satellite Image (0.6 m) – El Gouna Ancient Sands Golf Resort, Egypt

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El Gouna is unique as a Red Sea leisure destination due to its harmony and completeness as a town. Careful planning, superb architecture, and competent management have ensured that the resort’s many attractions are contained in a beautiful, immaculate and aesthetically unified setting.

The resort’s award-winning architecture brings together a blend of traditional and modern elements and is the work of an impressive list of prestigious architects including Italian Alfredo Freda and American Michael Graves. Here, a creative and diverse community of entrepreneurs, artists, environmentalists, and sports enthusiasts make their home and give the town an eclectic and sophisticated international flavor.

For more information on El Gouna Ancient Sands Golf Resort, visit here.

Tags: ancient sands golf resort, egypt, el gouna, golf courses, photography, quickbird, red sea, resorts, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, tourism, travel, vacations

Satellite Image of Bora Bora Tahiti – “A French Polynesian Jewel”

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) –Bora Bora, Tahiti, French Polynesia

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IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) –Bora Bora, Tahiti, French Polynesia

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Bora Bora also known as Pora Pora – the ancient name, meaning “first born,” came from legends describing this as the first island to rise when Taaroa, the supreme god, fished it out of the waters after the mythical creation of Havai’i, now known as Raiatea. Although the first letter “B” does not exist in the Tahitian language, when Captain Cook first heard the name he mistook the softened sound of the Tahitian “P” for “B” and called the island Bola Bola.

Romantics from around the world have laid claim to this island where the castle-like Mount Otemanu pierces the sky. Lush tropical slopes and valleys blossom with hibiscus, while palm-covered motu circle the illuminated lagoon like a delicate necklace. Perfect white-sand beaches give way to emerald waters where colored fish animate the coral gardens as they greet the giant manta rays. This could be easily be described as the center of the romantic universe, where luxury resorts and spas dot the island with over water bungalows, thatched roof villas, and fabled ambiance. For more information on Bora Bora, visit here.

(Image credit: Wikimedia)

Tags: bora bora, earth observation, french polynesia, ikonos, island, photography, pora pora, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, tahiti, tourism, travel

Satellite Image of Paris France – “City of Love and Romance”

WorldView-2 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Paris, France – Eiffel Tower

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Paris is more than 2,000 years old and is the capital of France. Gauls of the Parisii (Paris) tribe settled there between 250 and 200 BC and founded a fishing village on an island in the river that is the present-day Ile de la Cité — the center around which Paris developed.

Paris is said to be the city of lovers…the most romantic place on earth, and French is the language of love. With so much love around, you are bound to enjoy your stay here. The city is situated on the River Seine in northern France, and its location at a crossroads between land and river trade routes has made it one of the principal cities of Europe.

Paris is one of Europe’s foremost centers of learning and the arts and is a major influence in politics, fashion, business, arts and science. For more information on Paris, France, visit here.

(To view in high resolution, click image)

Image Credit: Benh LIEU SONG

History of the Eiffel Tower

At 1069 feet high, which is over 100 stories tall. The Eiffel Tower’s pillars correspond to the points on a compass and it was the world’s tallest building until 1930. The Eiffel Tower was built for the International Exhibition of Paris of 1889 commemorating the centenary of the French Revolution. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII of England, opened the tower. Of the 700 proposals submitted in a design competition, Gustave Eiffel’s was unanimously chosen. The Tower is built to withstand wind speeds at more than five times the strongest winds ever known. At the top of the Eiffel Tower, the wind can gust as high as 100 miles per hour.

The tower has three levels for visitors. The walk to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by elevator. Both the first and second levels feature restaurants.

The tower has become the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city. For more information on the Eiffel Tower, visit here.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view of the Eiffel Tower and Paris, visit here.

Tags: city of love, eiffel tower, france, paris, photography, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, tourism, travel

Satellite Image of the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai UAE – “World’s Most Luxurious Hotel”

WorldView-2 Satellite Image (0.5m) – Burj Al Arab Hotel – Dubai, UAE

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Burj Al Arab is a luxury hotel located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. At 321 m (1,053 ft), it is the fourth tallest hotel in the world. The Burj Al Arab stands on an artificial island 280 m (920 ft) out from Jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. It is an iconic structure whose shape mimics the sail of a ship.

Construction of Burj Al Arab began in 1994. It was built to resemble the sail of a type of Arabian vessel. Two “wings” spread in a V to form a vast “mast”, while the space between them is enclosed in a massive atrium. The architect Tom Wright said “The client wanted a building that would become an iconic or symbolic statement for Dubai; this is very similar to Sydney with its Opera House, or Paris with the Eiffel Tower. It needed to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the country.”

The architect and engineering consultant for the project was Atkins. Fletcher Construction from New Zealand was the lead joint venture partner in the initial stages of pre-construction and construction. The hotel was built by South African construction contractor Murray & Roberts.

Several features of the hotel required complex engineering feats to achieve. The hotel rests on an artificial island constructed 280 m (920 ft) offshore. To secure a foundation, the builders drove 230 forty-meter (130 ft) long concrete piles into the sand.

Engineers created a surface layer of large rocks, which is circled with a concrete honeycomb pattern, which serves to protect the foundation from erosion. It took three years to reclaim the land from the sea, while it took fewer than three years to construct the building itself. The building contains over 70,000 m3 (92,000 cu yd) of concrete and 9,000 tons of steel.

For more information on the Burj Al Arab, visit here.

Tags: architecture, burj al arab hotel, design, dubai, engineering, luxury, photography, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, uae, vacation, worldview-2 satellite

Satellite Image of Orebic Harbor Dubrovnik in Croatia – “Pearl of the Adriatic Sea”

IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) – Orebic Harbor in Dubrovnik, Croatia

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Croatia has an impressive history, a fact that is best explained through the vast array of sites worth visiting. Most towns have an historical center with its typical architecture. There are differences between the coast and the continental part, so both areas are a must. The most famous is Dubrovnik, a prime example of the coastal architecture, but by no means the only one worth visiting. Equally important is the capital and largest city, Zagreb, with a population of about 1 million. It is a modern city with all the modern features, yet it has a laid back feel. In the east, in the region of Slavonija with it’s regional capital Osijek and the war torn Vukovar are awe inspiring. Scattered throughout the region are vineyards and wine cellars, most of which give tours and tastings.

The city of Dubrovnik was built on maritime trade. In the Middle Ages it became the only city-state in the Adriatic to rival Venice. Supported by its wealth and skilled diplomacy, the city achieved a remarkable level of development during the 15th and 16th centuries. Furthermore, Dubrovnik was one of the centers of the development of the Croatian language and literature, home to many notable poets, playwrights, painters, mathematicians, physicists and other scholars. Read more on Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Tags: adriatic sea, croatia, dubrovnik, ikonos, orebic harbor, photography, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, tourism, travel

Satellite Images of Japan – “Land of the Rising Sun”

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Disneyland, Tokyo, Japan

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Japan or Nippon, an island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. The characters that make up Japan’s name mean “sun-origin”, which is why Japan is sometimes referred to as the “Land of the Rising Sun”.

Japan is an archipelago of 6,852 islands. The four largest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku, together accounting for ninety-seven percent of Japan’s land area. Japan has the world’s tenth-largest population, with over 127 million people. The Greater Tokyo Area, which includes the capital city of Tokyo and several surrounding prefectures, is the largest metropolitan area in the world, with over 30 million residents.

Archaeological research indicates that people lived in Japan as early as the Upper Paleolithic period. The first written mention of Japan is in Chinese history texts from the 1st century AD. Influence from other nations followed by long periods of isolation has characterized Japan’s history. Since adopting its revised constitution in 1947, Japan has maintained a unitary constitutional monarchy with an emperor and an elected parliament called the Diet. To read more on the history of Japan, visit here.

To view 360 degree panoramic views of Japan:

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Inakadate, Aomori, Japan- Japanese Rice Field Art

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Tags: 360 views, aomori, asia, disneyland, geoeye-1, ikonos, inakadate, japan, kita dake, land of the rising sun, mount fuji, nagoya, nippon, osaka castles, photography, photos, rice field art, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photos, tokyo, tourism, travel, yokohama

Satellite Image of Santorini Greece – “Thera”

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Santorini, Greece

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Santorini, officially Thera is a volcanic island located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km (120 mi) southeast from Greece’s mainland. It is the largest island of a small, circular archipelago which bears the same name.The municipality of Santorini is composed of the islands of Santorini, Therasia, and the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiana.

Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current geological caldera. A giant central lagoon, more or less rectangular, and measuring about 12 by 7 km (7.5 by 4.3 mi), is surrounded by 300 m (980 ft) high steep cliffs on three sides. The island slopes downward from the cliffs to the surrounding Aegean Sea. On the fourth side, the lagoon is separated from the sea by another much smaller island called Therasia; the lagoon merges with the sea in two places, in the northwest and southwest. The island’s harbours all lie in the lagoon and there are no ports on the outer perimeter of the island; the capital, Fira, clings to the top of the cliff looking down on the lagoon.

The region first became volcanically active around 3–4 million years ago though volcanism on Thera began around 2 million years ago with the extrusion of dacitic lavas from vents around the region of Akrotiri. Read more on Santorini, Greece, visit here.

Tags: geoeye-1, greece, greek, island, photography, santorini, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, thera, tourism, travel, volcano

Satellite Images of Sydney Opera House Australia – “A True Masterpiece”

WorldView-2 (0.5 m) Satellite Image – Sydney Opera House, Australia

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Inaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together multiple strands of creativity and innovation in both architectural form and structural design. A great urban sculpture set in a remarkable waterscape, at the tip of a peninsula projecting into Sydney Harbour, the building has had an enduring influence on architecture. The Sydney Opera House comprises three groups of interlocking vaulted ‘shells’ which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. These shell-structures are set upon a vast platform and are surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses. In 1957, when the project of the Sydney Opera House was awarded by an international jury to Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it marked a radically new approach to construction. For more information on the Sydney Opera House, visit here.

Official Website – For information on the architecture and to view images.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view of the Sydney Opera House during a luminous festival, visit here.

(Image Credit: Christian Mehlführer)

IKONOS (1 m) Satellite Image – Sydney, Australia Harbor

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Tags: aerial view, architecture, australia, earth view, history, ikonos, imagery, opera house, satellite image, satellite photo, satellite photos, sydney, worldview-2

Satellite Image of Takla Makan Desert – “China’s Largest Desert”

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5 m) – Takla Makan Desert, China

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The adventure of a lifetime! The Takla Makan Desert is China’s largest desert, situated in the middle of the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang Province. It is one of the largest ‘shifting-sand’ deserts in the world. Travel by caravan, camel or bicycle to discover towering sand dunes, lost cities, the remains of ancient forests and post-fluvial riverbeds hiding amidst the hauntingly beautiful desert vistas. GeoEye-1 satellite collected this image of Takla Makan Desert while flying 423 miles above the Earth at an average speed of 17,000 mph.

The Takla Makan Desert (also Taklimakan) is a desert of Central Asia, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. It is known as one of the largest sandy deserts in the world. It covers an area of 270,000 km2 of the Tarim Basin, 1,000 km long and 400 km wide. It is crossed at its northern and at its southern edge by two branches of the Silk Road as travelers sought to avoid the arid wasteland.

Image credit: Carl Parker

There is no water on the desert and it was hazardous to cross. Takla Makan meaning “The point of no return” or “The Desert of Death”. The archeological treasures found in its sand buried ruins point to Tocharian, early Hellenistic, Indian and Buddhist influences.

Mummies, some 4000 years old, have been found in the region. They show the wide range of peoples who have passed through. Some of the mummies appear European. Later, the Taklamakan was inhabited by Turkic peoples. For more information on the Taklamakan Desert, visit here.

Tags: asia, china, geoeye-1, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, takla makan desert, taklamakan desert, Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Province, Xinjiang Uyghur

Satellite Image of Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Last Voyage

GeoEye-1 (0.5 m) Satellite Image

Space Shuttle Endeavour on Launching Pad 39A.

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After 30 years of spaceflight, more than 130 missions, and numerous science and technology firsts, NASA’s space shuttle fleet will retire and be on display at institutions across the country to inspire the next generation of explorers and engineers.

This half-meter resolution satellite image shows the Space Shuttle Endeavour on Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida, awaiting launch to the International Space Station. According to news reports, as of May 4, 2011, Endeavour will launch no sooner than May 16, 2011, which would be the 36th shuttle mission to the station and the 134th and final flight of Endeavour. GeoEye tasked its GeoEye-1 Satellite on May 1, 2011 to collect this image of Cape Canaveral at 10:53 a.m. local time, while flying 423 miles above the Earth at an average speed of 17,000 mph.

The Endeavour was launched on April 12, 1981 and was named after the first ship commanded by 18th century British explorer James Cook. On its maiden voyage in 1768, Cook sailed into the South Pacific and around Tahiti to observe the passage of Venus between the Earth and the Sun. During another leg of the journey, Cook discovered New Zealand, surveyed Australia and navigated the Great Barrier Reef.

More info on the Space Shuttle Endeavour on NASA website, visit here.

Watch video on the Endeavour Launch.

(Image Credit: NASA)

Tags: endeavour, kennedy space center, last voyage, launch, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, space exploration, space shuttle

Satellite Image of Petra Jordan “A Rose-Red City Half As Old As Time”

IKONOS (1 m) Satellite Image – Petra, Jordan

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Petra (from the Latin word ‘petrae’, meaning ‘rock’) lies in a great rift valley east of Wadi ‘Araba in Jordan about 80 kilometers south of the Dead Sea. It came into prominence in the late first century BCE (BC) through the success of the spice trade. The city was the principal city of ancient Nabataea and was famous above all for two things: its trade and its hydraulic engineering systems. It was locally autonomous until the reign of Trajan, but it flourished under Roman rule. The town grew up around its Colonnaded Street in the first century CE (AD) and by the mid-first century had witnessed rapid urbanization. Following the flow of the Wadi Musa, the city-center was laid out on either sides of the Colonnaded Street on an elongated plan between the theater in the east and the Qasr al-Bint in the west. The quarries were probably opened in this period, and there followed virtually continuous building through the first and second centuries CE.

According to tradition, in ca. 1200 BCE, the Petra area (but not necessarily the site itself) was populated by Edomites and the area was known as Edom (“red”). Before the Israelite incursions, the Edomites controlled the trade routes from Arabia in the south to Damascus in the north. Little is known about the Edomites at Petra itself, but as a people they were known for their wisdom, their writing, their textile industry, the excellence and fineness of their ceramics, and their skilled metal working. Read more on Petra, Jordan.

On December 6, 1985, Petra was designated a World Heritage Site.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view, visit here.

Tags: earth observation, history, ikonos, jordan, petra, photography, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, seven wonders, temple, tourism, travel

Satellite Image of the Great Blue Hole in Belize – “The World’s Deepest Sea Hole”

ASTER Satellite Image of the Great Blue Hole, Belize

The Great Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Belize is a circular 305 m across and 123 m deep hole in the carbonate reef. It is a Belize National Monument and became a World Heritage Site in 1997. Jacques Cousteau took the Calypso and his submarine into the hole in 1972 to examine the stalactites suspended from overhanging walls.

The Blue Hole formed during past ice ages, when sea level was 100-200 meters lower than at present. Dissolution of the carbonate rock created a subsurface void that subsequently collapsed. On land, these features are called cenotes. The image was acquired March 14, 2006, covers an area of 18.3 x 42.3 km, and is located at 17.5 degrees north latitude, 88.2 degrees west longitude. Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team.

For more information on the Great Blue Hole in Belize, visit here.

Great Blue Hole, Belize

Tags: aster, belize, diving, earth observation, great blue hole, photography, photos, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photo, tourism, travel

Satellite Image of Mount Kilimanjaro – “Great Mountain of Africa”

GeoEye-1 (0.5 m) Satellite Image of Mount Kilimanjaro

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This half-meter resolution satellite image of Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern Tanzania was taken from 423 miles in space by the GeoEye-1 satellite on July 17, 2009. Rising from the African plateau with an elevation of 5,895 meters, Kilimanjaro is the largest free-standing mountain in the world and one of the most popular mountaineering sites. It is also an active volcano with three volcanic cones: Shira, Kibo and Mawenzi. (Image Copyright © GeoEye).

Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and fourth highest of the Seven Summits. Its highest point, Uhuru Peak, rises to an altitude of 5,895 m (19,341 ft)

Kilimanjaro is composed of three distinct volcanic cones: Kibo 5,895 m (19,341 ft); Mawenzi 5,149 m (16,893 ft); and Shira 3,962 m (13,000 ft). Uhuru Peak is the highest summit on Kibo’s crater rim.

Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano that began forming a million years ago, when lava spilled from the Rift Valley zone. Two of its three peaks, Mawenzi and Shira, are extinct while Kibo (the highest peak) is dormant and could erupt again. The last major eruption has been dated to 360,000 years ago, while the most recent activity was recorded just 200 years ago.

Although it is dormant, Kilimanjaro has fumaroles that emit gas in the crater on the main summit of Kibo. Scientists concluded in 2003 that molten magma is just 400 m (1,310 ft) below the summit crater. Several collapses and landslides have occurred on Kibo in the past, one creating the area known as the Western Breach.

A trek up Kilimanjaro lures hundreds of climbers each year, in part because it’s possible to walk to the summit without ropes or technical climbing experience. For more information on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa, visit here.

Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro

(Image Credit: Muhammad Mahdi Karim)

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Tags: africa, earth observation, geoeye-1, Mount Kilimanjaro, mountain climbing, photography, photos, satellite image, satellite photo

3D Terrain Flythrough DEM of Visoke Volcano Virunga National Parks

<1m Stereo IKONOS Satellite Image Data and 90m SRTM DEM

Satellites sensors that orbit and observe the earth have been used to obtain a wide variety of information about the earth’s surface, its environment and the changes that are happening.

1m Stereo IKONOS Satellite Image Data and 5m DTM of Virunga National Parks contains within 790,000 hectares the greatest diversity of habitats of any park in Africa, from steppes, savannas and lava plains, swamps, lowland and forests to volcanoes. Thousands of hippopotamuses and elephants live in the park’s rivers and its mountains are a critical area for the survival of the mountain and lowland gorillas.

To view all our Satellite Imaging Technology Videos visit our YouTube Channel here.

Tags: 3d flythrough, 3d simulation, 3d view, africa, congo, dem, digital elevation models, drc, ikonos, mountain gorillas, rhwanda, rwenzori, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, stereo satellite image, terrain model, virtual photography, virunga national parks, virungas, visoke, volcano, world heritage

Satellite Image of Patagonia Chile – “Valley of the Glaciers”

ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Patagonia, Chile

Click image to view in full resolution

(Image Credit: NASA/Japanese Space Team)

Chilean Patagonia begins at the Pacific ocean in Valdivia through río Calle Calle towards the cordillera of the Andes up to its highest peaks. There, where the waters flow to the Pacific Ocean, is the Chilean territory and where the water flows to the east towards the Atlantic ocean is a territory of Argentina. Chilean territory stretches from Valdivia to Cape horn, including the western side of Tierra del fuego island (62% of which is Chilean) in addition to all of Cape Horn and the Strait of magellan, to the north through the fjords to Chiloe island and Puerto Montt, and including in particular the Archeological site of Monte Verde, Puerto Varas, lake Llanquihue, Frutillar, Osorno and Valdivia.

ASTER satellite image (above) acquired on May 2, 2000 over the North Patagonia Ice Sheet. The false color composite displays vegetation in red and dramatically shows a single large glacier, covered with crevasses. A semi-circular terminal moraine indicates that the glacier was once more extensive than at present. Image credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team.

It can be said that Chilean Patagonia is divided into two types of territories: the “Patagonia Insular” which includes all the fjords and channels along the Pacific Ocean down to Tierra del Fuego, and the “Cordillera Patagonica” which includes valleys and glaciers towards the steep mountains of the cordillera where Argentinean Patagonia begins, where the valleys are more arid and the terrain persists in the cold desert known as “Pampa Patagonica”, towards the long route to the Atlantic Ocean.

For more information on Patagonia, Chile, visit here.

Perito Moreno Glacier – Patagonia, Chile

Image Credit: Luca Galuzzi

Tags: ancient history, argentina, aster, chile, chilean, chilean patagonia, earth observation, geography, geology, geospatial, glaciers, patagonia, photography, photos, remote sensingg, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photo, tourism, travel

Satellite Image of Chichen Itza Mexico – “Mystery of the Mayans”

IKONOS (1 m) Satellite Image – Chichen Itza, Mexico

To view satellite image in full resolution click on image and zoom in.

In a spectacular show of shadow and light, a shadow representing the Feathered Serpent god Kukulkan slides down the northern stairway of Chichen Itza during sunset of the equinoxes and then vanishes. The square, stepped pyramid, built by Mayans in about 1000 to 1200 AD also has axes that orient with the rising point of the sun at the summer solstice and setting point during the winter solstice. Watch a video explaining the Equinoxes of Chichen Itza.

Chichen Itza was a major city for the Mayan people beginning in about 600 AD. Tourists still flock to the site to climb the temple steps. Many think the pyramid also serves as a calendar. Each of the four faces of the pyramid has a stairway with 91 steps. With the addition of a shared step forming a platform at the top, this totals 365, the number of days in a year. The stairways also divide the nine terraces on each side into 18 segments, representing the 18 months of the Mayan calendar. To view Chichen Itza in a 360 degree panoramic view, visit here.

Northern Yucatán is arid, and the rivers in the interior all run underground. There are two large, natural sink holes, called cenotes, that could have provided plentiful water year round at Chichen, making it attractive for settlement. Of the two cenotes, the “Cenote Sagrado” or Sacred Cenote (also variously known as the Sacred Well or Well of Sacrifice), is the most famous. According to post-Conquest sources (Maya and Spanish), pre-Columbian Maya sacrificed objects and human beings into the cenote as a form of worship to the Maya rain god Chaac. Edward Herbert Thompson dredged the Cenote Sagrado from 1904 to 1910, and recovered artifacts of gold, jade, pottery, and incense, as well as human remains. A study of human remains taken from the Cenote Sagrado found that they had wounds consistent with human sacrifice. To read more on Chichen Itza, visit here.

Tags: ancient history, ancient observatory, chichen itza, earth observation, history, ikonos, mayan, mayan temples, mexico, photography, photos, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, temple, tourism, travel, world heritage

Our Changing World: Satellite Images Capture the Past, the Present and Aid in Our Future

Satellite images from high to medium resolution satellite sensors have captured our changing world since the 1970′s and continue to collect massive amounts of data about our planet and the many changes it has experienced.

There are dozens of remote sensing satellites orbiting the Earth collecting invaluable information about the Earth’s surface, oceans and the atmosphere and how they interact. Satellite images have been collected for scientific and technical purposes as well as just appreciating its simple beauty. These satellites collect information that our eyes cannot, collections from 30 to 0.5M resolution is now available.

“Our Changing World” is a series of posts and a collection of satellite imagery to showcase our World and the Earth’s changes made by man and nature through the art of remote sensing.

Earth Observation Satellite Sensors 1957 – Present (Video)

Video credit: Satellite Imaging Corporation

Introduction

Earth Observation Satellites

Earth-orbiting satellites and other technological advances have enabled scientists to see the big picture, collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate on a global scale. Studying these satellite images and climate data collected over many years reveal the signals of a changing climate.

Scientists have been able to piece together a picture of the Earth’s climate dating back decades to millions of years ago by analyzing a number of surrogate, or “proxy,” measures of climate such as ice cores, boreholes, tree rings, glacier lengths, pollen remains, and ocean sediments, and by studying changes in the Earth’s orbit around the sun.

High Resolution Satellite Sensors (0.5m – 5m)

GeoEye-1 Satellite (0.5m)

The GeoEye-1 Satellite sensor launched on September 6, 2008 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA was developed by GeoEye and features the most sophisticated technology ever used in a commercial remote sensing system.

GeoEye-1 is capable of acquiring image data at 0.5 meter panchromatic (B&W) and 1.65 meter multispectral resolution. It also features a revisit time of less than three days, as well as the ability to locate an object within just three meters of its physical location.

This newly developed sensor is optimized for large projects, as it can collect over 350,000 square kilometers of pan-sharpened multispectral satellite imagery every day. For technical information visit here.

(Image credit: GeoEye)

WorldView-2 Satellite (0.5m)

DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 satellite was launched on October 8, 2009, provides 0.5m Panchromatic (B&W) mono and stereo satellite image data.

With its improved agility, WorldView-2 is able to act like a paintbrush, sweeping back and forth to collect very large areas of multispectral imagery in a single pass. WorldView-2 alone is able to collect nearly 1 million km2 every day, doubling the collection capacity of constellation to nearly 2 million km2 per day. And the combination of WorldView-2’s increased agility and high altitude enables it to typically revisit any place on earth in 1.1 days. When added to the satellite constellation, revisit time drops below one day and never exceeds two days, providing the most same-day passes of any commercial high resolution constellation.

The WorldView-2 sensor provides a high resolution Panchromatic band and eight (8) Multispectral bands; four (4) standard colors (red, green, blue, and near-infrared 1) and four (4) new bands (coastal, yellow, red edge, and near-infrared 2), full-color images for enhanced spectral analysis. For technical information visit here.

(Image Credit: DigitalGlobe)

QuickBird Satellite (0.6m)

DigitalGlobe’s QuickBird is a high-resolution commercial earth observation satellite was successfully launched in 2001 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA. The first satellite in a constellation of three that where scheduled to be in orbit by 2008. QuickBird uses Ball Aerospace’s Global Imaging System 2000 (BGIS 2000) that collects the fourth highest resolution commercial imagery of Earth after WorldView-1, WorldView-2 and GeoEye-1 and boasts the largest image size and the greatest on-board storage capacity of any satellite. QuickBird collects image data to 0.61m pixel resolution degree of detail. This satellite is an excellent source of environmental data useful for analyses of changes in land usage, agricultural and forest climates. For technical information visit here.

(Image credit: DigitalGlobe)

IKONOS Satellite (1m)

The IKONOS Satellite is a high-resolution satellite operated by GeoEye and was launched on September 24, 1999 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA. Its capabilities include capturing a 3.2m multispectral, Near-Infrared (NIR)/0.82m panchromatic resolution at nadir. Its applications include both urban and rural mapping of natural resources and of natural disasters, tax mapping, agriculture and forestry analysis, mining, engineering, construction, and change detection. It can yield relevant data for nearly all aspects of environmental study. Its high resolution data makes an integral contribution to homeland security, coastal monitoring and facilitates 3D Terrain analysis. IKONOS comes from the Greek word for “image”. For technical information visit here.

IKONOS stereo images have the potential for creating DSM/DEM’s. The primary advantage of stereo imagery is the ability to extract cultural and geographic features in 3D such as buildings, roads and other terrain features and manmade structures. This accuracy can be consistently achieved with terrain slope conditions of <20%.

(Image Credit: GeoEye)

WorldView-1 Satellite (0.5m)

DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-1 earth imaging satellite completed a successful launch on September 18, 2007 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, U.S.A. The high-capacity, panchromatic imaging system features half-meter resolution imagery. Operating at an altitude of 496 kilometers, WorldView-1 has an average revisit time of 1.7 days and is capable of collecting up to 750,000 square kilometers (290,000 square miles) per day of half-meter imagery. The satellite is also equipped with state-of-the-art geo-location capabilities and exhibits stunning agility with rapid targeting and efficient in-track stereo collection. For technical information visit here.

(Image credit: DigitalGlobe)

SPOT-5 Satellite(2.5m-5m)

The SPOT-5 Earth observation satellite owned by Spot Image based in Toulouse, France was and was successfully launched May 4, 2002 on Ariane 4 from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou.

Compared to its predecessors, SPOT-5 offers greatly enhanced capabilities, which provide additional cost-effective imaging solutions. SPOT-5′s improved 5-meter and 2.5-meter resolution and wide imaging swath, the satellite provides an ideal balance between high resolution and wide-area coverage. The coverage offered by SPOT-5 is a key asset for applications such as medium-scale mapping, urban and rural planning, oil and gas exploration, and natural disaster management. SPOT-5′s other key feature is the unprecedented acquisition capability of the on-board HRS stereo viewing instrument, which can cover vast areas in a single pass. Stereo pair imagery is vital for applications that call for 3D terrain modeling and computer environments, such as flight simulator databases, pipeline corridors, and mobile phone network planning. For technical information visit here.

(Image credit: SPOT)

RapidEye Satellite (0.5m)

RapidEye was successfully launched from the DNEPR-1 Rocket on August 29th, 2008 at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. RapidEye built by MacDonald Dettwiler, Ltd. (MDA) will offer image users a data source containing an unrivaled combination of large-area coverage, frequent revisit intervals, high resolution and multispectral capabilities.

The RapidEye constellation of five satellites stands apart from other providers of satellite-based geospatial information in their unique ability to acquire high-resolution, large-area image data on a daily basis. The RapidEye system collects an unprecedented 4 million square kilometers of data per day at 6.5 meter nominal ground resolution. Each satellite measures less than one cubic meter and weighs 150 kg (bus + payload), and has been designed for at least a seven-year mission life. All five satellites are equipped with identical sensors and are located in the same orbital plane. RapidEye’s satellites include the Red-Edge band, which is sensitive to changes in chlorophyll content. For technical information visit here.

(Image credit: RapidEye)

Medium Resolution Satellite Sensors (15m)

LANDSAT 7 +ETM Satellite (15m)

LANDSAT-1 was the world’s first earth observation satellite (EOS), launched by the United States in 1972. It is recognized for its ability to observe the earth far from space. Its excellent set of capabilities emphasized the importance of state-of-the-art remote sensing. Following LANDSAT-1, LANDSAT-2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 were launched. LANDSAT-7 is currently operated as a primary satellite.

The LANDSAT-7 satellite was successfully launched from Vandenburg Air Force Base on April 15, 1999. LANDSAT-7 is equipped with Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), the successor of TM. The observation bands are essentially the same seven bands as TM, and the newly added panchromatic band 8, with a high resolution of 15m was added. For technical information visit here.

(Image credit: NASA)

ASTER Satellite (15m)

ASTER launched December 18, 1999 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, USA is one of the five state-of-the-art instrument sensor systems on-board Terra a satellite. It was built by a consortium of Japanese government, industry, and research groups. ASTER monitors cloud cover, glaciers, land temperature, land use, natural disasters, sea ice, snow cover and vegetation patterns at a spatial resolution of 90 to 15 meters. The multispectral images obtained from this sensor have 15 different colors, which allow scientists to interpret wavelengths that cannot be seen by the human eye, such as near infrared, short wave infrared and thermal infrared.

ASTER is the only high spatial resolution instrument on Terra that is important for change detection, calibration and/or validation, and land surface studies. ASTER data is expected to contribute to a wide array of global change-related application areas, including vegetation and ecosystem dynamics, hazard monitoring, geology and soils, land surface climatology, hydrology, land cover change, and the generation of digital elevation models (DEMs). For technical information visit here.

(Image credit: NASA/Japanese Space Team)

To view a list of more Earth Observation satellite sensors visit here.

To read more articles on the applications and uses of satellite images and remote sensing, visit here.

Part 1 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Glacier Changes

Part 2 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Forests

Part 3 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Urban Development

Part 4 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Natural Disasters

Part 5 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Ancient Sites and Civilizations

Tags: aster, before and after, change detection, climate change, deforestation, earth observation, environment, environmental monitoring, forestry, geoeye-1, geography, geospatial technology, glacier changes, global changes, global warming, history, hyperspectral, ikonos, image analysis, land use, landsat, multispectral, natural hazards, photography, photos, pre and post, quickbird, rapideye, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photo, satellite photos, satellite picture, satellite pictures, spot-5, thematic mapping, urban development, worldview-1, worldview-2

Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Glacier Changes (Part 1)

IKONOS (1m) Satellite Image of Bear Glacier Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

2011

Click on image to view in High Resolution

(Image Credit: GeoEye and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

Bear Glacier is one of the larger outlet glaciers flowing from the northeastern part of Harding Icefield toward Resurrection Bay in the Kenai Fjords National Park in the Kenai Mountains. The park is a popular area for camping, hiking, exploring, and photography.

In 1809, Bear Glacier was 26 km long and ended about 300 m from the shore of Resurrection Bay. Since that time, the terminus has gradually melted and calved icebergs, retreating 400 m before 1950 and another 1,500 m between 1950 and the mid-1990s. Substantial retreat has occurred in the last 15 years. By 2000, the terminus of Bear Glacier was actively calving large numbers of icebergs, and the small marginal lake that had developed by 1950 was quite large. By 2004, the glacier had retreated more than 2 km farther, and by 2010, about another kilometer. – USGS/NASA

Landsat (15m) Satellite Images of Bear Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

1989-2010

(Image Credit: USGS/NASA)

More information on Global Glacier Changes: facts and figures

To read more articles on the applications and uses of satellite images and remote sensing, visit here.

Part 1 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Glacier Changes

Part 2 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Forests

Part 3 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Urban Development

Part 4 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Natural Disasters

Part 5 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Ancient Sites and Civilizations

Tags: alaska, bear glacier, climate change, Earth, earth observation, environment, glaciers, global climate change, global warming, history, ikonos, Kenai Fjords National Park, land cover, oceans, photography, photos, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photo, satellite photos, satellite pictures

Satellite Image of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii – “Remembering a Day of Infamy”

The attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

GeoEye-1 Satellite Image (0.5m) Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii

Click on image to view in full resolution

(Image credit: GeoEye and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

This half-meter resolution satellite image shows the Pearl Harbor Memorial, located about two miles west of the Honolulu Airport in Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. GeoEye tasked its GeoEye-1 satellite on Dec. 7, 2011 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor Attack on Dec. 7, 1941. The image specifically shows the USS Missouri (center), a museum ship docked at Battleship Row, and crowds of people standing in formation on the dock. The USS Arizona Memorial (upper right) was built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, which can be seen below the white memorial under the water’s surface. The Arizona Memorial is managed by the National Park Service and is now a part of the dedicated WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. The GeoEye-1 satellite is the highest resolution, commercial Earth-imaging satellite and flies 423 miles above the Earth at an average speed of 17,000 mph, or four miles per second.

The base was attacked by Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with four being sunk. All but two of the eight were raised, repaired and returned to service later in the war. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship and one minelayer. One hundred eighty-eight U.S. aircraft were destroyed. Watch a video on attack.

Battleship USS Arizona

USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state’s recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of “super-dreadnought” battleships.

Unlike many of the other ships sunk or damaged the day of the attack, Arizona could not be fully salvaged, though the Navy removed parts of the ship for reuse. The wreck still lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, dedicated on May 30, 1962 to all those who died during the attack, straddles the ship’s hull. To read more on the Attack of Pearl Harbor and view images, visit here.

Image credit: Wikipedia

The USS Arizona (BB-39) burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. USS Arizona sunk at Pearl Harbor. The ship is resting on the harbor bottom. The supporting structure of the forward tripod mast collapsed after the forward magazine exploded. View more photos of Pearl Harbor.

Tags: earth observation, geoeye-1, hawaii, history, memorial, Oahu, pearl harbor, photography, photos, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, satellite picture, tourism, uss arizona

Satellite Image of White Lines in the Ghobi Desert, China – “The Mysterious Maze”

IKONOS (1m) Satellite Image of “White Lines” Ghobi Desert, China

Click on image to view in high resolution.

(Image copyright GeoEye and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

This one-meter resolution satellite image shows uniform white lines in the Gobi desert in northwestern China. According to news reports, the lines measure about one mile long and 3,000 feet across. Many experts believe these lines are used as targets for calibrating satellite and radar imaging systems. The high-resolution image was collected on July 27, 2010 by the IKONOS satellite while flying 423 miles above the Earth at an average speed of 17,000 mph, or four miles per second.

Tags: china, earth observation, geography, ghobi desert, ikonos, maze, mystery, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, satellite picture, white lines

Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Forests (Part 2)

The nation’s state forestry organizations are among the most extensive remote sensing and GIS technology users of any agency. Many state foresters have indicated that this technology is an invaluable resource whenever they need to understand, communicate, and make effective decisions about conditions on the ground. Remote sensing technology aids foresters in the acquisition of the data that is necessary to further research, manage, and recover present and future conditions of the global forests.

Deforestation

The forests of the world are an important and crucial part of our planets ecosystem. Currently the rainforests are being depleted at alarming rates. The causes for rainforest depletion are mainly due to human activities, such as ranching, agriculture, and urban development. These areas must be monitored in order to provide current and complete information in order to better understand and protect the forests.

Landsat (15m) Satellite Images of Deforestation – Jamari River in Rondônia, Brazil

1984 – 2011

(Image Credit: USGS/NASA)

The Landsat images above show the area in 1984, shortly after construction of the hydroelectric dam began, and in 2011. The reservoir flooded the upstream forest and displaced many people. Also evident in the images is the deforestation that has affected much of the region.

Satellite images in this manner, could aid in determining the effects of forest management activities, such as timber harvesting and best management practices on soil erosion and sedimentation. It could also assist in the detection of invasive species through identification of water bodies that have clear water and high algae signatures. USGS/NASA

IKONOS (0.8m) Satellite Image Deforestation in Virunga National Parks – Rwanda and the Congo (DRC)

2007

Click on image to view in High Resolution

(Image Credit: GeoEye and Satellite Imaging Corporation)

Th IKONOS Satellite Image above was produced to support Wildlife Habitat mapping applications for the assessment, management and monitoring of the Mountain Gorilla Habitat and the land cover changes in and around the National Parks in the region.

Forest WildFires and Emergency Management

Fire and emergency applications are one of the strongest uses of GIS and remote sensing, particularly fire mapping, responding to emergency situations, hazardous fuels reduction, community assistance, firefighting, rehabilitation, and restoration. Forest fires have an important influence on the vegetation cover, animals, plants, soil, stream flow, air quality, microclimate, and even general climate. The loss of timber is obvious and so is the damage to life and property. The loss of recreation value of the forest and the destruction of wildlife habitat are also consequences of forest fires.

Researchers and scientists have long been trying to predict the behavior of a forest fire. Computer modeling has been the effort of many scientists using high resolution satellite imagery and GIS. In order to model a forest fire, the techniques for obtaining, analyzing and displaying spatial information in a timely and cost-effective manner are needed which has proven not only to be possible, but incredibly efficient and effective.

Landsat (15m) Satellite Images of Pre and Post Wildfires – Bastrop, Texas USA

August 26, 2011 – September 11, 2011

(Image Credit: USGS/NASA)

Two fires started near Bastrop State Park in south central Texas in early September 2011, near Bastrop, Texas (pop. 8,000). Bastrop is 30 miles southeast of Austin, Texas, and the fires extend into the eastern edge of the community. The Union Chapel and Bastrop fires together are known as the Bastrop County Complex Fire. The Landsat images above were acquired on August 26 before the fires began, and again on September 11, show how the fire has scorched thousands of acres.

Severe drought conditions throughout much of the summer of 2011 have sparked many wildfires throughout Texas. 2011 has been reported to be the most severe single-year drought since the 1950s and received the lowest single-year rainfall since the late 1800s. To date, more than 1,600 homes have been destroyed, making this wildfire the single most destructive in Texas history.

Landsat imagery is useful for monitoring the extent of the fires, as well as destroyed vegetation and subsequent effects to the human population. Future Landsat acquisitions will be used to monitor the recovery of the area. USGS/NASA

IKONOS (1m) Satellite Image of Post Wildfires – Bastrop, Texas USA

2011

Click on image to view in High Resolution

(Image Credit: GeoEye and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

For more information on Global Forestry Management, visit here.

To read more articles on the applications and uses of satellite images and remote sensing, visit here.

Part 1 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Glacier Changes

Part 2 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Forests

Part 3 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Urban Development

Part 4 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Natural Disasters

Part 5 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Ancient Sites and Civilizations

Tags: agriculture, congo, conservation, deforestation, earth observation, forest management, forestry, geography, geospatial, gis, habitat, ikonos, image analysis, land cover, landsat, management, mapping, monitoring, natural resources, photos, rainforests, reforestation, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photos, satellite pictures, species, urban development, wildfires

Photos of the Year 2011 – Satellite Images in Making History

GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Egyptian Protests in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt

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GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Tsunami Damage at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Okuma, Japan

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GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Tsunami Damage in Sendai, Japan

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GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Easter Services at St. Basilica’s Church, Vatican City, Rome

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IKONOS (0.8m) Satellite Image of Tornado Damage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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IKONOS (0.8m) Satellite Image of the Royal Wedding in London, England

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GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Space Shuttle Endeavor’s Last Voyage

Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida

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IKONOS (0.8m) Satellite Image of Osama bin Laden’s Compund in Abbottabad, Pakistan

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WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Mississippi River Flooding in New Madrid, Missouri

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GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Missouri River Flooding in Bismarck, North Dakota

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GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Flooding of Souris River in Minot, North Dakota

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WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Flooding at Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant in Blair, Nebraska

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WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Space Shuttle Atlantis Final Mission at Merritt Island, Florida

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WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Gaddafi Compound in Tripoli, Libya

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WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Hurricane Irene Damage in Killington, Vermont

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WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Bastrop Wildfires Damage in Bastrop, Texas

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WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Flooding in Bangkok, Thailand

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GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii 70th Anniversary Memorial

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Tags: 2011, history, images, images of the year, photos, photos of the year, pictures, pictures of the year, rememberance, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photos, satellite pictures

Satellite Image of the Persian Gulf, Qatar – “The Ancient Sea”

GeoEye-1 (0.5) Satellite Image of Persian Gulf, Qatar

Click image to view in full resolution

This GeoEye-1 satellite image of South Qatar shows how the ebb and flow of the tide can create some unusual formations. Here, water and sand conjure up the shape and color of a tree as the tide swirls into the Persian Gulf. Qatar, an Arab Emirate in the Middle East, is one of the region’s wealthiest states due to its vast oil and natural gas resources. To read more on the Persian Gulf and its history, visit here.

Tags: ancient history, arabian sea, earth observation, geoeye-1, geography, history, persian gulf, qatar, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photo, satellite photos, satellite pictures, the gulf, tourism, travel

Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Urban Development (Part 3)

Satellite images for monitoring urban and land development can be used to gather strategic planning information pertaining to a district or an entire city. High resolution satellite imagery incorporated into a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) has gained popularity among Planners, Developers and Engineers for large scale mapping of any region for most urban and land development applications.

Landsat (15m) Satellite Image of San Antonio, Texas

June 16, 1991

(Image Credit: NASA/USGS/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

Landsat (15m) Satellite Image of San Antonio, Texas

June 4, 2010

(Image Credit: NASA/USGS/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

Satellite images above of San Antonio, Texas a city that has grown to be the 7th largest city in the nation, with a current population of approximately 1.4 million. In 1991 when the June 16 image was acquired, the population was approximately 790,000. In the past 20 years it has been the 4th fastest growing city in the United States.

Unlike most large cities in the United States, San Antonio is not completely surrounded by independent suburban cities, and under Texas law it exercises extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) over much of the surrounding unincorporated land, including directing growth and zoning. It pursues an aggressive annexation policy and opposes the creation of other municipalities within its ETJ. The restrictions on development by independent communities have allowed the city to control growth direction and have preserved useful agricultural production areas. Another factor in the growth formula has been the series of military bases and military airfields which ring the larger community.

WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image of San Antonio, Texas

October 19, 2009

(Image Credit: DigitalGlobe/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

To read more articles on the applications and uses of satellite images and remote sensing, visit here.

Part 1 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Glacier Changes

Part 2 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Forests

Part 3 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Urban Development

Part 4 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Natural Disasters

Part 5 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Ancient Sites and Civilizations

Tags: construction, earth observation, engineering, environmental impact, environmental monitoring, land development, photography, photos, remote sensing, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photo, satellite photos, satellite pictures, urban development, urban growth, urban sprawl

Satellite Image of Palm Jumeirah, Dubai – “Innovative Luxury”

WorldView-2 Satellite Image (0.5m) – Post Construction of Palm Jumeirah

Palm Islands, Dubai, UAE

To view an animation of the construction of Palm Jumeirah, click here.

To view in high resolution, click on image.

The Palm Jumeirah is an artificial archipelago created using land reclamation by Nakheel, a company owned by the Dubai government in United Arab Emirates. It is one of three islands called the Palm Islands which extend into the Persian Gulf, increasing Dubai’s shoreline by a total of 520 kilometres (320 mi). The Palm Jumeirah is the smallest and the original of three Palm Islands (Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali and Palm Deira).

The Palm Jumeirah is in the shape of a palm tree. It consists of a trunk, a crown with 16 fronds, and a surrounding crescent island that forms an 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) long breakwater. The island is 5 by 5 kilometres (3.1 by 3.1 mi) and its total area is larger than 800 football pitches. The crown is connected to the mainland by a 300-metre (980 ft) bridge and the crescent is connected to the top of the palm by a subsea tunnel. Over the next few years, as the tourism phases develop, The Palm Jumeirah is one of the world’s premier resorts. The Palm Island is the self-declared ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. According to the developer’s publicity material, the Jumeirah Palm island features themed hotels, three types of villas (Signature Villas, Garden Homes and Canal Cove Town Homes), apartment buildings, beaches, marinas, restaurants, and a variety of retail outlets.

For more information on the Palm Islands, visit here.

To view a 360 degree panoramic view of the Hotel Atlantis Inauguration Party on Palm Jumeirah, visit here.

IKONOS Satellite Image (1 m) – Pre Construction of Palm Jumeirah

Palm Islands, Dubai, UAE

To view an animation of the construction of Palm Jumeirah, click here.

To view in high resolution, click on image.

Tags: dubai, homes, hotel atlantis, palm islands, Palm Jumeirah, resorts, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, satellite picture, tourism, travel, uae, worldview-2

Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Natural Disasters (Part 4)

Satellite images incorporated with geographic information systems (GIS) can give emergency officials a wealth of information for assessment, analysis and monitoring of natural disasters such as droughts, landslides, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.

WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Mount Merapi, Java, Indonesia - Post Volcanic Eruption

November 11, 2010

Click on image to view in full resolution.

(Image Credit: DigitalGlobe/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

Natural disasters have caused major loss of human lives and livelihoods, the destruction of economic and social infrastructure, as well as environmental damages from small to large regions around the globe.

Prior to a disaster, high resolution satellite image data helps pinpoint where previous disaster events have occurred, where they are likely to occur in the future and the costs associated with historical events. After a natural disaster, satellite images can be used to determine the extent of landscape change and monitor the progress of recovery. Satellite imagery allows a larger land mass to be studied in a shorter amount of time than is possible with traditional ground cover study methods.

Satellite images gives state and government agencies the ability to view the damage from multiple vantage points. The spatial resolution of an image determines the ability to view individual features such as buildings and bridges. It also affects the ability to monitor and assess damage conditions, and depends on the nature of the disaster itself.

GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant Damage, Okuma, Japan

Post Earthquake and Tsunami

April 12, 2011

Click on image to view in full resolution

(Image Credit: GeoEye/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, Okuma, Japan

Pre Earthquake and Tsunami

November 15, 2009

Click on image to view in full resolution

(Image Credit: GeoEye/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

IKONOS (1m) Satellite Image of Port-au-Prince, Haiti Earthquake Before

September 29, 2008

Click on image to view in full resolution

(Image Credit: GeoEye/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image Port-au-Prince, Haiti Earthquake After

January 13, 2010

Click on image to view in full resolution

(Image Credit: GeoEye/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

IKONOS (1m) Satellite Image Hurricane Katrina Before and After – New Orleans, Louisiana

August 28, 2002 – September 2, 2005

Click on image to view in full resolution.

(Image Credit: GeoEye/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

QuickBird (0.6m) Satellite Image Mudslide in Zhugqu, China

August 10, 2010

Click on image to view in full resolution.

(Image Credit: DigitalGlobe/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image Post Flooding in Nowshera, Pakistan

August 5, 2010

Click on image to view in full resolution.

(Image Credit: DigitalGlobe/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

QuickBird (0.6m) Satellite Image Nowshera, Pakistan Pre Flooding

Click on image to view in full resolution.

(Image Credit: DigitalGlobe/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

QuickBird (0.6m) Satellite Image Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tornado Damage

April 29, 2011

Click on image to view in full resolution.

(Image Credit: DigitalGlobe/Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

To read more articles on the applications and uses of satellite images and remote sensing, visit here.

Part 1 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Glacier Changes

Part 2 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Forests

Part 3 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Urban Development

Part 4 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Natural Disasters

Part 5 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Ancient Sites and Civilizations

Tags: after, before, cyclones, desertification, disasters, drought, earth observation, earth view, earthquakes, environmental impact, flloods, fukushima daiichi nuclear plant, hurricanes, mudslides, natural disasters, post, pre, remote sensing, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite imaging, satellite photos, satellite pictures, tornadoes, tsunamis, volcanoes

Satellite Image of Rakaia River in New Zealand – “The Braided River”

WorldView-2 (0.5m) Satellite Image Rakaia River, New Zealand

Click to view image in high resolution

(Image Copyright DigitalGlobe and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

The Rakaia River is in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand’s South Island. The Rakaia River is one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand.

Close to Mount Hutt, however, it is briefly confined to a narrow canyon known as the Rakaia Gorge. In the 1850s, European settlers named it the Cholmondeley River, but this name lapsed into disuse. The Rakaia River is bridged in two places. The busiest crossing is at the small town of Rakaia, 20 kilometres from the river mouth, where State Highway 1 and the South Island Main Trunk Railway cross the river using separate bridges. These two bridges are New Zealand’s longest road and rail bridges respectively, approximately 1.75 km long. A second bridge, much shorter and less used, spans the Rakaia Gorge.

The Rakaia River is a celebrated Chinook salmon fishery. The Rakaia is known for its large wrybill population which represents 73 percent of the total population. Other important bird species known to be found in the Rakaia riverbed are Wrybill, Black fronted Tern and Banded Dotterel.

Tags: braided river, new zealand, rakaia river, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, satellite pictures, worldview-2

Satellite Image of the Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Disaster of the Coast of Italy

WorldView-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Costa Concordia Cruise Ship Disaster, Giglio, Italy

Click image to view in high resolution

(Image Copyright DigitalGlobe and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

The $450 million ship was just two hours into a week-long Mediterranean cruise when it collided with a rocky shoal off the island of Giglio on January 13, 2012, tearing open a huge hole that forced the evacuation of its 4,200 passengers and crew and killing thus far 11 people.

To watch a video footage of searching the Concordia underwater, visit here.

To watch a video inside the Concordia underwater, visit here.

Tags: costa concordia, cruise ship disaster, giglio, italy, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, satellite pictures, worldview-1

Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Ancient Sites and Civilizations (Part 5)

Satellite images have become increasingly important tools for archaeologists, as these systems link information to precisely calibrated physical locations, and integrate information drawn from multiple sources. The usefulness of satellite images for identifying and analyzing archaeological sites was recognized from the early days of aviation and imagery is now available from an array of high resolution satellite sensors that provide even greater potential for investigating and mapping archaeological sites.

GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image of Leptis Magna Roman Ruins, Al khums, Libya

Click on image to view in high resolution.

(Image credit: GeoEye and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

Leptis Magna was a prominent city of the Roman Empire. Its ruins are located in Khoms, Libya, east of Tripoli, on the coast where the Wadi Lebda meets the sea. The site is one of the most spectacular and unspoiled Roman ruins in the Mediterranean. More information on Leptis Manga Roman Ruins, visit here.

The spectrum of sunlight reflected by the Earth’s surface contains information about the composition of the surface, and it may reveal traces of past human activities, such as agriculture, structures and roads, vegetation, and all kinds of rocks have distinctive temperatures and emit heat at different rates, sensors can “see” things beyond ordinary vision from satellite sensors due to their multi-spectral band combinations which can pick differences in land cover and change detection. Differences in soil texture are revealed by fractional temperature variations. So it is possible to identify loose soil that had been prehistoric agricultural fields, or was covering buried remains. More advanced versions of such multi-spectral scanners can detect irrigation ditches filled with sediment because they hold more moisture and thus have a temperature different from other soil. The ground above a buried stone wall, for instance, may be a touch hotter than the surrounding terrain because the stone absorbs more heat. Radar can penetrate darkness, cloud cover, thick jungle canopies, and even the ground.

IKONOS (1m) Satellite Image of Teotihuacan Pyramids, Mexico

Click on image to view in high resolution.

(Image credit: GeoEye and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

Rising 20 stories above the central Mexican highlands, the pyramids of Teotihuacan (pronounced tay-oh-tee-wah-con) were central to Toltec learning and culture. The city, about the size of ancient Athens and Rome, was abandoned about 1500 years ago. Some believe the city was attacked by an invading army, such as the Toltecs, while newer evidence points to an internal, class-based struggle.

Using an advanced understanding of mathematics, geometry and astronomy, the Toltecs built the largest pyramid, “The Pyramid of the Sun,” with an alignment to coincide with the two days (May 19th and July 25th) when the sun would be directly over the top of the pyramid at noon. This would also create an alignment to the east toward the rising sun and to the west for the setting sun. This pyramid has a base only 10 feet shorter on each side than the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. More information on Teotihuacan Pyramids, visit here.

ASTER (15m) Satellite Image Nasca Lines, Lima, Peru

Click on image to view in high resolution.

(Image credit: NASA/Japanese Space Team and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation)

The Nazca Lines are located in the Pampa region of Peru, the desolate plain of the Peruvian coast 400 km south of Lima. The Lines were first spotted when commercial airlines began flying across the Peruvian desert in the 1920′s. Passengers reported seeing ‘primitive landing strips’ on the ground below. The Lines were made by removing the iron-oxide coated pebbles which cover the surface of the desert. When the gravel is removed, they contrast with the light color underneath. In this way the lines were drawn as furrows of a lighter color. On the pampa, south of the Nazca Lines, archaeologists have now uncovered the lost city of the line-builders, Cahuachi. It was built nearly two thousand years ago and was mysteriously abandoned 500 years later.More information on Nazca Lines, visit here.

To read more articles on the applications and uses of satellite images and remote sensing, visit here.

Part 1 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Glacier Changes

Part 2 – Our Changing World: Satellite Images for Monitoring Forests

Tags: ancient civilizations, ancient history, ancient observatories, ancient ruins, ancient sites, archaeology, earth view, leptis magna roman ruins, nazca lines, pyramids, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photos, satellite pictures, Teotihuacan

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