Satellite Images, Satellite Imagery, Earth Observation, Remote Sensing Technology | Visions of Earth Satellite Photo Blog

Satellite Image Birth of Tinakula Island in South Pacific

Visions of Earth — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:22:26 +0000

EO-1 Satellite Image Birth of Tinakula Island, South Pacific

February 13, 2012

(Image credit: NASA)

Tinakula is a small, volcanic island in the South Pacific, located about 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) northeast of Brisbane, Australia. This natural-color satellite image (top) shows a plume of volcanic gas, possibly mixed with a bit of ash, rising above the island’s summit.

On February 13th and 14th, 2012, NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) detected heat signatures on Tinakula, and a small plume was apparent in visible imagery (lower image). Over the past decade satellites have detected intermittent “thermal anomalies” on the island that suggest eruptions have taken place, but eyewitness observations are infrequent.

Around the island, the reflection of sunlight on the ocean—sunglint—gives the surface a milky appearance that makes the wave patterns readily visible.

These images were collected by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on the Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite (top) and MODIS on the Terra satellite on February 14, 2012.

Source: NASA

Filed under: Land Formations, Living Planet, Remote Sensing, Satellite Sensors Tagged: australia, birth of an island, earth observation, eo-1, eruption, satellite imagery, satellite images, satellite photos, satellite pictures, south pacific, volcanos

Satellite Image of Canadian Rocky Mountains – “Unusual Effect of Light and Clouds”

Visions of Earth — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:34:26 +0000

Landsat Satellite Image of the Canadian Rockies, Rocky Mountain Trench

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

What appears to be a stroke of thick red paint is actually a remarkable interplay of light and cloud in the Canadian Rockies. Angling through them is part of the Rocky Mountain Trench, a valley that extends from Montana, USA, to just south of the Yukon Territory. Low clouds filled a part of the Trench near the border between the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The light-reflecting nature of the clouds coupled with low sun elevation resulted in this startling effect. To read more on the Canadian Rockies, visit here.

Filed under: Ancient History, Archaeology, Climate Change, Conservation, Land Formations, Living Planet, Popular Destinations, Remote Sensing, Water and Ice, World Heritage Sites Tagged: canadian rockies, canadian rocky mountains, rocky mountain trench, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photos, satellite pictures, yukon territory

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

Visions of Earth — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:15:06 +0000

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

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(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

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(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

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(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

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

Filed under: Ancient History, Archaeology, Conservation, Manmade Structures, Remote Sensing, Satellite Sensors Tagged: 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

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

Visions of Earth — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:22:27 +0000

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

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(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.

Filed under: Manmade Structures, Popular Destinations Tagged: costa concordia, cruise ship disaster, giglio, italy, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, satellite pictures, worldview-1

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

Visions of Earth — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:31:24 +0000

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

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(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.

Filed under: History, Living Planet, Remote Sensing Tagged: braided river, new zealand, rakaia river, satellite image, satellite imagery, satellite photo, satellite pictures, worldview-2

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

Visions of Earth — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:31:21 +0000

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

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(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

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(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

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

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

September 29, 2008

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

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

January 13, 2010

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(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

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

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

August 10, 2010

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

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

August 5, 2010

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

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

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

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

April 29, 2011

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(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

Filed under: Climate Change, Environmental Impact, Geospatial Technology, History, Manmade Structures, Remote Sensing, Uncategorized Tagged: 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 Palm Jumeirah, Dubai – “Innovative Luxury”

Visions of Earth — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:33:05 +0000

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.

Filed under: Earth Art, Manmade Structures, Popular Destinations, Remote Sensing, Urban Development Tagged: 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 Urban Development (Part 3)

Visions of Earth — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:07:04 +0000

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

Filed under: Environmental Impact, Geospatial Technology, Manmade Structures, Remote Sensing, Satellite Sensors, Urban Development Tagged: 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

Photos of the Year 2011 – Satellite Images in Making History

Visions of Earth — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:08:00 +0000

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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Filed under: History, Remote Sensing Tagged: 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”

Visions of Earth — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 13:17:11 +0000

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

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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.

Filed under: Ancient History, Archaeology, History, Land Formations, Living Planet, Popular Destinations, Remote Sensing Tagged: 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