Satellites have been responsible for providing weather news for the past 50 years, and they heralded an era of global communication. From commercial communication satellites to spy satellites to weather satellites, they are awe inspiring in all forms. Natural disasters strike in many forms, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, avalanches and floods. Today, we present a portfolio of natural disasters as photographed from the Space.
Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 26, 2004
Horrific pictures of people running away from towering waves flashed across newspapers across the globe on Christmas 2004. An earthquake of magnitude 9.1 triggered the Tsunami which travelled from Indonesia to Somalia and Seychelles. The scale of destruction was massive and the videos of the tsunami were horrific.
Total fatalities : 230,000
Cost of Damage : exceeds USD 25 Billion
Hurricane Katrina -- August, 2005
It was not the strongest hurricane ever recorded, yet it was the costliest. The failure of the levee system in New Orleans led to widespread damage and loss of life. The rest as most of us know, is history.
Total fatalities : 2000+
Cost of Damage : USD 90.9 Billion
Katrina at Peak Intensity
Eyewall of Hurricane Katrina captured on August 28, 2005, from a NOAA WP-3D "Orion" Hurricane Hunter
Chandeleur Islands before and after Hurricane Katrina
Typhoon Tip -- October, 1979
The most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded, Typhoon Tip at its peak strength had a diameter of 2,220 km (1380 miles) and sustained wind speeds in excess of 190mph. It also set the record for the lowest ever sea level pressure recorded. The super typhoon is one of the most widely photographed typhoon’s in history thanks to the 60 flights U.S. Air Force Reconnaissance flew into it.
Total fatalities : 68
Cost of Damage : Moderate, mostly at sea
At Peak Intensity
Colour Image of the Super Typhoon
Hurricane Ike -- September 13, 2008
As a category 2 Hurricane, it made landfall on Galveston, Texas on September 13, 2008. It is categorized as the third worst hurricane in US history.
Total fatalities : 195
Cost of Damage : USD 32 Billion
Ike at Peak Intensity
Captured from the ISS
Eye of the Hurricane is clearly visible
Chaitén Volcano -- May 2, 2008
Chile’s Chaitén Volcano became active after a dormancy period of over 9,000 years. The evacuation zone established around the volcano was 50km wide and the plume from the volcano went as far as 30km in the sky. Nearby villages were covered in nearly 1.5m of volcanic ash after the eruption.
Total fatalities : Thankfully none
Cost of Damage : Unestimated
Infrared Image shows smoke plume rising
Enhanced True Color Image shows smoke plume rising
Hurricane Isabel -- September, 2003
It was the costliest and deadliest hurricane in 2003 and when it made landfall on the east coast of the US, it caused severe damage. Sustained wind speeds were in excess of 165mph.
Total fatalities : 51
Cost of Damage : USD 4.28 Billion
The Eye of the Cyclone as seen from the ISS
Captured from the ISS
Cyclone Gonu -- June, 2007
The strongest cyclone ever in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, Super Cyclonic Storm Gonu formed and dissipated over the first week of June, 2007 reaching maximum speeds in excess of 165mph.
Total fatalities : 78
Cost of Damage : USD 4.4 Billion
Peak Intensity - captured by MODIS
Dust Storm over Iraq, July 2008
Anyone who cannot imagine how strong a dust storm can be, should see this first :
Sand Rising and causing a Storm
Hurricane Wilma -- October, 2005
The most intense hurricane recorded ever in the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Wilma made several landfalls causing massive damage including Mexico, Cuba and Florida. It sustained winds in excess of 185 mph and recorded the lowest ever sea level pressure in the Atlantic Ocean.
Total fatalities : 62
Cost of Damage : USD 32.6 Billion
Captured near Mexico at Peak Intensity
Composite Image shows Mexican Island of Cozumel surrounded by the Hurricane
Multiple Dust Storms
Over Northern Africa and Mediterranean
Over Bolivia
Tornado hits La Plata, Maryland -- April 28, 2002
The tornado hit the town of La Plata, Maryland and cut a 24 mile swath through the area. The tornado travelled through Charles County where it caused the most damage. It was a F4 tornado on the Fujita Scale where a F5 is the highest category tornado. F4 tornadoes have wind speeds in excess of 200mph.
Total fatalities : 4
Cost of Damage : USD 115 Million
Path of the Tornado is visible from the destruction in the centre of the image