LAND
MARINE
ATMOSPHERE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
CLIMATE CHANGE
SECURITY
ISSUE 42 / DECEMBER 2013
Satellite tracks typhoon
hitting the Philippines
Facts
> Globally, 80 to 100 tropical
typhoons develop each year
> The Philippines gets struck
by around 20 storms and
typhoons annually
> Typhoon Haiyan affected
around 14 million people and
claimed over 5200 lives
> The typhoon had wind
speeds up to 235 km/h,
causing waves heights up to
15 m
> Early estimates of the
economic cost are about
€11 billion
HOW COPERNICUS SUPPORTS STORM MONITORING
Filipinos are usually stoical in the face of natural disasters, as they are long accustomed to fearsome
storms, floods and earthquakes. But super-typhoon Haiyan, which hit the middle of the archipelago in
the beginning of November 2013 was unprecedented. It was one of the strongest storms ever recorded
and left widespread damage, claiming over 3500 lives and affecting more than eleven million people.
As a result floods and landslides occurred, power lines were cut and roads blocked by debris and fallen
trees, agricultural land was damaged and houses were destroyed. Thousands of people had to be
evacuated.
Copernicus satellites cannot prevent super-storms, but they help to reduce their impact by supporting
rescue teams and local authorities at all stages of such a devastating disaster. With the help of satellitebased sea surface temperature measurements the intensity of a storm can be estimated. Furthermore,
satellites support storm and storm surge fore- and now-casting. By measuring wind speeds and wave
heights, satellites can track the progress of storms. Thus, predictions about their landfall location can
be made and people warned. By combining satellitebased soil moisture and digital elevation data, areas
at risk of extreme flooding can be identified and
evacuated. In the aftermath of a super-storm, the
synoptic view of satellites allows high resolution
impact assessment for otherwise inaccessible areas.
The resulting detailed maps show affected areas and
can support first aid and further recovery efforts.
Benefits
> Rapid support for crisis
management teams
> Tracking and forecasting
storm strength and landfall
location
> Improving early warning of
storms
> Preparation for storms, their
mitigation and analysis
Policy Objectives
> European Union External
Action (EEAS)
> EU Council Regulation on
Humanitarian Aid
> EU Internal Security Strategy
> EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)
Winds associated with Haiyan on the 7th of November
2013 before the typhoon hit the Philippines, based on
data from the OSCAT sensor.
Source: eSurge project based on Oceansat-2
www.esa.int/copernicus • copernicus.eu
> International
Charter
Space &
Major
Disasters
ISSUE 42 / DECEMBER 2013
Sentinel-1
MONITORING TROPICAL STORMS FROM SPACE
Sentinel-1 will contribute
to storm surge monitoring
and damage assessment by
providing:
> all-weather, day-and-night,
cloud-free imagery
> global coverage
> ground resolution of 5 x 20 m
in main mode
> frequent revisit time
> quick data delivery
> coherent, reliable information
Damage grading for the building footprint level in the area of Tacloban City, Philippines. In the early morning
of 8 November 2013 typhoon Haiyan made landfall over Guiuan in eastern Samar as a category 5 typhoon and
continued its route over the Philippines in a west-north-west direction. Heavy rainfall caused flooding and flash
floods in several areas.
Source: GIO EMS - Mapping; Background image: GeoEye-1
Copernicus activities
The Copernicus Emergency Management
Service uses satellite data to provide timely
and accurate geospatial information before,
during and after disasters such as storms and
related storm surges, thereby supporting
those managing these natural disasters.
Products
> Rapid mapping of disaster areas
Next Steps
> Improve the modelling and forecasting of
storms and storm surges through increased
use of advanced satellite products
ESA’s Sentinel-2 and -3 missions
will also benefit disaster
monitoring and assessment.
Sentinel-2 will deliver highresolution optical imagery for
detailed damage assessment.
Sentinel-3 will determine global
sea-surface temperatures, as
well as sea-surface heights
related to storms and storm
surges.
> Bring together the available satellite and
in situ data for a range of storm and storm
surge events
> Make data products available in real time
during future storms and storm surges
> Storm surge delineation and grading maps
> Pre- and post-storm and storm surge
situation maps
> Storm and storm surge risk analysis and
early warning to support preparedness
Flooding after typhoon Haiyan hit the
Philippine island of Samar.
www.esa.int/copernicus • www.copernicus.eu