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

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

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

HOW COPERNICUS SUPPORTS STORM MONITORING

www.esa.int/copernicus • copernicus.eu

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 satellite-based 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 satellite-based 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.

Satellite tracks typhoon hitting the Philippines

Policy Objectives

> European Union External Action (EEAS)

> EU Council Regulation on Humanitarian Aid

> EU Internal Security Strategy

> EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO)

> International Charter Space & Major Disasters

LAND MARINE ATMOSPHERE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CLIMATE CHANGE SECURITY

ISSUE 42 / DECEMBER 2013

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

www.esa.int/copernicus • www.copernicus.eu

> Improve the modelling and forecasting of storms and storm surges through increased use of advanced satellite products

> 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

Flooding after typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippine island of Samar.

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

> 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

Copernicus activities Next Steps

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

ISSUE 42 / DECEMBER 2013

ESA’s Sentinel-2 and -3 missions will also benefit disaster monitoring and assessment.

Sentinel-2 will deliver high-resolution 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.

Sentinel-1MONITORING TROPICAL STORMS FROM SPACE