Tsunami + Remote Sensing + Protected Areas

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Overview

The December 26, 2004 tsunami impacted a large part of the coastal regions in and around the Indian Ocean and surrounding water bodies. These natural phenomena, not to be confused with tidal waves, are the result of seismic or other geological activity. The December 2004 tsunami was the result of a 9.0 earthquake with an epicenter near the northern tip of Sumatra in Indonesia.

The impact was devastating to the human communities around the Indian Ocean. Many organizations are working toward alleviating the human condition. The tsunami also dramatically altered the landscape and ecosystems of the region. GLCF, like many similar organizations, is working to help assess the extent of the damage and provide assistance to the communities involved with these efforts. The particular type of help that GLCF is suited for is through remote sensing. As part of the ongoing interests of the conservation community to monitor and manage protected areas, the GLCF provides imagery wherever possible and appropriate. This portal reflects a collaboration between the GLCF, the conservation community and the remote sensing industry for some of the protected areas that were directly affected by the December 2004 tsunami. In particular, DigitalGlobe, of Colorado, and GeoEye-OrbImage, of Virginia have provided access through GLCF to some of their fine resolution imagery for several protected areas located around the Indian Ocean. The GLCF, DigitalGlobe, and GeoEye-OrbImage, in partner with the World Conservation Union, make this resource available for the conservation community to utilize in determining impacts from and reactions to the tsunami.

The Global Land Cover Facility appreciates the donation of imagery by DigitalGlobe and GeoEye-OrbImage for this tsunami assessment effort. All users should be aware that this quality imagery does not usually have free access, and that DigitalGlobe and GeoEye-OrbImage are generous in their gift.

Users are requested to consider the following guidelines in accessing and using the imagery comprising the Digital Globe or GeoEye-OrbImage contribution:

DigitalGlobe or GeoEye-OrbImage must be conspicuously credited as the source of the imagery.
Please share results whenever possible with peers and with those coping with the impact from the tsunami.
Feel free to share through the World Conservation Union (IUCN) or with GLCF's ongoing science effort.
The imagery made available for use here is normally costed. If found to be useful in the pursuit of research goals, please consider donating the cost of the imagery to the tsunami relief effort.

DigitalGlobe and GeoEye-OrbImage have made an extraordinary gift of imagery to support conservation goals in tsunami affected places in Asia. The December 26, 2004 tsunami impacted a large part of the Indian Ocean coastline, including many critical wildlife areas. The GLCF has provided access to the DigitalGlobe and GeoEye-OrbImage gift of imagery and is working with the World Conservation Union to engage the science and management communities with this excellent resource.