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Satellites monitor Russian volcanoes to identify hazards to aviation, populations

An image of the Sheveluch (Shiveluch) volcano in Kamchatka, Russian Federation emitting an ash plume taken by NASA’s Aqua satellite in 2012. Image: NASA Earth Observatory.

Significant activity from volcanoes in the Russian Federation have been observed from space in recent months. The Kamchatka and Kuril Islands volcanoes, located in the fact east of the country, are being monitored by satellites in order to avert the hazards caused by their regular eruptions to air travel and to local populations.

These volcanoes are among the most active in the world, generally erupting between three and seven times every year. As of 4 May 2018, two volcanoes in Kamchatka - Karymysky and Sheveluch - are subject to an orange aviation colour code meaning that a volcano is exhibiting heightened unrest with increased likelihood of eruption or that a volcanic eruption is underway with no or minor ash emission. The Ebeko volcano located in the Kuril Islands is also subject to the same warning.

When volcanoes in the region erupt, they... read more

Publishing Date: 16/05/2018

European Union launches latest Earth observation satellite able to track disasters

An image taken by the Copernicus Sentinel-2A satellite on 28 September 2016 showing wildfires in the Russian Federation. Image: ESA/CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

The European Union’s latest Earth observation satellite, Sentinel-3B, was successfully launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Russian Federation on 25 April. The satellite will monitor the Earth’s land, oceans and atmosphere. It will also be able to track disasters and provide up-to-date information to emergency response teams.

With a primary focus on oceans, the Sentinel-3B satellite will monitor aquatic biological productivity and marine pollution, to map sea-level change and to forecast the sea state for efficient and safe ship routeing. As well as measuring the oceans, the mission also delivers unique and timely information about changing land cover, vegetation, urban heat islands, and for tracking wildfires. The satellites will also have the ability to deliver rapid... read more

Publishing Date: 26/04/2018

International Charter activated for Russian Federation flooding

Lake in Kachalinskaya, Volgogradskaya oblast Russia.

The International Charter Space and Major Disasters has been activated for flooding in the Volgogradskaya Oblast Region of the Russian Federation on 4 April, caused by vast amounts of melting snow causing river water levels to rise.

Local authorities requested the activation of the emergency response to evacuate over 359 residents from 31 inhabited areas and to provide relief.

The activation has been requested by The Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) of Russia. The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities acts as project manager.

Publishing Date: 05/04/2018

Satellites to monitor emergency situations launched by Russian Federation

Soyuz-2.1a lifts off from Vostochny Cosmodrome on 1 February.

Satellites which will be used for the real-time monitoring of emergency situations were successfully put into orbit by the Russian Federation on 1 February.

The remote-sensing Kanopus-Vulkan (or Kanopus-V) satellites No.3 and No. 4 were launched via a Russian Soyuz-2.1a rocket which lifted off from Vostochny Cosmodrome. They are designed to assist in the detection and management of natural disasters as well as man-made emergency situations; including flooding, oil spills and forest fires. Other functions of the satellites include mapping, the study of space-based methods for earthquake forecasting and monitoring the emission of pollutants.

The Kanopus-V satellites are operated by the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, in conjunction with the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, Roshydromet. The... read more

Publishing Date: 08/02/2018

Fires in Siberia, Russia

Image courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory by Jesse Allen and Joshua Stevens, using data from the Land Atmosphere Near real-time Capability for EOS (LANCE). Caption by Pola Lem.

In mid-July 2016, fires occurred in Siberia, in the tundra-taiga interface of the North West of the region. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on acquired pictures of the smokes on the 19th of July 2016.

According to Bruce Forbes form the University of Lapland “there can be ancient peat deposits near the surface to provide fuel in some places” although the causes of the fire have not been determined yet.

If the fires occurred far from humans, the burning vegetation releases massive amounts of CO2 and could become a threat to the ecosystem in the region. 

Publishing Date: 28/07/2016

Russia to develop an Earth observation system for Iran

Satellite image of the Neyriz Lakes in southern Iran (Image: ESA)

According to the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos, two Russian space companies signed a pre-contractual agreement with the Iranian Bonyan Danesh Shargh in order to assist the Islamic Republic of Iran to build its own satellite observation system. The aim of the remote sensing system is to monitor the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.

The Russian NPK BARL will be in charge of constructing and adapting the system’s ground infrastructure and VNIIEM Corporation, the other Russian partner, is expected to build and launch the satellites. For its part, Bonyan Danesh Shargh will be responsible of operating the system when it is completed.

Leonid Makridenko, CEO of VNIIEM, stated that “The pre-contractual arrangement covers the development of an earth remote-sensing system based on an upgraded version of the Kanopus-V1 (Canopus-B) observation satellite.”

 

Publishing Date: 26/08/2015

International Charter activated for wildfires in Siberian district, Russia

Wildfires over the same Siberian area occurred in 2008 (Image: NASA)

The International Charter: Space and Major Disasters has been triggered to provide satellite-based emergency maps in response to a major forest fire in Russia’s Siberian district. The mechanism was activated yesterday, 13 August 2015, at 15:51:00 (UTC+03:00) by ROSCOSMOS/EMERCOM.

The International Charter reported: “The fires began in July... read more

Publishing Date: 14/08/2015

Sentinel-5 to monitor atmospheric chemistry data from 2016

Testing phase of Sentinel-5 Precursor before its launch in 2016 (Image: ESA)

The Sentinel-5 Precursor will start its testing phase leaving from the UK, before its launch from Plesetsk, Russia in April 2016. The Sentinel-5 Precursor is using the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROMPOMI) and it has been developed by Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands for the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Netherlands Office.

The new aircraft will provide atmospheric chemistry data for the global monitoring programme for environment and security, Copernicus.  It aims to take a higher resolution of measurements of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, methane and other atmospheric pollutants. This information will enable improved climate models and weather forecasting to be made.  

It will also contribute to fulfill the goal to safeguard the civil population, to manage risks, and protect the environment as part of the efforts of the European institutions and public authorities at supplying geo-information products and services on the use of data... read more

Publishing Date: 29/07/2015

New remote sensing satellite to be developed by Russia and Belarus

Belarus satellite image (Image: NASA)

Russia and Belarus announced that they are aiming to develop a new remote sensing satellite in two or three years. This Earth Observation satellite will replace a currently operating satellite whose service life will shortly come to an end.

The new satellite will capture images with a resolution of less than one meter, so it will be more precise than the existing two meter resolution satellite and will be used by several Belarusian authorities, such as the Emergencies Ministry, the Agriculture and Food Ministry, the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ministry, and the Forestry Ministry.

The agreement was signed by Igor Komarov, head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, and Vladimir Gusakov, Chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB).

 

Publishing Date: 24/06/2015

Roscosmos to expand its satellite fleet

Resurs satellite (Image:ROSCOSMOS)

Roscosmos, the Russian Federal Space Agency, is about to launch more satellites in order to create a new centre for global imaging that could enhance Earth remote sensing activities. The project includes setting in orbit various satellites between 2016 and 2025, so that the total fleet would increase to 20. The project will also count on the cooperation of the Research Centre for Earth Operative Monitoring, an entity within the Russian Space Systems.

The aim is not only meeting the Russian demand for satellite imagery, but commercial orders from foreign states and private companies as well. According to a Roscosmos spokesperson, the agency’s strategy consists of shifting from providing images for free to one where clients have to pay in part for the service. This would incentive investment in the industry and enhance quality.

The Research Centre for Earth Operation Monitoring current satellite fleet is comprised of two Resurs-P, a Resurs-DK1, a Kanopus-B, and three... read more

Publishing Date: 19/06/2015

Satellite mapping shows high tree cover loss in Russia and Canada

2010 Russian wildfires captured by MODIS (NASA)

Satellite-based maps have shown northern boreal forests suffered significant tree cover loss in 2013, especially in Russia and Canada. The high-resolution maps have been released by Global Forest Watch, a partnership led by the World Resources Institute.

“This new data shows in detail how Russia and Canada have faced a massive spike in tree cover loss. These forests and soils contain vast carbon stocks so losses represent a significant contribution to the greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change,” said Dr. Nigel Sizer, Global Director of WRI's Forests Program.

From 2011 to 2013, the tree cover loss of Russia and Canada represented a 34 percent at global level, with a combined average loss of 6.8 million hectares each year.

Russia and Canada were the two countries with highest average annual tree cover loss from 2011 to 2013, followed by Brazil, United States and Indonesia. Fires were the main cause for this development.

Publishing Date: 09/04/2015

EMERCOM strengthens ties with International Civil Defence Organisation

Russian Minister of Emergency Situations Vladimir Puchkov and Secretary-General of ICDO Vladimir Kuvshinov

The Russian Emergencies Ministry EMERCOM, host of UN-SPIDER's Regional Support Office in the Russian Federation, is strengthening its collaboration with the International Civil Defence Organisation ICDO. Russian Minister of Emergency Situations, Vladimir Puchkov, met with Secretary-General of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO), Vladimir Kuvshinov, on 16 February in Geneva to sign a memorandum of understanding agreeing on wider cooperation.

The memorandum stresses “joint aspiration for helping improve mechanisms of coordination of humanitarian operations (projects) in disaster and post-crisis recovery areas for sustainable development”. “It has been decided today that we will run joint exercises of the Russian Emergencies Ministry and ICDO member states to practice cooperation and disaster response skills. This is a big step in development of civil defense both in Russia and the ICDO member... read more

Publishing Date: 18/02/2015
Regional Support Offices mentioned:
Russian Federation Regional Support Office

Russia: Disaster risk management a priority during G8 presidency

Disaster Risk Management is among the five priorities

The Head of United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Margareta Wahlström, welcomed the Russian Federation’s declared intention to making the promotion of integrated disaster risk management one its five priority areas during its G8 presidency.

The Russian Federation stated that it will channel all available efforts into developing a new global agreement on disaster risk reduction to succeed the existing Hyogo Framework for Action which expires in March 2015.

UNISDR and its partners will support Russia’s objectives that include global management of natural and man-made disaster risks.

Publishing Date: 28/01/2014

Russia: New Space monitoring station for emergency prevention and prediction

NASA's Terra satellite image shows the impact Ural has on weather developments

Yesterday, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM), host to one of UN-SPIDER's Regional Support Offices, announced that it will set up a new space monitoring station for prevention and prediction of emergency situations in the Urals.

The station will be established in the new Emergency Center in Sverdlovsk and will cover the northern part of the Arctic Zone, the Urals and Volga Region.

As of today, 85 percent of the whole Russian Federation territory are already covered by such space monitoring stations. After the launch of the new system, the area will be cover 95 percent of the country.

Publishing Date: 10/01/2014
Regional Support Offices mentioned:
Russian Federation Regional Support Office

EMERCOM activates International Charter for floods in eastern Russia

Unprecedented flooding has struck the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia

On 19 August 2013 the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters was activated to support flood response efforts in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. The region, after receiving heavy rains during the month of July, has been struck by unprecedented flooding, affecting approximately 32,500 people and leading to mass evacuations.

In order to host the 17,000 evacuees from the Amur Region, Khabarovsky Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region, emergency shelters have been set up. Although it is believed that the flooding has reached its peak, it is expected that the rain will continue until September. The flooding has already been reported as the worst that the region has suffered in over a hundred years.

Publishing Date: 21/08/2013
Regional Support Offices mentioned:
Russian Federation Regional Support Office

EMERCOM joins forces with US Federal Emergency Management Agency

EMERCOM and FEMA will cooperate more closely in the future

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) - UN-SPIDER's most recently gained Regional Support Office - and the USA Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are going to exchange experts during joint rescue operations in major disasters. This is provided by a protocol of the fourth meeting of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission Working Group on Emergency Situations and seventeenth meeting of Joint U.S.-Russia Cooperation Committee on Emergency Situations, which took place in Washington on 25 June.

The document provides for expert cooperation in disaster response operations and to study the latest practices. In addition, the parties approved of U.S.-Russian cooperation in this field in 2013-2014, which envisages exchange of experience including in monitoring and forecasting emergency situations, training of rescuers, development of mine-rescuing and provision of security at mass events.

Publishing Date: 08/07/2013
Regional Support Offices mentioned:
Russian Federation Regional Support Office

Event

United Nations/Russian Federation Workshop on Human Capacity-Building in Space Science and Technology for Sustainable Social and Economic Development

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has the mandate to promote international space cooperation and to assist Members States with capacity-building in the use of space science, technology and its applications. For this purpose, the Programme on Space Applications, implemented by UNOOSA, was established in 1971. Since its inception, the Programme has made substantial progress in furthering knowledge and experience of space applications around the world, through the organization of dedicated workshops and establishments of fellowships.

Online registration: The application deadline is 23 July 2017 for applicants seeking funding support and 10 August 2017 for self-funded applicants.) Please ensure that your application is complete and correct before submitting. Once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to make further... read more

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