The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has activated the International Charter “Space and Major Disasters” for Typhoon Bebinca in Viet Nam, which is expected to make landfall on 17 August. UNOOSA activated the Charter on behalf of the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority.
Meteorologists have forecasted wind speeds up to 90 kph and up to 300mm of rain in the coming days due to the typhoon, bringing the potential for severe flooding and landslides. More than 500,000 people, including soldiers, police officers and civilian volunteers, have been mobilized by Viet Nam’s ministry of defence in order to help civilians in storm-affected areas. Border and coast guards from Quang Ninh down to Quang Binh Province have already ordered mass evacuations of those living in the coastal regions.
The Charter activation will aid disaster managers in Viet Nam to fully assess the impact of the typhoon and the extent of the…
read moreNASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission core observatory satellite has been an integral asset in disaster risk management last month. This satellite is able to produce information on precipitation particles within cloud layers by using an active radar; information that is beneficial in monitoring, predicting, and tracking the progression of cyclones and other extreme weather phenomena.
Several cyclones have been tracked using this satellite during the past month, helping authorities to make better preparations in anticipation.
GPM's Dual Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) scanned storms in the center of the forming Cyclone Hola on 6 March as it moved towards Vanuatu, anticipating the eastern edge as having the highest levels of rainfall. The storm took 24 hours to pass over the northern half of the islands, leaving damage and crop…
read moreThe United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) has requested the activation of the International Charter Space and Major Disasters for Haiti, as Hurricane Irma made landfall on the country's northern coast last night. Torrential rain resulted in heavy flooding. Haiti's northern departments have been put on hurricane alert, while the Centre, Ouest and Artibonite departments have been put on tropical-storm alert.