Remote sensing of coastal hazards

Abstract

With the coastal population increasing, storms have been inflicting unprecedented losses on coastal communities. Coastal agencies require advance information on the predicted path, intensity and progress of a storm and associated waves and storm surges; near-real-time information during the peak of the storm to monitor flooding and control rescue operations; and post-storm reports to assess the damage and plan the recovery. The same holds true for other disasters, such as oil spills and algal blooms. Coastal communities are also facing a rising sea level, caused mainly by global warming. Airborne and satellite remote sensors, such as multispectral imagers, Lidar and radar, are now able to provide most of the information required for emergency response and coastal management.