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Climate Change Visualized Through Satellite Data | |
| Sumita Pawar |
The UAE Space Agency has teamed up with US Earth-imaging firm Planet Labs to create a Loss and Damage Atlas, using satellite data to map the impact of extreme weather events caused by climate change.
The atlas will support the Loss and Damage Fund, agreed at last year's Cop 27 environment summit, which aims to compensate developing countries for damages incurred by weather-related events.
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“Our strategic collaboration and partnership with Planet Labs represents a robust step towards building a sustainable and climate-resilient future,” said Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology, and chairwoman of the UAE Space Agency.
“Moreover, it reflects our commitment to strengthening our analytical capabilities to combat climate change and make better-informed decisions.
“We understand the importance of tackling global climate challenges. Thus, we will use cutting-edge technology, space data, and satellites to map the loss and damage from climate change and help establish early warning systems.
“The project also supports our plans to build capacities and adapt to the accelerating climate changes, as well as helping other countries to develop plans and strategies to limit future climate changes.”
Loss and Damage Atlas to aid developing nations
The atlas will be developed by UAE-based start-ups, institutes and universities and will be demonstrated at Cop28.
It aims to provide early warning systems for extreme weather, water security issues and other climate-related events, and will offer assistance to developing nations.
The atlas will use PlanetScope satellite data, which provides a near-daily country-level imagery scan with a 3m-resolution, and SkySat Tasking capabilities, which provide a resolution of 50cm. The technology will be used to identify specific areas of interest and capture fine details of swiftly changing events.