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Anak Krakatau volcano: Satellites get clear view of collapse | |
(35 minutes later) | |
There is now some very good optical satellite imagery of the collapsed Anak Krakatau volcano, which generated the devastating tsunami on 22 December. | There is now some very good optical satellite imagery of the collapsed Anak Krakatau volcano, which generated the devastating tsunami on 22 December. |
Poor weather conditions over Indonesia's Sunda Strait had frustrated spacecraft that view the Earth in the same type of light as our eyes. | Poor weather conditions over Indonesia's Sunda Strait had frustrated spacecraft that view the Earth in the same type of light as our eyes. |
But the team at Planet has managed to find windows in the cloud. | But the team at Planet has managed to find windows in the cloud. |
Pictures from its Dove and SkySat platforms show the extent of the volcanic cone's failure. | Pictures from its Dove and SkySat platforms show the extent of the volcanic cone's failure. |
It is easier to appreciate now how the island has been reshaped. | It is easier to appreciate now how the island has been reshaped. |
What was once a crater at the summit of a 340m-high edifice has been completely broken open to form a small bay. | What was once a crater at the summit of a 340m-high edifice has been completely broken open to form a small bay. |
Indonesia's disaster agency says more than two-thirds of Anak Krakatau's volume (150-170 million cubic metres) is missing. Much of it is assumed to have slipped into the sea in the colossal landslide that produced the tsunami. | Indonesia's disaster agency says more than two-thirds of Anak Krakatau's volume (150-170 million cubic metres) is missing. Much of it is assumed to have slipped into the sea in the colossal landslide that produced the tsunami. |
Earth observation company Planet, which is based in San Francisco, operates one of the world's largest satellite constellations. | Earth observation company Planet, which is based in San Francisco, operates one of the world's largest satellite constellations. |
The big network maximises the chances of seeing the ground when cloud clears above a target. | The big network maximises the chances of seeing the ground when cloud clears above a target. |
Planet's small Dove spacecraft capture details on the ground larger than 3m - what is termed medium resolution; while its SkySat platforms have a high-resolution capability, capturing details larger than 72cm. | Planet's small Dove spacecraft capture details on the ground larger than 3m - what is termed medium resolution; while its SkySat platforms have a high-resolution capability, capturing details larger than 72cm. |
SkySat was responsible for the picture at the top of this page, taken on New Year's Day. | SkySat was responsible for the picture at the top of this page, taken on New Year's Day. |
The satellite pictures acquired immediately after the disaster came from radar spacecraft, and gave the first hints that Anak Krakatau had collapsed. | The satellite pictures acquired immediately after the disaster came from radar spacecraft, and gave the first hints that Anak Krakatau had collapsed. |
Radar instruments can pierce cloud but they return a very different type of view to optical satellites, and need a particular skill to interpret. | Radar instruments can pierce cloud but they return a very different type of view to optical satellites, and need a particular skill to interpret. |
It's now thought some 430 people died along the coastlines of Java and Sumatra when the tsunami hit. | It's now thought some 430 people died along the coastlines of Java and Sumatra when the tsunami hit. |
Thousands more remain displaced. | Thousands more remain displaced. |
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos | Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos |