Satellites report killings

1991/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ekologia
• Klima

The German air and space navigation institute receives daily information from satellites. Until recently this information has been used exclusively in meteorological matters. A researcher at this institute came up with the idea that satellite information could be used for other things.

The real proof of this new task was carried out when last year reported on the consequences that were occurring from the storms of March and April.

The algae epidemic on the Mediterranean coast is known. But the spread of this epidemic has been accurate through photographs or satellite images. Thanks to this, tourists know where it is not convenient to go, for example. Sea traffic can also have advantages, as they can immediately know icebergs or ice groups.

The decline of tropical forests is very clear by analyzing the images of the last 15 years.

Together with the Kenyan government, the Germans are currently carrying out a very important project. Kenya is one of the countries suffering the consequences of drought in Africa in recent years. The photographs taken from the satellites allow us to know the place where water and food are located, so the travelling villages can take some routes.

However, the ultimate goal of this German organization is to create a database on ecology. On April 4, several satellites of the Ariane 4 type will be launched in Guyana.