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MODIS Monitors Devastation in Japan
Last Updated: 03/30/2011*
In the aftermath of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) has been providing critical imagery tracking the scale of the devastation. MODIS’ true-color imagery shows the extent of fires across the country, while false color images, combining both visible and infrared light, show the extent of flooding along the coastline.
View or download these photos at the NASA website.
In the first two images, above, the pictures show that skies over northeastern Japan were entirely cloud-free March 13, 2011, providing a clear view of tsunami flooding along the coastline. Water, which appears black and dark blue in these false-color images, still covers the ground as much as five kilometers (three miles) from the coast. Plant-covered land is bright green, bare earth is tan-pink, and snow is blue. The city of Sendai is brown.
At this level of detail, the flooding along the coastline is the most obvious sign of the destructive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11. A bright orange-red spot near the city of Sendai is the thermal signature from a fire, also likely caused by the earthquake.
View or download this photo on the NASA website.
In the third photo-like image from March 12, 2011, a heavy black plume of smoke streams southeast from Sendai, Japan. Clouds prevented MODIS from identifying the location of the fire within the city; however, this type of black smoke usually originates from oil or gas fires. According to news reports, a refinery in Sendai was on fire following the 8.9 earthquake that hit the region March 11.
The earthquake generated a massive tsunami that devastated the coastal areas shown in the image. Clouds of blue and green sediment in the ocean may be mud and other debris from the powerful waves.
Raytheon's MODIS, the keystone instrument on the Earth Observing System Terra and Aqua satellites, has proved to be a major asset to the scientific community for the observation of global climate events. The sensor is used to observe and monitor fires, volcanic eruptions, dust storms, hurricanes and floods. The MODIS Rapid Response System team provides daily satellite images of weather, ice and land changes to federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Visit the MODIS website for more information
NASA images, captions and supportive information courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC.
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