Flooding, coastal erosion from storms, crop damage from large hail, and some tornado tracks can be seen from space. The extent of snow cover can also be seen from space, and added to other measurements, flooding predictions during snowmelt can be made. A wide range of different data sources has been used to track snowpack historically and model whether this is changing over time. The Sierra Nevada snowpack hit an all-time low in 2015. Satellite information, ground observations, and calculations from very old tree rings were used to reach this conclusion.

Rivers and glacial meltwater dump sediments into the sea, while storms and shipping traffic can stir up sediments in the water. These can be seen standing out as a different colour from the rest of the water. Examining sediment can give new information about rivers in flood, or the strength of coastal storms under the waves. The sediments brought to the sea by glacial meltwater may help to assess the rate of glacial melting.

Erosion and deposition are typical along coastlines, where waves transport material along the coast. Monitoring of coastal erosion is important to protect dwellings, farms, roads, and other infrastructure. Changes in coastlines are also being monitored in relation to sea level rise caused by climate change. Satellite imagery can show rates of change over years or decades depending on the availability of images. Deposition creates spits, bars, and barrier islands, which can change the way the sea strikes the shoreline, and protect some areas from erosion. However, large-scale storms can sweep these sand structures away.

Featured Experts:

• Dr Kanta Kumari Rigaud

• Dr Johnny Johanessen

• Dr Val Byfield

View featured satellites on the satellite tracking app

• Landsat-7

• Landsat-8

• Sentinel-2

• Sentinel-3

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