Facts > Globally, 80 to 100 tropical typhoons develop each year > The Philippines gets struck by around 20 storms and typhoons annually > Typhoon Haiyan affected around 14 million people and claimed over 5200 lives > The typhoon had wind speeds up to 235 km/h, causing waves heights up to 15 m > Early estimates of the economic cost are about €11 billion Benefits > Rapid support for crisis management teams > Tracking and forecasting storm strength and landfall location > Improving early warning of storms > Preparation for storms, their mitigation and analysis Winds associated with Haiyan on the 7th of November 2013 before the typhoon hit the Philippines, based on data from the OSCAT sensor. Source: eSurge project based on Oceansat-2 HOW COPERNICUS SUPPORTS STORM MONITORING www.esa.int/copernicus • copernicus.eu Filipinos are usually stoical in the face of natural disasters, as they are long accustomed to fearsome storms, floods and earthquakes. But super-typhoon Haiyan, which hit the middle of the archipelago in the beginning of November 2013 was unprecedented. It was one of the strongest storms ever recorded and left widespread damage, claiming over 3500 lives and affecting more than eleven million people. As a result floods and landslides occurred, power lines were cut and roads blocked by debris and fallen trees, agricultural land was damaged and houses were destroyed. Thousands of people had to be evacuated. Copernicus satellites cannot prevent super-storms, but they help to reduce their impact by supporting rescue teams and local authorities at all stages of such a devastating disaster. With the help of satellite- based sea surface temperature measurements the intensity of a storm can be estimated. Furthermore, satellites support storm and storm surge fore- and now-casting. By measuring wind speeds and wave heights, satellites can track the progress of storms. Thus, predictions about their landfall location can be made and people warned. By combining satellite- based soil moisture and digital elevation data, areas at risk of extreme flooding can be identified and evacuated. In the aftermath of a super-storm, the synoptic view of satellites allows high resolution impact assessment for otherwise inaccessible areas. The resulting detailed maps show affected areas and can support first aid and further recovery efforts. Satellite tracks typhoon hitting the Philippines Policy Objectives > European Union External Action (EEAS) > EU Council Regulation on Humanitarian Aid > EU Internal Security Strategy > EU Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) > International Charter Space & Major Disasters LAND MARINE ATMOSPHERE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CLIMATE CHANGE SECURITY ISSUE 42 / DECEMBER 2013