Title: Hurricane Mitch
1Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Hurricane Mitch October 1998
2Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Destruction Caused by Hurricane Mitch in Honduras
- Hurricane stalled over the mainland October 29
- 31 1998.
- 7,000 fatalities
- 33,000 homes destroyed
- 95 bridges destroyed
- 70 of road network damaged
3Flooding Caused by Hurricane Mitch
Destroyed housing
Flood-inundated area
Destroyed agriculture
Tributary
Rio Choluteca
4Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Landslides Caused by Hurricane Mitch
5Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
El Berrinche Landslide Scar (looking south)
6Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Cross Section and Lidar Map of El Berrinche
Landslide in Honduras (map view to west)
7Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
- Lidar Light Detection and Ranging
8Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Review of Lidar Principles
- Scanning mirror sweeps laser beam across the
ground - Range to target is determined by measuring time
interval between outgoing and return of reflected
laser pulse - Aircraft position is determined using GPS phase
differencing techniques - Pointing direction of laser determined with
Inertial Measuring Unit (IMU) and recording of
mirror position - Data streams recorded and synchronized to process
9Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Lidar Flight Lines over Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Survey area
Flight lines
10Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Result of Lidar Mapping
- Two-dimensional map of Tegucigalpa, Honduras
- El Berrinche landslide scar shown by black
dotted line - Colors show elevation of land surface in meters
- Map is about 3000 m (3 km) wide by 3200 m (3.2
km) tall.