Hurricane Mitch

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Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Hurricane Mitch October 1998
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Using 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

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Flooding Caused by Hurricane Mitch
Destroyed housing
Flood-inundated area
Destroyed agriculture
Tributary
Rio Choluteca
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Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Landslides Caused by Hurricane Mitch
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Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
El Berrinche Landslide Scar (looking south)
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Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Cross Section and Lidar Map of El Berrinche
Landslide in Honduras (map view to west)
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Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science

• Lidar Light Detection and Ranging

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Using 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

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Using Natural Disasters to Teach Science
Lidar Flight Lines over Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Survey area
Flight lines
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Using 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.