Beirut Explosion Impacts Evident in NASA's Map Created Using Satellites

The blast that resulted in the death of 157 people happened due to the explosion of 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate.

NASA mapped beirut
NASA's ARIA team, in collaboration with the Earth Observatory of Singapore, used satellite data to map the extent of likely damage following a massive explosion in Beirut. Dark red pixels represent the most severe damage. Areas in orange are moderately damaged, and areas in yellow are likely to have sustained somewhat less damage. Each colored pixel represents an area of 30 meters (33 yards). The map contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data processed by ESA (European Space Agency) and analyzed by ARIA team scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech, and Earth Observatory of Singapore. Based in Pasadena, California, Caltech manages JPL for NASA NASA

It was on August 04, 2020, that a massive explosion in Beirut port killed 157 people and injured more than 5,000. The video of the powerful explosion had gone viral on the internet, and it is now widely considered the most lethal blast ever caught on camera. Now, NASA, the United States space agency, has successfully mapped the Beirut explosion using data obtained from the European Space Agency's Copernicus Sentinel satellites.

NASA's Map Sheds Light on Ultimate Devastation

The new map is being prepared by the Advanced Rapid Imaging and Analysis (ARIA) team at the space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech, in collaboration with the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

NASA, in a recent statement, revealed that such maps will help to understand the overall impact of the deadly explosion, and could also identify badly damaged areas where people are in need of any kind of assistance.

The space agency has prepared this map using three different colors. The areas marked in red are the most affected, and it might in these areas that people may need assistance. Areas marked in orange are moderately damaged, while yellow areas might have sustained less damage.

"Synthetic aperture radar data from space shows ground surface changes from before and after a major event like an earthquake. In this case, it is being used to show the devastating result of an explosion," wrote NASA in a recent statement.

A Risk Known for 13 Years

The huge stockpile of the fertilizers that exploded in Beirut was known as a risk for at least seven years. According to a report published in New York Post, 2,750 metric tons of the ammonium nitrate, most commonly used for terror attacks unexpectedly reached Beirut in 2013. The complete cargo was actually going to Mozambique, but the MV Rhosus, which was owned by a Russian man named Igor Grechushkin, halted its journey, as the businessman went bankrupt.

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