The first satellite images from the earthquake in Chile are starting to roll in. Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi, who is currently aboard the International Space Station, has been sending back images today. They’re not high-res, but they’re still quite stunning. In the image below, you can see what appears to be silt and dirt in the water, apparently as a result of the quake.
We’ve put together his three images into a single KMZ file
so you can take a look using Google Earth. I’d expect Google will release some images within the next day or so, but no word on that yet.In the meantime, Google has started putting together some information about the quake. They encourage users to contribute data via Map Maker, and they’ve created a special version of the Person Finder tool to help loved ones locate each other.
In addition, they’ve set up an earthquake relief page, which allows you to easily contribute a donation to the cause.
If you’re aware of other resources we should mention, please leave a comment and let us know.
[UPDATE 28-Feb, 4:54pm EST]
Astronaut Noguchi has sent back another image, this time of Santiago, the capital city of Chile. You can download the KMZ file here
or check out the image below.
Still no word on any official imagery from Google, but I suspect it’s coming soon.
About Mickey Mellen
Mickey has been using Google Earth since it was released in 2005, and has created a variety of geo-related sites including Google Earth Hacks. He runs a web design firm in Marietta, GA, where he lives with his wife and two kids.
Anyone know what happen to the earthquake layer in GE?
John — It can be found under the “Gallery” layer.
In the Concepción photo, you can clearly see the damage to the bridge located at the bottom. A street level photo form the other bridge can be seen here: http://inapcache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/chile_02_27/c18_22414205.jpg
GE now has updated imagery approx 25 cm of post earthquake damage….look at constitucion….cool pictures….you can clearly see the tsunami damage! very cool imagery! Check out the Blue UN helicopter that has landed on a soccer field….
Hi, i’m Chilean, from Concepcion.
I’m using a seismic monitor in Google Earth, that one called “eqs7day-age” (the one connected to the USGS). Anyway, i was playing with it thinking “now i need an aftershock so i would know how much it takes to update an earthquake”, you know, so i would know when a tsunami is near.
All this was in a period o f around one minute, i was watching the “last earthquake” (less than an hour), pretty close from here. Because the hour is UTC i didn’t realize, but was almost time for it, when the ground started to shake…..
where am i going with all this? i could ACTUALLY SEE the tremor BEFORE I FELT IT!!
Now, is there some way to make THAT ADDON sound an alarm or something like that, customizable or whatever, whenever there is a tremor stronger tan 7 less than 500km away?
It could be an earthquake alarm, that would be awesome by itself, but i’m happy if it just sounds when an aftershock is coming, with intensity proportional to the intensity of the tremor…
Do you know of some way to do that? Or someone who could know?
I must say that i would be THE BEST ADDON for everyone in Chile if it could do that.
Anyway, great blog, keep up the good work!
Would love to see some images from “Google Earth” of the erupting volcano on Iceland.
The earthquake is so powerful that it shortened the day by 1.26 microseconds.
The world will not end in 2012, take better care of the environment and maybe we will still have one…
Who would have guessed that Google Earth would be used like this. Love the diversity.
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i love using this site and google earth is a great tool.
I’m using a seismic monitor in Google Earth
Me too rev, I love Google Earth!
I loves seismic monitors, they make me realise the truth!