Natural Disasters in Caucasus Mountains from the International Space Station

Abstract

Uragan space experiment on board the International Space Station is dedicated to monitor the environment and natural disasters. It started in 2001. Institute of Geography is the leading scientific organization of the program. Its researchers accept the applications for the survey, develop the program of the research, teach the cosmonauts. They also are engaged in acquisition and quick processing of the incoming images, their geographic connection, immediate transfer of the significant information, and cataloging. Today the collection of the images is nearing the 600 thousand items. In the paper we present two case studies of natural disasters in the mountains, giving an example in support of the very high urgency of the program.