A serious medicane in September 2023 caused comprehensive flooding and displacement in northeasternLibya Satellite images post-disaster exposed prevalent power blackouts, particularly in Derna and Al Bayda, with continuous healing efforts.
Cities and towns darkened after a cyclone let loose torrential flooding along the nation’s coast.
On September 10, 2023, an effective storm brought heavy rain to northeastern Libya, triggering considerable death and destruction to cities along the coast. Data from satellites reveal that after the storm, lots of neighborhoods in the area had actually lost electrical power.
The storm– a Mediterranean hurricane-like system referred to as a medicane– brought 414 millimeters (16 inches) of rain to the city of AlBayda Nearby, the port city of Derna got more than 100 millimeters (4 inches)– far going beyond the city’s typical month-to-month rains for September of less than 1.5 millimeters (0.1 inches).
Flash floods swept away roadways and whole communities, displacing around 40,000 individuals throughout the nation. Preliminary approximates by the United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT) show that about 10,000 structures were harmed by floodwater, although evaluation of the damage was still continuous since September22 Infrastructure damage caused power blackouts, which can be seen in satellite images gotten during the night.
Satellite map of light given off from Libya on September 8, 2023– prior to the storm.
Satellite map of light given off from Libya on September 13, 2023– after the storm.
The maps above reveal the quantity of light given off from impacted neighborhoods in northeastern Libya prior to and after the storm and the peak of the torrential flooding. The upper map reveals the location on September 8, 2023; the lower map reveals the exact same location on September 13, 3 days after the storm made landfall.
“There was a substantial loss of power evident in the vicinity of Derna and Al Bayda in the September 13 image when compared to the baseline image,” stated Ranjay Shrestha of < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>NASA</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Established in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government that succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). It is responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Its vision is "To discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity." Its core values are "safety, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and inclusion." NASA conducts research, develops technology and launches missions to explore and study Earth, the solar system, and the universe beyond. It also works to advance the state of knowledge in a wide range of scientific fields, including Earth and space science, planetary science, astrophysics, and heliophysics, and it collaborates with private companies and international partners to achieve its goals.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" > NASA‘sBlackMarble science group.The maps originated from theBlackMarble HD item, supplied byShrestha andZhuosenWang, a primary private investigator on the science group, and are based upon information from theVisibleInfraredImagingRadiometerSuite( VIIRS) sensing unit on the NASA- < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>NOAA</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States government that is focused on understanding and predicting changes in Earth's oceans, atmosphere, and climate. It is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland and is a part of the Department of Commerce. NOAA conducts research and provides information, products, and services that are used to protect life and property, and to support economic growth and development. It also works to conserve and manage natural resources, including fisheries, wildlife, and habitats. Some of the specific activities that NOAA is involved in include weather forecasting, climate monitoring, marine biology and fisheries research, and satellite and remote sensing.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" > NOAA (******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** )NPP satellite. The basemap was developed from information gathered byLandsat 8 andLandsat 9 satellites.
Derna was ravaged by the storm.Flooding in the city caused the collapse of 2 dams along a generally dry riverbed, or wadi.(****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** )dam failures let loose 3- to 7-meter-high floodwater that tore through the city, sweeping roadways and structures out to sea.
The city ended up being considerably darker after the storm hit. In a current report, UNOSAT recorded modifications in Derna’s brightness. UNOSAT utilizes Black Marble nighttime light items to support ground groups in catastrophe reaction.
Satellite map of light given off from Derna Libya on September 8, 13, and 18, 2023.
Some neighborhoods near Derna went 4 days without electrical power, according to NPR reporting. But by September 18, 2023, the brightness of outside lighting in Derna was approaching pre-storm levels. “There’s a lot more recovery compared to the September 13 image,” statedShrestha “However, there are still pockets of areas, particularly in the outskirts of the Al Bayda area, where recovery seems ongoing.”
Raw, unprocessed pictures of night lights can be deceptive since moonlight, clouds, air contamination, snow cover, seasonal plants, and even the position of the satellite, can alter how light is shown. The Black Marble science group processes the information to represent these elements.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, utilizing Black Marble information thanks to Ranjay Shrestha and Zhuosen Wang/ NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Landsat information from the U.S. Geological Survey, and information from OpenStreetMap.
