NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The following photos were taken from NASA's Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Light Detection and Ranging (EAARL) system that has been surveying the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico this week. The aircraft is taking high-resolution observations that can be used to assess the amount of damage to communities and the environment. This activity is being conducted at the request of the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.

While making its observations of the land, the system, carried on a Cessna 310, has the ability to "see" through vegetation, like trees and shrubs, to view the land underneath. Near the coast it can map the beach surface under water. This will help in the recovery of the shoreline infrastructure; determine hazard areas and environmental loss.



Image above: Color infrared image of a large barge tossed up on levee/floodgate south of New Orleans. Credit: NASA

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Image above: Closer in color infrared image of the barge tossed up on levee/floodgate south of New Orleans. Credit: NASA

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Image above: Color Infrared image of an area near Gulfport, Miss. Credit: NASA

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Image above: Color Infrared image of a section of highway displaced by the storm surge near Gulfport, Miss. Credit: NASA

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Image above: Color Infrared image of destroyed bridge on the east side of Biloxi, Miss. Credit: NASA

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Image above: Elevation color coded EAARL digital elevation model showing the barge, levee, and floodgate superimposed on a old U.S. Geological Survey photo. Note how the levee is higher and intact at the top side of the image and how it's much lower at the bottom of the image. Credit: NASA/USGS

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Image above: Three-dimensional prospective of the image above. Credit: NASA/USGS.

For more information on how NASA's science resources help agencies respond to Katrina, click link for a feature article.