The Myanmar Cyclone: Interpreting Satellite Data

Name: _________________________________       Date: _____________

Tropical Cyclone Nargis cut a trail of destruction across the coast of Myanmar (also called Burma) in May, 2008. It was Asia's most deadly disaster since the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Indonesia in December, 2004.

In this Planet Diary activity, you'll compare satellite images taken before and after the powerful storm hit to see its full impact. You'll also explore how changes in the ecology of Myanmar's coastline caused by human activities made damages from the storm even worse.

1. Read the Planet Diary journal entry Toll Climbs from Myanmar Cyclone to learn about the effects of the storm. Summarize the impact of the cyclone along the coast of Myanmar.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Next, you'll visit NASA's Earth Observatory. The satellite image on the top shows Myanmar's Irrawaddy Delta region about two weeks before the cyclone. The lower image shows the same region right after it hit. Read the caption below the pictures. What color shows floodwaters?
   
   
   
   
3. Look closely at the Mouths of the Irrawaddy running through the delta region. How does their appearance change in the two pictures?
   
   
   
   
4. Read the third paragraph of the caption. How many people live in the Yangon (Rangoon) area?
   
   
   
   
5. Compare the area around Yangon in the two photos. Describe how it changed as a result of the cyclone.
   
   
   
   
6. Take a look at the area south of Yangon. Compare the before and after pictures then read the caption. Describe the damages caused by the storm.
   
   
   
   
7. Return to the Planet Diary journal entry on the cyclone. Read the last paragraph. How do mangrove forests protect a coast against violent storms?
   
   
   
   
8. Read this WWF report on Myanmar coast mangroves. Look at the mangrove photo to the left. What does the first sentence say about Myanmar's mangrove forests?
   
   
   
   
9. Scroll to the heading Biodiversity features. Describe the biodiversity of Myanmar's mangroves.
   
   
   
   
10. Scroll further down to Current status. Why are the forests getting chopped down?
    
    
    
    
11. Continue to Types and severity of threats. Describe the main threats to Myanmar's mangroves.