Unusual Discoveries Made Through Satellite Imagery and Their Impact on Science
Unusual discoveries include invasive plant species, the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan, the Van Allen radiation belts, and migrating animals’ routes in Wyoming.
According to Statista, approximately 9,115 active satellites orbited the Earth in 2023, up 35% from 2022. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs reported that 11,330 individual satellites were orbiting the planet at the end of June 2023, representing an almost 38% increase since January 2022. Some of these satellites have captured unusual, even fascinating, things that have had a profound impact on science.
Invasive species
Biodiversity is at an all-time low in 2024, just as the human population is at an all-time high. Since 1970, wildlife populations have declined by around 70%. Most of the decline is due to human activity, but an exciting exception was discovered on the Galapagos Islands. The Darwin Foundation reported that invasive species like Cuban cedar, the quinine tree, guava, and blackberry threaten indigenous plants.
Researchers with the foundation are analyzing images donated by Maxar, a commercial satellite company, in collaboration with Brown University. Their spacecraft network captures photos in a broad light spectrum, including infrared. These images help characterize specific species by identifying varying chlorophyll concentrations in plants.
By combining data from low-flying drones with data from the images, researchers developed a computer model that looks at satellite images and finds invasive plants. They have created maps of guava, blackberry, and other dominant invasive plants on Santa Cruz Island and in the humid zone of the Galapagos Islands.
The Gates of Hell
The Darvaza gas crater in Turkmenistan, also known as the “Gates of Hell,” is one of the highlights on this list of creepy Google Earth coordinates. It is located in the middle of the Karakum Desert and looks like a colossal crater spewing flames.
The history of the fiery crater began back in 1971. It’s unclear how it formed, with some theorizing that Soviet geologists set it ablaze after a drilling accident to burn off natural gas escaping from a reservoir. It is a sight to behold. Unsurprisingly, it has become a major tourist site, attracting around 10,000 visitors a year.
The flames illuminate the sky at night, with temperatures reaching up to 1,000 degrees Celsius. The waste of natural gas and environmental concerns have led Turkmenistan’s government to consider putting the fire out, but these plans haven’t been realized.
The Van Allen radiation belts
The Explorer 1 satellite discovered the Van Allen radiation belts in 1958. These two zones of energy particles are trapped in and influenced by the Earth’s magnetic field. The discovery gave scientists insight into space weather and its effects on astronauts and satellites, ultimately leading to safer space travel and better spacecraft design.
Migrating animals
Big game species such as wild sheep, elk, deer, antelope, and mountain goats bring a lot of hunting revenue to the US economy. In Wyoming, mule deer herds have dropped by 40% over a decade in regions with booming oil and gas extraction. Shrinking herds reduce biodiversity and hunting revenue.
Smithsonian reports that advancements in satellite tracking have made it possible to locate animals with high frequency and precision. Scientists set up geo-fences, and when a group of animals leaves the borders, a notification is sent out.
Most herds go to the same summer ranges and return to the same winter ranges every year, and conservation efforts are facilitated through knowledge of the routes. According to data from Wyoming University, thousands of pronghorn traverse a route that passes through Pinedale, a small town nestled between two large peaks in a valley. Preventing private land development there is critical to the herds’ unobstructed flow.
Final thoughts
A bird’s eye view can expand people’s knowledge of the world and their place in it. The value of the commercial satellite imaging market is over $5 billion in 2024. It is expected to reach $8.82 billion in the next five years, growing by 11.84% a year on average during the forecast period. It’s only a matter of time before other unusual discoveries emerge.
Cover : Photo by Samson Katt: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-couple-with-map-on-smartphone-5226497/
