天空中的哨兵 利用空间技术应对灾害[20120918].pdf

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 2 P O L I C Y B R I E FSentries in the SkyUsing Space Technologies for Disaster ResponseBy Will RogersU.S.policymakers can make better use of space technologies to improve disaster warning and response.As Japans March 2011 earthquake,tsunami and nuclear accident demonstrated,the magnitude of some crises can overwhelm even the most advanced ground-based disaster warning and response services.Meanwhile,those charged with disaster response have not yet used space technologies to their full potential.Furthermore,planned budget cuts to ground-based sensors,as well as the technological limitations of existing space-based services,could leave America less prepared to manage future crises.Space technologies offer fruitful avenues for enhancing disaster warning by relying on new modes of data collection that,together with exist-ing capabilities,will help save lives.To illustrate how space systems can improve disaster warning and response,this policy brief analyzes the poten-tial for space technologies to improve the detection of tsunamis.The U.S.government should take several steps to realize that potential:increase fund-ing for government and university research int