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Analysing the Impact of Natural Hazards with Remote Sensing Techniques
Natural hazards, from earthquakes and floods to typhoons and tsunamis, have always posed significant threats to landscapes and human settlements around the world. These hazards are often unpredictable and powerful, which can reshape entire regions within a short period of time. The impact of such hazards is not just immediate but also long-lasting, which can change the natural topography, vegetation cover, and hydrological patterns of the affected areas.
Japan is one of the countries with the highest natural hazards frequency in the world. Despite its relatively small size, Japan experiences numerous landslides and debris flow disasters, often triggered by intense rainfall and earthquakes. Locals have historically named these occurrences with terms like “januke” (蛇抜, the runoff of the kingsnake), “yamatsunami” (山津波, mountain tsunami), and “yamashio” (山潮, mountain tide). These names serve as reminders of the hazards’ potential for destruction.
In July 2018, Typhoon Prapiroon hit the Asia-Pacific region, leading to serious damages to Japan and South Korea. In the period from June 28 to July 8, 2018, an extraordinary amount of rainfall occurred over wide areas of Japan. Some areas recorded precipitation levels that were two to four times the typical monthly average for July. The impact was particularly…