Applications of the COSMO satellite system to Disaster Monitoring

After a short introduction to the COSMO (COnstellation of Small satellites for the Mediterranean basin Observation) system the paper presents and discusses the key results of a study-performed under contract to ESA-concerning the general problem of disaster monitoring and the utilization of COSMO for disaster warning and relief. COSMO's innovative optical and radar features-stressing high ground resolution and very frequent revisits of observed sites-seem well matched to the needs. Two representative disaster monitoring missions were selected to derive instruments and system requirements. These were compared to COSMO technical characteristics outlining which modifications to the baseline would be required to best meet the selected disaster monitoring missions.