The role of Radio science in disaster management

Recent major natural disasters have brought a greater awareness of the social and economic deprivations that follow global emergencies. Among other organizations, URSI (International Union of Radio Science) is assessing its contribution, past and future, to the mitigation of natural and human-induced hazards. This paper summarizes the way in which radio science has contributed to lessening the impact of disasters, both in the past and future. Its objective is to encourage all radio scientists to think how they can contribute further to alleviate the impact of disasters.