Priorities in Designing Earth Observation Satellites for Turkey's Natural Resources Potential and Disaster Mitigation

Earth observation phenomena include monitoring of disasters originated from tectonic movements. Detecting land cover and climatic changes, the studies of atmosphere, biodiversity, oceans, ecosystems and land management processes are the other important application areas of earth science and environmental earth observation programs. Nowadays, remote sensing satellites are also vital important determining ore mineral zones. Natural resources which are also hosted oil/gas occurrences and water are exposed to surface of the Earth due to harsh climatic conditions and remarkably tectonic movements. These internal and external processes shaping the landforms of Earth have been active since hundreds of millions years geologically. Turkey falls in an important location geographically for such studies since its location on Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt and geologic evolution for hundreds of millions years. On the other hand, many countries are aware of requirements of gradually increased alternative energy sources like hydrogen. As is well known, boron minerals can be used as an energy carrier and stored sun energy easily. Turkey has an approximately 63 % of total world boron reserve in Western Anatolia. Multi and hyperspectral imaging methods detect these mineral occurrences with the aid of narrow and contiguous band wavelengths of electromagnetic spectrum. Furthermore, geothermal features which can be monitored using thermal sensors mounted on satellites should also be taken into consideration in Turkey’s remote sensing policy. Western Anatolia and Thrace regions include these important natural resources along active fault structures such as Gediz and Menderes grabens. On the other hand, stereoscopic viewing capability of backward and nadir telescopes similar to ASTER passive sensor can produce digital elevation models allowing to expose these important economic and structural zones considerably Designing small satellite and/or spectral ranges of passive sensors according to Turkey’s priority is a vital issue. One of the most important priorities of Turkey’s remote sensing policy should be the monitoring of tectonic movements driven by African and Eurasian plates caused huge amount of loss of life and property. With launching BILSAT satellite in 2002, initial attempt in earth observational effort has been completed successfully. But usefulness and evaluation of Turkey’s natural source potential which may be determined by remote sensing efforts should also be taken into consideration.