MOSCOW. Aug 5 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia has fewer satellites than it needs to monitor fires effectively, Nina Novikova, the head of the Russian Space Systems' monitoring research center, told Interfax-AVN.
"We lack information because our monitoring satellite constellation is rather narrow. Satellites must fly with greater periodicity over fire-stricken areas. If the earth is blanketed by clouds, radar information is needed to understand what is going on. Russia has no radar satellites of its own yet," she said
The Russian orbital constellation has only two monitoring satellites - Resurs-DKL, whose three-year service life has expired, and the Meteor-M 1 weather monitoring satellite operating with a resolution of 50 and 100 meters, Novikova said.
"If the view is not shielded by clouds, fires can be vividly seen from these satellites. This information allows experts to assess the burnt area and the smoke plumes," she said.
The data obtained is provided to various agencies, including the Emergency Situations Ministry and the hydrometeorological service Roshydromet, she added.
Russia also uses information from foreign satellites, including the American satellite Terra, which takes images of the earth, including fire-stricken areas, with a resolution of 250 meters, she said.
The United States and the European Union have dozens of monitoring satellites. "But in emergencies they need more information and request information from foreign satellites, Novikova said.