GIS in Climate Action

Geospatials

Geospatial play a huge role in understanding, monitoring, and mitigating climate change. These applications involve the use of tools and technologies like Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, satellite imagery, and spatial data analysis to visualize and analyze climate-related phenomena across time and space.

Here’s a breakdown of how geospatial tech is used in climate change efforts:

🌍 1. Climate Monitoring & Modeling

• Satellite remote sensing (e.g., NASA's MODIS, ESA's Sentinel satellites) collects data on land surface temperatures, cloud cover, CO₂ levels, and more.
• Climate models use this geospatial data to simulate future scenarios and predict long-term trends like temperature rise, sea-level changes, and ice melt.

🛰️ 2. Deforestation & Land Use Change

• Monitoring tropical deforestation (Amazon, Congo, SE Asia) using tools like Global Forest Watch.
• Tracking land degradation and desertification trends (e.g., in the Sahel).
• GIS can compare historical land use changes over decades to quantify impacts.

🌪️ 3. Disaster Risk Assessment

• Flood mapping and early warning systems use elevation models and rainfall data to predict flood zones.
• Heat maps help identify urban heat islands, guiding city planning.
• Cyclone and wildfire tracking integrates real-time satellite feeds with predictive models.

🧊 4. Cryosphere Studies

• Monitoring glacial retreat and ice sheet loss in the Arctic and Antarctic using satellite imagery.
• Mapping permafrost degradation and its greenhouse gas implications.

🌊 5. Sea Level Rise & Coastal Erosion

• GIS-based models predict areas at risk from sea level rise.
• Mapping coastal erosion helps in urban planning and relocation strategies.

🌱 6. Carbon Mapping & Sequestration

• Estimating carbon stored in forests, soil, and wetlands using LIDAR and multispectral imagery.
• Tracking carbon emissions from agriculture, transportation, and industry.

📈 7. Policy & Planning Support

• Governments and NGOs use spatial data to make climate-resilient decisions—like where to build green infrastructure or relocate communities.
• Tools like ArcGIS or QGIS help visualize vulnerability maps, emission sources, or climate impact zones.