For more than three decades, UIG contributing partner PlanetObserver has been producing high-quality satellite imagery and geospatial data. PlanetObserver’s collection features satellite imagery of continents, countries with and without borders, major cities, prominent rivers, lakes, geologic places of interest, mountain ranges, and more.
Based in France, PlanetObserver specializes in the processing and production of high value-added geospatial data. In addition to producing high-quality satellite images, the Company thrives on developing innovative products that enhance the visual and technological performance of their clients’ projects and solutions in the Defense, Aerospace, Mapping, and other industries.
PlanetObserver offers UIG and its customers the ability to create satellite images of any location on Earth, upon request. This service has allowed UIG to deliver images of difficult-to-find subjects as well as providing up-to-date satellite images of requested locations.
Recently, Planet Observer began comparing identical views of satellite images from twenty or more years ago with contemporary views. These comparison images provide insights into the environmental impacts growing cities, deforestation, melting glaciers, desertification, mining expansion, and climate change have had on our planet. Some of those comparison images are featured here.
Color satellite image of Malaspina Glacier, Alaska in 1986 and 2022, showing how the glacier has been melting over the years. 
Color satellite image of Upsala Glacier in ArgentinaâÂs Los Glaciares National Park in 2001 and 2021. It has experienced significant retreat over the past century. Its melting indicates climate warming in this part of South America. 
Color satellite image of Dongtai Salt Lakes, Qinghai, China in 1986 and 2022. This before/after image shows how the site has been turned into a lithium brine extraction site with evaporation ponds. 
Color satellite image of the shrinking of the Aral Sea between 1986 and 2022. 
Color satellite image of intensive farming in Almeria, Spain between 1986 and 2022. The images show how the “plastic sea” formed by greenhouses has expanded. 
Color satellite image of the Wadi As-Sirhan Basin, Saudi Arabia in 1984 and 2022, showing how agricultural activity has developed in the midst of a barren desert. The fields are irrigated by water pumped from underground aquifers. That water is distributed in rotation about a center point within a circular field—a technique known as center-pivot agriculture. 
Color satellite image of San Julian settlements and deforestation in Bolivia in 1984 and 2022. 
Color satellite image of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia in 1988 and 2020. 
Color satellite image of deforestation in Rondonia, Brazil in 1984 and 2022. 
Color satellite image of Las Vegas, Nevada in 1984 and 2022. 
Color satellite image of Longyangxia Dam Reservoir in 1987 and Longyangxia Dam Solar Park in 2022 that has rapidly grown north of the reservoir. The site is in ChinaâÂs western province of Qinghai. 
Color satellite image of the shrinking of the Aral Sea in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020. 
Color satellite image of Lagos, Nigeria in 1984 and 2022. 
Color satellite image of the Yangtze River in 1987 and 2022, before and after the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. The dam is located in the Hubei province in central China. 
Color satellite image of North Antelope Rochelle Mine in 1984 and 2022. Located in Campbell County, Wyoming, USA, it is the largest coal mine in the world. 
Color satellite image of coal mines in Southern West Virginia, USA in 1984 and 2022. 
Color satellite image of Fort McKay, Alberta, Canada in 1984 and 2022, before and after tar sands, or oil sands, exploitation. 
Color satellite image of Lob Nor in 1987 and 2020. 
Color satellite image of Chuquicatama copper mine in Chile in 1985 and 2023. Chuquicamata, also called Chuqui is the largest open pit copper mine in terms of excavated volume in the world. 
Color satellite image of oil palm plantation in North Sumatra in 1989 and 2021. 
Color satellite image of Cairo, Egypt in 1984 and 2022. The image from 2022 includes the newly built Cairo City. 
Color satellite image of Columbia glacier in 1986 and 2022. 
Color satellite image of Shanghai, China in 1987 and 2022.
All images in this post are copyrighted to PlanetObserver and are represented by UIG. All images featured in this post and on Kaleidoscope are available for licensing. Please contact us at info@universalimagesgroup.com
Sources:
Planet Observer https://www.planetobserver.com/