Satellite photos of Japan, before and after the earthquake and tsunami

Aerial photos taken over Japan have revealed the scale of devastation across the country.

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This satellite image provided by GeoEye shows the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Thursday. Japan reached out Friday to the U.S. for help in stabilizing its overheated, radiation-leaking nuclear complex, while the U.N. atomic energy chief called the disaster a race against the clock that demands global cooperation.

/ AP

This GeoEye satellite image from March 16 shows damage after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami at the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant in Japan. Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated from a broad area around the Fukushima plant, located 155 miles northeast of Tokyo.

/ AFP/Getty Images

This satellite image of the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant in Japan, taken by DigitalGlobe on March 17, shows damage to the Units 1, 3, and 4 reactor buildings. Steam can be seen venting from the Unit 2 reactor and Unit 3 reactor buildings. Additional damage can be seen to several other buildings about 400 yards north of the Unit 2 reactor building.

DigitalGlobe / Reuters

This one-meter resolution satellite image of Fukushima Daiichii Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, right, was taken one day after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Oshika Peninsula on March 11. According to news reports, this is the largest earthquake to hit Japan in recorded history. Analysts believe the powerful earthquake moved Japan's main island eight feet, shifted the Earth on its axis four inches and unleashed a devastating tsunami. The image shows extensive destruction to buildings, vehicles and infrastructure. Entire regions have been flooded, swept away or reduced to ruin. The image was taken by GeoEye's IKONOS satellite at 10:36 a.m. (local time) on March 12 from 423 miles in space. The image on the left is a satellite images of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant taken by the GeoEye-1 satellite on November 15, 2009.

GeoEye satellite image / Reuters

These GeoEye satellite images released March 13, 2011 show a one-meter resolution satellite image(RIGHT) of Sendai, Japan, taken one day after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Oshika Peninsula on March 11, 2011. The before image (LEFT) is a half-meter resolution satellite image of Sendai, Japan taken by the GeoEye-1 satellite on November 15, 2009 showing the same area.

GeoEye satellite image / AFP/Getty Images

In this combination photo made up of two satellite images, Fujitsuka in Sendai, Japan, is seen in 2008, top, and after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

/ Google via Bloomberg

In this combination photo made up of two satellite images, Arahama in Sendai, Japan, is seen in 2008, top, and after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

/ Google via Bloomberg

These GeoEye satellite images released March 13, 2011 show a pre earthquake image (Left) of Natori, Japan, and post (right) taken one day after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Oshika Peninsula on March 11, 2011.

GeoEye satellite image / AFP/Getty Images

This combination photo made up of two satellite images shows Yuriage in Natori, Japan, in 2008, top, and after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

/ Google via Bloomberg

This combination photo made up of two satellite images shows Yuriage in Natori, Japan, in 2008, top, and after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

/ Google via Bloomberg

This combination photo made up of two satellite images shows Kashima in Minamisoma, Japan, in 2003, top, and after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

/ Google via Bloomberg

This combination photo made up of two satellite images shows Yagawahama in Miyagi, Japan, in 2007, top, and after the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

/ Google via Bloomberg

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