Satellite imagery has revealed ground displacements of up to six meters due to severe earthquakes occurred in Turkey y Syriawith fractured terrain for about 250 kilometers.
The analysis was conducted by researchers at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which analyzed and visualized data from the European radar satellite Sentinel-1.
From space
In the image above, the larger fracture, in the south of the affected area, is a consequence of the main earthquake that occurred in the early morning of February 6, 2023. The second fracture, which is north of the first, was caused by the strong aftershock that occurred during the morning of the same day. The blue areas represent movement in an easterly direction, and the red areas represent movement in a westerly direction, DLR reports in a statement.
Both regions where the earthquakes occurred belong geologically to the East Anatolian Fault, where the Anatolian and Arabian plates collide. This creates stresses in the earth’s crust, which were released during the earthquakes. The resulting movements were accurately recorded by satellites. For the analysis, researchers at the Earth Observation Center of the DLR compared images acquired on January 29 and February 10, 2023.
The radar satellite Sentinel-1 is part of the Sentinel satellite fleet of the European Copernicus Earth observation program. Satellite-based synthetic aperture radar (SAR) transmits radar signals to the Earth’s surface and uses reflections to provide images day or night and in all weather conditions. SAR uses the propagation times of the signals to make very accurate measurements of the distance between the satellite and the Earth’s surface.
In the first week after the earthquakes, two researchers from the Institute of Optical Sensing Systems at the DLR moved to Turkey with an I.S.A.R. team from Germany. The DLR provided the new Modular Aerial Camera System (MACS) to help gain situational awareness on the ground. Installed on a high-tech Quantum drone, the camera system flew over severely affected regions and sent the acquired aerial imagery in map form directly to the United Nations Coordination and Management System (ICMS).
In the DLRthe Satellite Crisis Information Center (ZKI) also analyzes satellite imagery and processes it into digital maps and other products. This situation information is transmitted to the response teams on the ground. (Europa Press)
We recommend METADATARPP’s technology podcast. News, analysis, reviews, recommendations and everything you need to know about the technological world.
