Pakistan Earthquake Study Using Sentinel-1 Tops Interferometry

Surface deformation caused by an earthquake is crucial for a better understanding of the development of geological structures and seismic hazards in an active tectonic area. On September 24, 2019, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 Mw and a depth of 10 km struck Mirpur, Pakistan, causing significant damage. The study area is already facing numerous problems due to natural hazards, and the additional surface deformations caused by this earthquake have further increased its vulnerability. The objective of this study was to estimate the surface deformation associated with the earthquake. InSAR analysis was applied to 10 Sentinel-1A SAR images captured between July 30, 2019, and October 22, 2019, resulting in the generation of 7 interferograms that provided information on ground displacement caused by the earthquake. The estimated deformation range showed approximately -8 cm of subsidence and a 20 cm uplift of the surface along the line of sight (LOS). Vertical deformation was also estimated to range from -3 cm to 17 cm.