- After the 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco, satellites mapped Morocco.
- The information to be collected is vital for response teams trying to reach earthquake-affected towns and villages in the High Atlas mountains.
The resulting map and sharp orbital images will show where infrastructure is most affected. Aid workers who have to deal with landslides will be able to avoid routes that may hinder them, thanks to space images.
In addition to traditional visual data obtained from satellites, other types of analysis are becoming available. The resulting maps reveal how the ground was shaken by the energy released on the day of the earthquake.
The European Union’s Sentinel-1a satellite observed the ground at around 06.30 on Monday, passing from north to south over Morocco at an altitude of 700 km. Sentinel carries a radar device that can detect the ground in all weather conditions, day and night. The satellite regularly scans earthquake-prone areas of the world and tracks even small elevation changes on surfaces.
Researchers use interferometry to compare “before” and “after” views. According to this method, blue colors on the map show the upward movement of the ground. Sentinel perceives this as a shortening of the distance between itself and the surface. The yellow/orange colors show that the ground has fallen since the previous time the European spacecraft measured the distance.
According to the satellite, the largest upward movement is 15 cm. The maximum drop is approximately 10 cm. However, these are not exact elevation changes because Sentinel is looking at the ground from a certain angle. For this reason, the maximum vertical deformations on the surface may be slightly larger.
Scientists will use an interferometric analysis like this to try to understand the earthquake and future hazard risks. Recently, British scientists rejoined the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation system, which will allow them to once again take leadership roles in the development of satellites such as Sentinel-1.
Compiled by: Damla Şayan
