19/09/2025
Earth is on the move. 🌏⬇️➡️
Scientists used InSAR (interferometric synthetic aperture radar) technology on satellites to map the movement of the Kamchatka peninsula after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake offshore on July 29. Displacement measures the shifting of the ground toward or away from the satellite when comparing measurements between two images, usually before and after an event.
InSAR data feeds into models that help scientists define exactly where and by how much a fault slips. This information can be used in tsunami forecasting models, and to help emergency response officials identify the most affected areas after an earthquake.
The recently launched NISAR satellite will provide more consistent and frequent displacement maps. This will allow scientists to track earthquakes in heavily forested areas for the first time, as well as landslides and volcanoes.
This could help predict volcanic eruptions, like that of Krasheninnikova. The long-dormant volcano erupted 5 days after the earthquake, but showed displacement after the earthquake, prior to eruption.
https://go.nasa.gov/4pJpqSK