14. February 2023
Evaluation of satellite data after the earthquake

Land sur­face has been dis­placed by up to six me­tres

Changes to the land surface
Changes to the land sur­face
Credit: © DLR (contains Copernicus data, DLR, ESA, GEP, Terradue)

Changes to the land surface

Eval­u­a­tion of satel­lite da­ta re­veals the land sur­face dis­place­ments caused by the se­vere earth­quakes in Turkey and Syr­ia. The blue ar­eas rep­re­sent move­ment in an east­er­ly di­rec­tion, and the red ar­eas rep­re­sent move­ment in a west­er­ly di­rec­tion.
  • Researchers have analysed and visualised data from the European radar satellite Sentinel-1
  • Geological movements in the earthquake-affected areas in Turkey and Syria have been accurately recorded by satellites
  • Focus: Earth observation, space, security, disaster response

Satellite images have revealed how the land has shifted as a result of the severe earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. According to an analysis by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), this shift amounts to up to six metres in some places. The researchers analysed and visualised data from the European Sentinel-1 radar satellite. Fractures can be seen on the surface over a length of approximately 250 kilometres.

The larger fracture in the south is a result of the main earthquake that occurred in the early morning hours on 6 February 2023. The second fracture, which lies to the north of the first, was caused by the severe 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.

Changes to the land surface (Overview)
Changes to the land surface (Overview)
Evaluation of satellite data reveals the land surface displacements caused by the severe earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The blue areas represent movement in an easterly direction, and the red areas represent movement in a westerly direction. Cyprus can be seen in the bottom left of the image.
Credit: © DLR (contains Copernicus data, DLR, ESA, GEP, Terradue)

Both regions in which the earthquakes took place belong geologically to the Eastern Anatolian Fault, where the Anatolian and Arabian plates collide. This creates stresses in Earth's crust, which were released during the earthquakes. The resulting movements were precisely recorded by satellites. For the analysis, researchers at the DLR Earth Observation Center compared images acquired on 29 January and 10 February 2023.

The Sentinel-1 radar satellite is part of the Sentinel satellite fleet of the European Copernicus Earth observation programme. Satellite-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) transmits radar signals towards Earth's surface and uses the reflections to provide images during day or night and under any weather conditions. SAR uses the propagation times of the signals to perform highly accurate measurements of the distance from the satellite to Earth's surface.

DLR supports emergency responders in Turkey

In the first week following the earthquakes, two researchers from the DLR Institute of Optical Sensor Systems were on site in Turkey with a team from I.S.A.R. Germany. DLR provided the new Modular Aerial Camera System (MACS) to assist with situational awareness on the ground. Installed on a high-tech drone from Quantum, the camera system flew over severely affected regions and sent the acquired aerial images in map form directly to the United Nations (UN) Coordination and Management System (ICMS).

At DLR, the Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information (ZKI) also analyses satellite images and processes them into digital maps and other products. This situational information is passed on to responders on the ground. The ZKI is part of the Earth Observation Center in Oberpfaffenhofen.

Contact
  • Katja Lenz
    Ed­i­tor
    Ger­man Aerospace Cen­ter (DLR)

    Cor­po­rate Com­mu­ni­ca­tions
    Telephone: +49 2203 601-5401
    Linder Höhe
    51147 Cologne
    Contact
  • Ramon Brcic
    Ger­man Aerospace Cen­ter (DLR)
    Re­mote Sens­ing Tech­nol­o­gy In­sti­tute (IMF)
    SAR Sig­nal Pro­cess­ing
    Münchener Straße 20
    82234 Weßling
    Contact
  • Christian Minet
    Ger­man Aerospace Cen­ter (DLR)
    Re­mote Sens­ing Tech­nol­o­gy In­sti­tute (IMF)
    SAR Sig­nal Pro­cess­ing
    Münchener Straße 20
    82234 Weßling
    Contact
Newsletter

Newslet­ter

Stay up to date and sub­scribe to the DLR newslet­ter with ar­ti­cles from the DLR ed­i­to­ri­al team in Ger­man and En­glish.

Main menu