NASA maps damage from strong earthquake in Turkey

NASA used satellite data to map the extent of damage caused by the devastating earthquake in southern Turkey.

Earthquakes measuring 7.8 and 7.5 on the Richter scale struck Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023, causing significant destruction in both countries. They originate from a fault line 18 km deep underground, creating intense tremors that affect areas hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter, according to new data shared by NASA on February 10.

Satellite map of earthquake damage in southern Turkey.

Satellite map of earthquake damage in southern Turkey. (Photo: NASA).

“These are very large and powerful earthquakes, disrupting the entire surface over a series of long fault segments.”said geophysicist Eric Fielding of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “This created extremely strong shaking over a very large area, hitting many densely populated towns and villages. The duration and intensity of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake was similar to the previous year’s earthquake. 1906 devastated San Francisco.”

Immediately after news of the disaster spread, NASA scientists and space agencies around the world immediately collected, processed and analyzed satellite data related to the incident.

Map of earthquake damage in Türkoğlu, Kahramanmaraş and Nurdaği.

Map of earthquake damage in Türkoğlu, Kahramanmaraş and Nurdaği. (Photo: NASA)

The preliminary damage map above shows parts of the Turkish towns of Türkoğlu, Kahramanmaraş and Nurdaği, with dark red pixels indicating areas where homes and facilities were damaged. Infrastructure is severely damaged or the landscape is altered, while orange and yellow zones are moderately or partially damaged. devastated. Each pixel measures approximately 30 m, which is equivalent to the area of ​​a baseball field.

The map is created from data provided by PALSAR-2 device above Advanced ground observation satellite ALOS-2 Collected February 8, 2023. The satellite carries synthetic aperture radar, a sensor that sends microwave pulses toward the Earth’s surface and listens for reflections of those waves to map the landscape. By comparing the data from February 8 with observations from the same satellite before the earthquake (April 7, 2021 and April 6, 2022), scientists were able to see changes and identify damaged areas.

ALOS-2 data is provided by Sentinel Asia (an international collaborative project to apply remote sensing and Web-GIS technology to support disaster management in the Asia-Pacific region) and is analyzed in a coordinated manner by the Singapore Remote Sensing Laboratory Earth Observatory and NASA’s Jet Propulsion. Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology.

“The map shows only the central part of the area affected by ALOS-2 using a 70 km narrow-beam data swath, but it includes the epicenters of the main magnitude 7.8 earthquake and aftershocks.”Fielding said.

Damage maps and satellite data are shared with organizations such as the US State Department, the Miyamoto Global Disaster Relief Agency and the World Bank. The NASA team also participates in ongoing coordination programs hosted by the U.S. Agency for International Development to contribute scientific expertise needed for recovery efforts. When new data becomes available, the NASA team will update the map in real time.

“We are closely monitoring this event. In addition to mapping satellite damage, we are using satellites to monitor increased risks of landslides, power outages and extreme weather that could pose challenges to efforts intervention.”added Shanna McClain, Partnership Program Manager.

Article source: VnExpress