Estimation of surface deformation due to Pasni earthquake using RADAR interferometry

This study analyzed the land deformation associated with Mw 6.3 earthquake along Pasni coast, Pakistan. Post-earthquake widespread surface displacements were found using Sentinel-1 data. Pre, Co and Post-seismic images were used to investigate the deformation trends. Before the earthquake, 89.65% of Pasni land mass showed uplifting from 0.0 to 3.0 cm at 1.00 mm/day while 3.0 cm subsidence was noted in 86.36% of the land mass after the earthquake at 2.5 mm/day. However, two weeks after the earthquake, 72.9% Pasni land mass showed uplifting at an unprecedented rate of 3.3 mm/day. The maximum deformation along the Line Of Sight (LOS) direction in co-seismic time was about -4.0 cm. Azimuthal interferogram showed more complex displacement pattern with both negative and positive displacements between +/- 5.0 cm. Pasni is already facing many problems due to increased sea water intrusion under prevailing climatic changes and land deformation due to strong earthquakes.

Automated summary

The study revealed widespread surface displacements along the Pasni coast after the earthquake, causing both uplifting and subsidence of land. The land showed a trend of uplift before the earthquake, but experienced subsidence after, with a rapid increase in uplifting two weeks post-earthquake.