Estimation of Co-Seismic Surface Deformation Induced by 24 September 2019 Mirpur, Pakistan Earthquake along an Active Blind Fault Using Sentinel-1 TOPS Interferometry

Abstract

Surface deformation caused by an earthquake is very important to study for a better understanding of the development of geological structures and seismic hazards in an active tectonic area. In this study, we estimated the surface deformation due to an earthquake along an active blind fault using Sentinel-1 SAR data. On 24 September 2019, an earthquake with 5.6 Mw and 10 km depth stroke near Mirpur, Pakistan. The Mirpur area was highly affected by this earthquake with a huge collapse and the death of 34 people. This study aims to estimate the surface deformation associated with this earthquake in Mirpur and adjacent areas. The interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) technique was applied to study earthquake-induced surface motion. InSAR data consisting of nine Sentinel-1A SAR images from 11 August 2019 to 22 October 2019 was used to investigate the pre-, co- and post-seismic deformation trends. Time series investigation revealed that there was no significant deformation in the pre-seismic time. In the co-seismic time, strong displacement was observed and in post-seismic results, small displacements were seen due to 4.4 and 3.2 Mw aftershocks. Burst overlap interferometry and offset-tracking analysis were used for more sensitive measurements in the along-track direction. Comprehensive 3D displacement was mapped with the combination of LOS and along-track offset deformation. The major outcome of our results was the confirmation of the existence of a previously unpublished blind fault in Mirpur. Previously, this fault line was triggered during the 2005 earthquake and then it was activated on 24 September 2019. Additionally, we presented the co-seismically induced rockslides and some secondary faulting evidence, most of which occurred along or close to the pre-existing blind faults. The study area already faces many problems due to natural hazards where additional surface deformations, particularly because of the earthquake with activated blind fault, have increased its vulnerability.