Earth's Surfaces Shifts During Deadly Myanmar Earthquake-ESA Revealed

 Earth's Surfaces Shifts During Deadly Myanmar Earthquake-ESA Revealed 

The European Space Agency's (ESA) 

Earth-observing satellites reveal measurable ground shift in central Myanmar after the devastating earthquakes that ravaged the area in March 2025.

The European Space Agency's(ESA) Copernicus Sentinel 1A satellite captured radar images of the Myanmar by chance just one day before a deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28. One another The Sentinel-1C satellite passed the same site a few days later, capturing the aftermath of this deadly seismic event.

"Using satellite radar images, scientists can map the extent of ruptures and identify areas of increased seismic risk," ESA officials said in a statement.

After studying the satellite data collected by both satellites before and after the Myanmar earthquake (a method called synthetic aperture radar interferometry), scientists were able to create a detailed map illustrating ground movement, also known as an interferogram, along the Sagaing Fault — one of the most active strike-slip faults in Southeast Asia, running north to south through the center of Myanmar. The images show significant ground displacement, with up to 63 inches of movement along the fault line. indicating measurable movement on either side of the fault. This data provides critical insight on the earthquake, which can aid in disaster response efforts.

"These data are a game-changer," Dirk Geudner, ESA's Sentinel-1 system manager, said in the statement. "They enable faster, more accurate assessments after disasters, and help us improve earthquake models on a global scale."