NISAR satellite to map Himalayas’ seismic zones

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Last Updated17/04/2023

A forthcoming satellite, NISAR, jointly developed by ISRO and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will map the most earthquake-prone regions in the Himalayas with unprecedented regularity.
The data this will generate can potentially give advance warning of land subsidence, as recently observed in Joshimath, Uttarakhand, as well point to places that are at greatest risk from earthquakes.

Will use two frequency bands:
L-band
S-band
Aim: to image the seismically active Himalayan region that will, every 12 days, create a “deformation map”.
The two frequency bands will together provide high-resolution, all-weather data.
Expected to follow a sun-synchronous orbit
Will be launched in January 2024.
Strain - deformation that occurs in rocks when it is under pressure from other rocks, usually due to movements of continental plates that are sliding, colliding, or subducting against each other.
Importance
Can help map out regions that are most vulnerable to earthquakes and estimate how far the resultant tremors can spread.
What can’t be deduced however is the timing.
Ground-based observatories can pick up underground waves that result from an earthquake and provide early warning.
Satellites can show how mountains and geological formations are changing over time.