Mapping surface displacements after the 6 February 2023 earthquake in Syria and Turkey using DInSAR and GIS techniques

This study aimed to determine the surface deformation resulting from the earthquake on February 6, 2023, on the Turkish-Syrian border using Sentinel-1 SAR images and DInSAR techniques. The analysis was limited to pixels with a coherence value above 0.6 to reduce misinterpretations from phase decorrelation. Furthermore, the study aimed to map horizontal and vertical displacements within GIS environment, contributing to a processing methodology that reduces time and effort in detecting surface displacement over large spatial coverage. The results of this study revealed clear surface displacement patterns in northwest Syria and southern Turkey following the earthquake. These patterns encompass both westward and eastward horizontal shifts, as well as upward and downward vertical movements. Notably, the findings indicated significant upward and westward motion near Iskenderun, alongside eastward motion and complex vertical displacements in the Gaziantep/A’zaz/Zayzafun areas. To assess the precision of these displacements, they were compared to data from GPS stations within the study area, demonstrating good accuracy with Root Mean Square Errors (RMSE) of approximately ± 3.2 cm for Line-of-Sight (LOS) displacements and ± 3.7 cm for combined horizontal and vertical displacements. This research provides valuable insights into tectonic plate movements and carries implications for future seismic studies in the examined regions.