Measuring millimetric precursory deformations of large crustal areas on earth surface by remote sensing techniques ( InSAR) is already a well established reality. The best available way now, as an Early Warning System against earthquakes and subsidence, landslides related hazards?
Yes it is true that InSAR is used widely for monitoring deformation area and slip rate after eathquake occurreance but not as early warning.
For early warning we need to study velocity or strain rate along specific seismic source in details and compare with seismic activity parameters such as b-value and earthquake fractal distribution .....etc
To study strain rate we need to use millimetric GPS along study area.
One of the fundamental difficulties on understanding natural disasters and their consequences is that this science often contradicts intuition. People find it hard to imagine the Earth rippling like waves of the sea. The worsening of the disaster is also compounded by poor relief measures. Seismic crashes, floods and volcanic eruptions pose challenges for rescuers in terms of inadequate technology and equipment. The improvement of climate prediction technologies, warning systems and building aids has significantly reduced the number of deaths from natural disasters, but economic losses have increased severalfold. Rising losses also confirm that people are putting themselves and their property on the path to natural disasters.
Dear Dr Ahmad, what you mentionned is a plus, I think that stat of the art InSAR is superior to GPS, you have alot more data elements covering all your area of interest. The b value depends heavily of the quality of the seismicity data which is often very far from being sufficient. Any way complementary measures and techniques are certainly a plus, however in the warning concept time is very important a great deal of diversification of techniques might very well defocus the effort and derail the warning. Thank you for your contribution.
I agree with the statements of both Dr. Omran and Dr. Ahmed. Remote Sensing has very useful application in monitoring natural hazards, but to some limited extent. As already mentioned, there are many inter related sub surface actions/disturbances which ultimately result in earthquakes or landslides. Hence it is best to have field level equipments like micro geophones, etc., in addition to remote sensing.
Dear Dr Prasad, Thank you for your contribution,. I agree that spreading microgeophones is always useful, however, InSAR precursory deformations detection ( now easily possible at the (few) millimetric levels) will be decisive to guide the appropriate optimal locations of other devices from other techniques (in case of availability).
I agree that InSAR precursory deformations detection will be instrumental in future early warning systems. They will probably have to be supplemented by other methods.
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