Anticipating Earthquakes: Devastation in Myanmar

Many people are bewildered by earthquakes. While Hollywood movies showcase this scientific phenomenon as an ominous “sign of the times,” science understands earthquakes to be a natural response to the tectonic plates. The rigid pieces of the Earth’s crust, known as tectonic plates, are slowly shifting over the layer beneath them called the asthenosphere. A convergence of tectonic plates on a fault line can cause immense pressure buildup between the two plates. When the plates start to slip free, it causes a chain reaction. This chain reaction  under the ground causes immense shaking on the exterior layer of the Earth’s surface. This process, commonly known as an earthquake, can range from a subtle movement of the ground with little destruction to a remarkably strong shaking movement that has violent effects on people and infrastructure. A recent earthquake in Myanmar demonstrated the powerful effect of earthquakes on an environment.

On March 28th of this year, Myanmar was struck by a ravaging earthquake lasting about one minute with succeeding aftershocks for days after. This devastating event claimed over 5,000 lives in Myanmar and another 103 lives in Thailand. Positioned along the Sagaing Fault, Myanmar is quite susceptible to earthquakes. The Sagaing Fault, running almost exclusively through Myanmar, is known for its seismic activity. Myanmar spans the intersection of four major tectonic plates: the Indian, Eurasian, Burma, and Sunda plates. Seismic activity has remained high in this Southeastern region in Asia for centuries, and new research suggests that this activity may be growing.

A new study by the California Institute of Technology utilized a combination of satellite optical and radar imagery of the Sagaing Fault to determine the shifting of tectonic plates after an earthquake. A type of radar used to detect an impending earthquake, Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar or InSAR, was first used in 1992. By capturing radar images of the same area of land at different times, this technology can expose minute ground movements that allude to potential shifting in tectonic plates. The data extracted from this study is paramount in detecting where and when earthquakes could occur. Current seismic hazard assessment models face their own limitations, such as failing to account for the random nature of tectonic plate movements and the lack of seismic activity network data in particular areas. Radar imagery is becoming increasingly effective in predicting earthquakes.

According to the United Nations, Myanmar is considered a developing country and is not as well-equipped as developed countries to recover from this destructive event. The development and improvement of radar technology and correlational studies can offer countries like Myanmar the opportunity to anticipate threatening events such as earthquakes and to prepare appropriately for the impending crises. Everything from emergency evacuation protocols to methods of constructing buildings can be profoundly improved by a better understanding of earthquakes themselves and an early detection of earthquakes. From the average civilian living in a high-seismic activity area to civil engineers constructing earthquake-safe infrastructure, humanity benefits from scientific efforts to better understand the formidable phenomenon of earthquakes.

To learn more about the earthquake, read more here.