European seismic zones

Geohazards Exploitation Platform gives users direct access to large Earth-observation datasets for areas at risk of geohazards such as earthquakes and volcanic activity. Radar ‘interferometry’ involves taking successive radar images of the same location and combining them to produce rainbow-hued ‘interferograms’. Like playing spot the difference, the slightest shift between images gives rise to distinct interference fringes, resembling contour lines on a map.

Pairs of Sentinel-1A radar images from consecutive passes over the same spot on Earth’s service are processed continuously and automatically to provide medium-resolution (200 m) images. This, and related interferograms, allows users to identify ground movement and other changes that may have occurred between satellite acquisitions. The service currently covers tectonic areas in Europe. Covering three million square km, this represents 360 interferometric pairs every 12 days.