Seismic hazards

Earthquakes result in tens of thousands of deaths every year. Seismic hazard forecasts are used to mitigate the effects of earthquakes by informing building codes, preparedness programmes, insurance rates, and earthquake response. Understanding present day strain is a key component to forecasting seismic hazards and the high-resolution strain rate map produced by ESA’s Harmony mission promises the most accurate forecasts to date.

Globally, 800 million people live within 100 km of a volcano. Improvements in monitoring and forecasting have been shown to reduce fatalities associated with eruptions. Harmony will provide regular measurements of topographic change, including the growth rate of lava domes and volcanic flows, leading to a better understanding of the conditions under which collapses occur and dangerous pyroclastic flows form.