Displacement Field Determination of the 28 March 2025 Myanmar Earthquake (Mw 7.7) using InSAR
Lotfollah Emadali
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran
Sasan Motaghed
Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/ear.v3i2.9744
Keywords: Seismic Deformation, InSAR, Sagaing Fault, Disaster Assessment
Abstract
This study investigates the surface deformation caused by the 28 March 2025 Myanmar earthquake (Mw 7.7) using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques with Sentinel-1 data. The earthquake, occurring along the Sagaing Fault, resulted in significant ground displacement, impacting infrastructure and communities. InSAR analysis reveals detailed deformation patterns, quantified through interferograms, multi-look processing, unwrapped phase data, and displacement maps. Results indicate a rupture zone extending approximately 110 km, with maximum subsidence of -0.82 meters and uplift of 0.18 meters, along the line of sight of satellite (LOS). These findings correlate with observed structural damage and provide insights into the fault's slip distribution. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of InSAR in assessing earthquake-induced deformation, offering valuable data for seismic hazard assessment, disaster response, and long-term resilience planning in this vulnerable region. The integration of satellite-based remote sensing with macroseismic data contributes to a comprehensive understanding of seismic events, supporting improved risk mitigation strategies.
References
1.Tiongson, S. F., & Ramirez, R. (2022). Mapping of ground surface deformations and their associated damage using SAR interferometry: a case study of the 2020 Masbate earthquake. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 347, p. 03014). EDP Sciences.
2.Bayramov, E., Buchroithner, M., Kada, M., & Zhuniskenov, Y. (2021). Quantitative assessment of vertical and horizontal deformations derived by 3d and 2d decompositions of InSAR line-of-sight measurements to supplement industry surveillance programs in the Tengiz oilfield (Kazakhstan). Remote Sensing, 13(13), 2579.
3.Huang, W., Mei, X., Wang, Y., Fan, Z., Chen, C., & Jiang, G. (2022). Two-dimensional phase unwrapping by a high-resolution deep learning network. Measurement, 200, 111566.
4. Emadali, Lotfollah, Mahdi Motagh, and Mahmud Haghshenas Haghighi. 2017. “Characterizing Post-Construction Settlement of the Masjed-Soleyman Embankment Dam, Southwest Iran, Using TerraSAR-X SpotLight Radar Imagery.” : Engineering Structures 143 (2017) 261–273.
5.Funning, G. J., & Garcia, A. (2019). A systematic study of earthquake detectability using Sentinel-1 Interferometric Wide-Swath data. Geophysical Journal International, 216(1), 332-349.
6.Nuangnun, C., Phuengkum, N., Srikongrug, S., Mameechai, D., Thongperm, P., & Nuleg, W. (2018). Earthquake trends in Thailand and Myanmar. ASEAN Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports, 21(3), 167-173.
7.Fernandez, G., Tun, A. M., Okazaki, K., Zaw, S. H., & Kyaw, K. (2018). Factors influencing fire, earthquake, and cyclone risk perception in Yangon, Myanmar. International journal of disaster risk reduction, 28, 140-149.
8.Shiddiqi, H. A., Tun, P. P., Kyaw, T. L., & Ottemöller, L. (2018). Source study of the 24 August 2016 Mw 6.8 Chauk, Myanmar, earthquake. Seismological Research Letters, 89(5), 1773-1785.
9.Wang, M., Shen, Z. K., Wang, Y. Z., Bürgmann, R., Wang, F., Zhang, P. Z., ... & Xue, L. (2021). Postseismic deformation of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake illuminates lithospheric rheological structure and dynamics of eastern Tibet. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126(9), e2021JB022399.
10.Kreemer, C., Hammond, W. C., & Blewitt, G. (2018). A robust estimation of the 3-D intraplate deformation of the North American plate from GPS. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123, 4388–4412.
11.Lindsey, E. O., Wang, Y., Aung, L. T., et al. (2023). Active subduction and strain partitioning in western Myanmar revealed by a dense survey GNSS network. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 622, 118384.
12.Wang Y Z, Zhang Z, Zhang X, et al. Rapid estimation of parameters related to the 28 March 2025 M7.9 earthquake in Myanmar[J]. Progress in Earthquake Sciences, 2025, 55(5): 284-289. DOI: 10.19987/j.dzkxjz.2025-037
13.Fadil, W., Wei, S., Bradley, K., Wang, Y., He, Y., Sandvol, E., ... & Htwe, Y. M. M. (2023). Active faults revealed and new constraints on their seismogenic depth from a high‐resolution regional focal mechanism catalog in Myanmar (2016–2021). Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 113(2), 613-635.
14.Howard, S., & Krishna, G. (2025). Myanmar junta blocking aid as earthquake death toll nears 3000.
15.Tiongson, S. F., & Ramirez, R. (2022). Mapping of ground surface deformations and its associated damage using SAR interferometry: a case study of the 2020 Masbate earthquake. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 347, p. 03014). EDP Sciences.
16.Wang, Y., Sieh, K., Tun, S. T., Lai, K. Y., & Myint, T. (2014). Active tectonics and earthquake potential of the Myanmar region. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 119(4), 3767-3822.
17.Thein, M., Myint, T., Tun, S. T., & Swe, T. L. (2009). Earthquake and tsunami hazard in Myanmar. Journal of Earthquake and Tsunami, 3(02), 43-57.
18.Rajaram, C., Vemuri, J. P., & Singhal, S. Seismological Features and Preliminary Damage Assessment of the Devastating March 28, 2025 Myanmar Earthquake: A Comprehensive Overview. Available at SSRN 5219429.
19.Wibowo, A. (2025). Modeling Potential Earthquake Risk Zones in Myanmar Due to the March 2025 Earthquake and Geological Factors Using Machine Learning.
20.Fadil, W., Lindsey, E. O., Wang, Y., Maung, P. M., Luo, H., Swe, T. L., ... & Wei, S. (2021). The January 11, 2018, Mw 6.0 Bago‐Yoma, Myanmar earthquake: A shallow thrust event within the deforming Bago‐Yoma Range. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126(7), e2020JB021313.
21.Ko, S. C., & Swe, T. L. SEISMOTECTONICS INVESTIGATION IN YANGON REGION, MYANMAR.
22.Pailoplee, S., Channarong, P., & Chutakositkanon, V. (2013). Earthquake Activities in the Thailand-Laos-Myanmar Border Region: A Statistical Approach. Terrestrial, Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, 24(4).
23.Eftekhari, N. , Motaghed, S. , Emadali, L. and Sayyadpour, H. (2025). Artificial Statistical Method to Estimating Seismicity Parameters for Ahvaz City Using a Stochastic Synthetic Seismic Catalog. Journal of Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, (), -.
doi: 10.48303/jsee.2025.2041574.1124
24.Motaghed, S. and fakhriyat, A. reza (2025). Uncertainties in seismic hazard assessment of Metropolitan Tehran. International Journal of Reliability, Risk and Safety: Theory and Application, (), -.
doi: 10.22034/ijrrs.2024.494580.1179
25.Motaghed, sasan, Emadali, Loftollah, (2025). Performance-Based Methodology for Seismic Design and Evaluation of Bridges, Advance Researches in Civil Engineering,
10.30469/arce.2025.511561.1084
26.motaghed, sasan, shabaneh, mohammad hossein, ghasemi golsorkhdan, mehran,
mohammadi, mehdi, Schmidt hammer test for estimating concrete strength; Calibration and Calibration, Advance Researches in Civil Engineering
10.30469/arce.2025.504865.1083
27.Lotfollah Emadali, Mozhgan Mehrpak, Sasan Motaghed, Nasrollah Eftekhari, Determination of displacement components of Sisakht earthquake (M 5.4) by Radar Interferometry (InSAR), Bulletin of Earthquake Science and Engineering – BESE,
10.48303/bese.2025.2036596.1193
28.Abiari A, Motaghed S, Sayyadpour H, et al. Seismic fragility evaluation of box deck concrete bridge equipped with shape memory alloy under bi-directional earthquake loading. Earthqauke2025;3(1):8253.
http://doi:10.59429/ear.v3i1.8253
29.Motaghed S, shamsizadeh M, eftekhari N. Earthquake possibility space of Ahvaz city based on intuitionistic fuzzy theory. Journal of Engineering Geology 2024; 18 (3) :320-340
30. http://jeg.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3126-fa.html
https://doi: 10.30469/arce.2024.476684.1079
31.Motaghed, S., Mahmoodian, H., ri, S. (2024). Case Studies in Seismic Risk Assessment of Masonry Fire Station Buildings. International Journal of Reliability, Risk and Safety: Theory and Application, 7(2), 40-51. doi: 10.22034/IJRRS.2024.7.2.4
https://doi: 10.22034/ijrrs.2024.471909.1169
32.Motaghed, S., & Mehrabi Moghaddam, A. (2024). Confidence level for Iranian Existing Moment Resisting RC Structures Based on Demand and Capacity Factored Design Method. International Journal of Reliability, Risk and Safety: Theory and Application, 7(1), 93-102.
https://doi: 10.22034/IJRRS.2024.7.1.11
33. Motaghed, S., Mohammadi, M., Eftekhari, N., Khazaea, M,. SCP parameters estimation for catalogs with uncertain seismic magnitude values. Acta Geophys. (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-024-01404-5
34.Fakhriyat, A., Motaghed,. S & Shahidzadeh, M. S. (2024). The necessity of modeling the column beam joint panel zone in reinforced concrete structures with behavioral degradation. Amirkabir Journal of Civil Engineering, 56(7), 3-3.
https://doi: 10.22060/ceej.2024.22089.7900
35.Eftekhari N, Motaghed S, Emadali L, Sayyadpour H. Ranking of ground motion prediction equation for use in the seismic hazard analysis of Ahvaz city using data envelopment analysis. Journal of Engineering Geology 2022; 16 (2) :99-124
36.http://jeg.khu.ac.ir/article-1-3083-fa.html
37.Motaghed, S., Eftekhari, N., Emadali, L., & Sayyadpour, H. (2024). Revision of Ahvaz City seismic hazard analyzes according to the state of Ahvaz fault. Advanced Applied Geology, (), -.
https:// doi: 10.22055/aag.2024.44810.2405
38.Motaghed, S., nakhlian, A., emadali, L., eftekhari, N., & mahmoudian, H. (2023). Seismic hazard assessment using arithmetic-weighted overlay method based on earthquake potential index (EPI), the southwestern Iran. Iranian Journal of Remote Sensing & GIS, (), -.
https:// doi: 10.48308/gisj.2023.229646.1133
39.Motaghed, S., Eftekhari, N., & Mohammadi, M, Khazaee, M.. (2023) Logic tree branches' weights in the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis; the need to combine inter-subjective and propensity probability interpretations, journal of seismology,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-023-10177-1
40.Motaghed, S., Eftekhari, N., khazaee, M., & yousefi Dadras, E. (2023). Selection and Ranking the Ground Motion Prediction Equations for Tehran Region. Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering, (), -.
https:// doi: 10.22065/jsce.2023.393094.3088
41.Motaghed, S., Fakhriyat, A.R., A reliable method for determining the tapered minimum magnitude in a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis, International Journal of Reliability, Risk and Safety: Theory and Application
https:// doi: 10.30699/IJRRS.5.2.9
42.Motaghed, S., Khazaee, M., Eftekhari, N., & Mohammadi, M. (2023). A non-extensive approach to probabilistic seismic hazard analysis. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 23(3), 1117-1124.
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-1117-2023
43.Motaghed, S., nakhlian, A., emadali, L., eftekhari, N., & mahmudian, H. (2023). Determining the natural frequency of Behbahan city soil using microtremor data analysis. Journal of Geography and Environmental Hazards, (), -.
https:// doi: 10.22067/geoeh.2023.80563.1326
44.barzian, V., Motaghed, S., Mehrabi Moghaddam, A., Asghari Pari, S. A., & emadali, L. (2022). Investigation the effect of structural parameters uncertainty on the response of incremental dynamic analysis of intermediate steel moment resisting frame structures. Journal of Structural and Construction Engineering, 9(10), 175-195.
https:// doi: 10.22065/jsce.2022.311616.2612
45.Mehrabi Moghadam, A., Yazdani, A., Motaghed, S. (2022). Considering the Yielding Displacement Uncertainty in Reliability of Mid-Rise R.C. Structures. Journal of Rehabilitation in Civil Engineering, 10(3), 141-157.
https:// doi: 10.22075/jrce.2021.19660.1376
46.Motaghed, S., Khazaee, M. & Mohammadi, M. The b-value estimation based on the artificial statistical method for Iran Kope-Dagh seismic province. Arab J Geosci 14, 1461 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-07970-y
47.Motaghed, S., & fakhriyat, A. R. (2021). Modeling inelastic behavior of RC adhered shear walls in opensees. Journal of Modeling in Engineering, 18(63), 15-25.
https:// doi: 10.22075/jme.2020.18042.1740
48.Moradi Tayebi F, motaghed S, Dastanian R. Evaluation Chaotic Behavior and Time Series Prediction of Tehran Earthquakes. MCEJ 2020; 20 (3) :147-160
49.http://mcej.modares.ac.ir/article-16-15687-fa.html
50.Nicknam A., Khanzadi M., Motaghed S., Yazdani A. (2017) Applying b-value statistical variation to seismic hazard analysis, Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences: 46; 391-396
51.Motaghed, S., yazdani, A., nicknam, A., & khanzadi, M. (2018). Sobol sensitivity generalization for engineering and science applications. Journal of Modeling in Engineering, 16(54), 217-226.
https:// doi: 10.22075/jme.2017.12259.1221
52.Yazdani, A., Motaghed, S., & Mehrabi Moghadam, A. (2016). Evaluation of Seismic Risk Effect on Total Reliability Index of Structures, Case Study of Concrete Flexible Frame Frames. Asas Journal, 18(43), 26-37.
53.Motaghed S., khooshecharkh A., 2011, Damage–Based Optimal Longitudinal Reinforcement for RC frames, European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.50, Issue 2, P.191-201
54.Motaghed S. ,khooshecharkh A., 2011, Probabilistic Evaluation of the Effects of Concrete Compression Strength on the Reinforced Concrete Building Damageability , European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol. 50 Issue 2, p.202-207
55.Motaghed S., Shahidzade M.S.,2011, seismic evaluation of steel I- girder bridges , Journal of Applied Sciences Vol. 11, Issue 1, p. 104-110