Co-seismic surface displacement of the June 21, 2022 Khōst MW6, Afghanistan earthquake from InSAR observations

Abstract

A robust estimation of the earthquake location, seismic moment, and fault geometry is essential for objective seismic hazard assessment. Seismic events in a remote location, specifically in the absence of seismic and GNSS networks, can be investigated effectively using the InSAR-based technique. This study adopts the Differential Interferometric SAR (DInSAR) technique to quantify the co-seismic surface displacement caused by the June 21, 2022, Khōst MW6, Afghanistan earthquake that occurred along the western plate boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plate. The interferograms show that the maximum surface deformation occurred on the northwest and southwest of the fault line. From coherence, the Line of Sight (LOS)displacement, and the co-seismic surface displacement analysis, it has been observed that surface deformation was most pronounced in the southwest region of the fault line, and the surface has moved to the opposite direction along the fault line, which indicates a sinistral slightly oblique strike-slip movement. This InSAR-based observation appears consistent with the seismic waveforms derived from co-seismic surface displacements. Further, it has been argued that the slip deficit accumulated during the period of the last about 48 years along the frontal region of the northward extension of the Suleiman range and associated fault zone is qualitatively estimated at about 1.5 m, which is consistent with the seismic waveforms derived finite slip model.