Method For Isolation Of Gravity Signatures Due To Major Earthquakes From Satellite Gravity Data

Often, satellite gravity (GRACE Satellite) is employed to infer near surface fluid exchanges and budgets on a global scale. However, devastating major earthquakes in offshore regions involving mass-wastage must also have a significant gravity signals in satellite gravity campaigns. But their isolation is masked by other time-varying fluid exchange signals near earth’s surface. Here, our differential data analysis (Spherical harmonics) attended by spectral filtering has successfully isolated weak gravity signals in micro-Gal range for three major earthquakes. For illustration purpose we include Sumatra earthquake (2004). Our method could infer the rupture zone in the source region. Presently, a combined seismological and gravity modeling of satellite gravity derived gravity signals are underway. These efforts if successful could be a huge step in predicting earthquakes.