Electromagnetic Earthquake Triggering: Field Observations, Laboratory Experiments, and Physical Mechanisms—A Review

Zeigarnik, V. A.; Богомолов, Л. М.; Новиков, В. А.

doi:10.1134/s1069351322010104

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 92 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The results of numerical studies obtained in [23] using the developed physical model and computer code indicate that after the X-class SF the geomagnetic field pulsations up to 100 nT can occur, and the density of GIC in the conductive layer of the lithosphere can rise to 10 -8 -10 -6 A/m 2 . In this case the current pulse duration is about 100 s, and the duration of the current rise front is ~10 s. These values are 2 -3 orders of magnitude higher than the average density of telluric currents in the lithosphere [25] and they are comparable with the parameters of electric current pulses generated in the lithosphere (10 -7 -10 -8 A/m 2 ) by artificial pulsed sources of electrical energy [24]. It should be noted that the injection of electrical impulses into the Earth's crust in seismically active regions resulted in the EM triggering of weak EQs and the regional spatiotemporal redistribution of seismicity in the Pamirs and Northern Tien Shan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…In this case the amplitude of horizontal component of electric field on the Earth surface will obtain 0.01 mV/m and the electric current density in lithosphere may reach 10 -6 A/m 2 . Thus, it was shown that the absorption of ionizing radiation of SFs can result in variations of a density of telluric currents in seismogenic faults comparable with a current density 10 -8 -10 -7 A/m 2 generated in the Earth crust by artificial pulsed power systems (geophysical MHD generator "Pamir-2" and electric pulsed facility "ERGU-600"), which provide regional EQ triggering and spatiotemporal variation of seismic activity [24]. Therefore, we can expect that the triggering of seismic events is possible not only due to EM impact of the artificial pulsed power sources on the lithosphere, but also due to SFs.…”

Section: Testable Hypothesis Of Earthquake Triggering By Strong Sfsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This idea has been proposed in [16,18], when it was numerically demonstrated that due to interaction of SF X-ray radiation with ionosphere-atmosphere-lithosphere system the strong geomagnetic field pulsations occur resulted in the sharp rise of geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) in the conductive crust faults. It is known that EQ can be triggered by strong variations both of natural and artificial electric currents in the Earth crust as a result of interaction of EM and electric fields with rocks and faults in the Earth's crust under subcritical stress-strain state [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Possible Interrelations of Space Weather and Seismic Activity: An Implication for Short-term Earthquake Prediction

Sorokin,

Novikov

2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The statistical analysis of impact of the top 50 solar flares of X-class (1997-2023) on the global seismic activity, as well as on the earthquake preparation zones located in illuminated part of the globe and in the area of 5000 km radius around the subsolar point was carried out. It is shown by a method of epoch superposition that for all cases the increase of seismicity is observed, especially in the region around the subsolar point (up to 38%) during 10 days after the solar flare in comparison with preceding 10 days. The case study of aftershock sequence of strong M=9.1 earthquake (Su-matra-Andaman Islands, 26.12.2004) after the solar flare of X7.2 class (20.01.2005) demonstrated that the number of aftershocks with magnitude M≥2.5 increases more than 20 times after the solar flare with a delay of 7 days. For the case of the Darfield earthquake (M=7.1, 04.09.2010, New Zealand) it was shown that strong solar flares of class X and M probably triggered two strong aftershocks (M>6) with the same delay of 6 days on the Port Hills fault, which is the most sensitive to external electromagnetic impact from point of view of the fault electrical conductivity and orientation. Based on the obtained results the possible application of natural electromagnetic triggering of earthquakes is discussed for a short-term earthquake prediction using confidently recorded strong external electromagnetic triggering impacts on the specific earthquake preparation zones, as well as ionospheric perturbations due to aerosol emission from the earthquake sources recorded by satellites.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Testable Hypothesis Of Earthquake Triggering By Strong Sfsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Possible Interrelations of Space Weather and Seismic Activity: An Implication for Short-term Earthquake Prediction

Sorokin,

Novikov

2024

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Later, instead of an MHD generator, a capacitor-thyristor source was used, but, as in previous works, a noticeable activation of seismicity after impact was revealed [Smirnov and Zavyalov, 2012;Tarasov et al, 2001]. The fundamental possibility of the initiating effect of electrical impulses on microcracking processes and the level of acoustic emission was confirmed in laboratory experiments with rock samples under load [Zeigarnik et al, 2022].…”

Section: Magnetic Storms As a Trigger Of Eqsmentioning

confidence: 86%

A Closer Cooperation between Space and Seismology Communities – a Way to Avoid Errors in Hunting for Earthquake Precursors

Pilipenko,

Shiokawa

2024

Russian Journal of Earth Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The space physicists and the earthquake (EQ) prediction community exploit the same instruments – magnetometers, but for different tasks: space physicists try to comprehend the global electrodynamics of near-Earth space on various time scales, whereas the seismic community develops electromagnetic methods of short-term EQ prediction. The lack of deep collaboration between those communities may result sometimes in erroneous conclusions. In this critical review, we demonstrate some incorrect results caused by a neglect of specifics of geomagnetic field evolution during space weather activation. The considered examples comprise: Magnetic storms as a trigger of EQs; ULF waves as a global EQ precursor; Geomagnetic impulses before seismic shocks; Long-period geomagnetic disturbances generated by strong EQs; Discrimination of underground ULF sources by amplitude-phase gradients; Depression of ULF power as a short-term EQ precursor; and Detection of seimogenic emissions by satellites. To verify the reliability of the above widely disseminated results data from available arrays of fluxgate and search-coil magnetometers have been re-analyzed. In all considered events, the “anomalous” geomagnetic field behavior can be explained by global geomagnetic activity, and it is apparently not associated with seismic activity. This critical review does not claim that ULF electromagnetic field cannot be used as a sensitive indicator of the EQ preparation processes, but we suggest that both communities must cooperate their studies more tightly using data exchange, combined usage of magnetometer networks, organization of CDAW for unique events, etc.

show abstract

“…Many years of searching for statistical connections between solar, geomagnetic, and seismic processes finally led to the first mathematical model [61] to consider the hypothesis of electromagnetic earthquakes being triggered by a sharp rise of telluric currents in the lithosphere, including crust faults due to the interaction of solar flare X-ray radiation with the ionosphere-atmosphere-lithosphere system producing an increase in telluric currents in the crust faults. The results of their numerical estimations showed that after an X-class solar flare, the telluric current density in the conductive layer of the lithosphere might be 2-3 orders higher than the average telluric current density in the lithosphere, and that it may be comparable with the parameters of the electric current pulses generated in the lithosphere by artificial pulsed power sources [62]. As they noted, these artificial electrical pulses injected into the Earth's crust in seismic-prone areas resulted in the electromagnetic triggering of weak earthquakes and the spatiotemporal re-distribution of the regional seismicity of Pamir and Northern Tien Shan.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Studying the Impact of the Geospace Environment on Solar Lithosphere Coupling and Earthquake Activity

Ouzounov,

Khachikyan

2023

Remote Sensing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In solar–terrestrial physics, there is an open question: does a geomagnetic storm affect earthquakes? We expand research in this direction, analyzing the seismic situation after geomagnetic storms (GMs) accompanied by the precipitation of relativistic electrons from the outer radiation belt to form an additional radiation belt (RB) around lower geomagnetic lines. We consider four widely discussed cases in the literature for long-lived (weeks, months) RBs due to GMs and revealed that the 1/GMs 24 March 1991 with a new RB at L~2.6 was followed by an M7.0 earthquake in Alaska, 30 May 1991, near footprint L = 2.69; the 2/GMs 29 October 2003 (Ap = 204) with new RB first in the slot region at L = 2–2.5 cases followed by an M7.8 earthquake on 17 November 2003 at the Aleutian Islands near footprint L = 2.1, and after forming an RB at L~1.5 which lasted for ~26 months, two mega quakes, M9.1 in 2004 and M8.6 in 2005, occurred at the globe; the 3/GMs 3 September 2012 with a new RB at L= 3.0–3.5 was followed by an M7.8 earthquake in Canada near footprint L = 3.2; and the 4/GMs 21 June 2015 with a new RB at L = 1.5–1.8 was followed by an M6.3 earthquake on 7 September 2015 in New Zealand, near footprint L = 1.58. The obtained results suggest that (1) major earthquakes occur near the footprints of geomagnetic lines filled with relativistic electrons precipitating from the outer radiation belt due to geomagnetic storms, and (2) the time delay between geomagnetic storm onset and earthquake occurrence may vary from several weeks to several months. The results may expand the framework for developing mathematical magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling models.

show abstract

Electromagnetic Earthquake Triggering: Field Observations, Laboratory Experiments, and Physical Mechanisms—A Review

Cited by 10 publications

References 92 publications

Possible Interrelations of Space Weather and Seismic Activity: An Implication for Short-term Earthquake Prediction

Possible Interrelations of Space Weather and Seismic Activity: An Implication for Short-term Earthquake Prediction

A Closer Cooperation between Space and Seismology Communities – a Way to Avoid Errors in Hunting for Earthquake Precursors

Studying the Impact of the Geospace Environment on Solar Lithosphere Coupling and Earthquake Activity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About