Investigation of Pre-Earthquake Ionospheric and Atmospheric Disturbances for Three Large Earthquakes in Mexico

Abstract

The purpose of the present study is to investigate simultaneously pre-earthquake ionospheric and atmospheric disturbances by the application of different methodologies, with the ultimate aim to detect their possible link with the impending seismic event. Three large earthquakes in Mexico are selected (8.2 Mw, 7.1 Mw and 6.6 Mw during 8 and 19 September 2017 and 21 January 2016 respectively), while ionospheric variations during the entire year 2017 prior to 37 earthquakes are also examined. In particular, Total Electron Content (TEC) retrieved from Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) networks and Atmospheric Chemical Potential (ACP) variations extracted from an atmospheric model are analyzed by performing statistical and spectral analysis on TEC measurements with the aid of Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs), Ionospheric Precursor Mask (IPM) methodology and time series and regional maps of ACP. It is found that both large and short scale ionospheric anomalies occurring from few hours to a few days prior to the seismic events may be linked to the forthcoming events and most of them are nearly concurrent with atmospheric anomalies happening during the same day. This analysis also highlights that even in low-latitude areas it is possible to discern pre-earthquake ionospheric disturbances possibly linked with the imminent seismic events.

Earthquake related Ionospheric signatures over Cyprus

“…In the course of the last 20 years a significant number of studies came out in an effort to investigate the cause and effect relationship between earthquakes and ionospheric disturbances by exploiting the abundance of instrumentation that is available to monitor the ionosphere at a high spatial and temporal resolution on a global scale. Such ionospheric disturbances are actually registered as pre-seismic and co-seismic fluctuations on ionospheric parameters that are estimated by typical instrumentation deployed on a global scale providing 24/7 monitoring of the ionosphere [2,3,4,5]. This instrumentation is primarily based on radars such as ionosondes that can probe the electron density profile with a high altitude resolution.…”

How Effective and Prerequisite Are Electromagnetic Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Recordings in the Schumann Resonances Band to Function as Seismic Activity Precursors

“…Interesting reviews on these subjects have been written by Hayakawa [1,2], Pulinets and Boyarchuk [3], Hayakawa and Molchanov [4,5], and Hayakawa and Hobara [6]. On the other hand, in many articles, single EQs or a small sample of them have been studied [7][8][9][10][11][12]. At first, in a short but comprehensive communication, Love and Thomas [13] pointed out that EQs occur quite independently from any solar influence on the earth.…”

Monitoring of Gamma Radiation Prior to Earthquakes in a Study of Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling in Northern Tien Shan

“…The literature data of recent decades are convincing regarding the necessity of comprehensively monitoring the parameters of the geophysical environment in order to prove or disprove the involvement of identified anomalies in the earthquake preparation process. Increased attention has been paid to the study of the relationship between the dynamics of lithospheric processes and the appearance of disturbances in the ionosphere that precede large earthquakes [20][21][22][23]. Comprehensive monitoring makes it possible to trace the relationship between the deformation of the earth's crust, radon exhalation, and gamma radiation.…”