On the generation of electric field and infrared radiation in aerosol clouds due to radon emanation in the atmosphere before earthquakes

Abstract

Abstract. The non-stationary Frenkel model of the generator of spikes of the local electric field with time scales of 1-100 min in the atmosphere near seismic fracture regions some days before strong earthqukes is analysed. The model suggests an aerosol cloud, an increased ionisation velocity (e.g. by radon emanation), and an upward flow of air. It was found that during times of earthquake activity (that means a few days before an earthquake), for realistic increases of the ionization intensity of the atmosphere, mosaic-likely occurring and disappearing pulses of local electric fields with intensities of the order of 10 3 −3×10 3 Vm −1 should be observable. These electric fields would also cause spikes of non-equilibrium IR emissions (0.7-20 µm) and local spikes of the magnetic field. The authors propose to perform special complex Earth-based observations of the night-time emissions of the atmosphere in the IR region and of the magnetic as well as quasi-stationary electric fields at some points near to fracture regions in seismo-active belts.

The model of self-generated seismo-electromagnetic oscillations of the LAI system

“…In such a case, the length of the wire may significantly exceed the linear sizes of the polarization area because in case of horizontal locking the positively polarized wire may tie to a wire with any length and the opposite sign. Such a contour typology schematically coincides with the fact that the atmospheric electric precursors of earthquakes often appear quite far away from epicentres (Kachakhidze et al, 2003;Dunajecka et al, 2005;Pulinets et al, 2006;Liperovsky et al, 2008).…”

“…In case of a horizontal circuit the positively polarized conductor may be coupled with the opposite sign conductor having any length. Such topology of the circuit is quite handy if we take into consideration that electromagnetic precursors of earthquakes often appear quite far from the epicentres of main shocks (Tramutoli et al, 2001(Tramutoli et al, , 2005Kachakhidze et al, 2003;Dunajecka et al, 2005;Pulinets et al, 2006Pulinets et al, , 2007Liperovsky et al, 2008).…”

“…It is noteworthy that from the point-of-view of determining the atmospheric current variation mechanism in seismoactive regions, the consideration of this effect does not lead to any universal result which would be equally true for regions with a different geological structure. In particular, the modification of so called "Frenkel's model" (Liperovsky et al, 2008) of the atmospheric capacitor (based on radon emission), in opinion of the authors, may be effective only for the Far East region and partially for the Middle Asia region. Though, according to the works of Mikhailov et al (2004) and Smirnov (2005Smirnov ( , 2008, the mechanism of electric conduction variation of the atmosphere is vague even for the Kamchatka region where volcanic earthquakes are especially frequent and the emanation effect of radon is much more probable here than in regions with geological structures different from the Far East, e.g., the Caucasus.…”

IR spectral analysis for the diagnostics of crust earthquake precursors

“…It is well known that one of the precursors of earthquakes is the radon and hydrogen emanation in the regions of future epicenters (Vojtov and Dobrovol'skii, 1994;Liperovsky et al, 2008Liperovsky et al, , 2011Mikhailin et al, 2010;Ouzounov and Freund, 2004;Ouzounov et al, 2006). Such emanations may cause an intensification of IR emissions in the atmosphere.…”

Atmospheric electrical field decrease during the <i>M = 4.1</i> Sousel earthquake (Portugal)

“…This paper stimulated the development of models that relate AE variations with radon released during earthquake preparation stages, (Liperovsky et al, 2008;Omori et al, 2009). In particular, Harrison et al (2010) related possible atmospheric electrical field anomalies during earthquake preparation with surface air ionisation caused by radon emanations.…”