Mid-infrared emission prior to strong earthquakes analyzed by remote sensing data

Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 2006

Satellite thermal infrared (TIR) imaging data have recorded short-lived anomalies prior to major earthquakes and associations with fault systems. Others have proposed that these signals originate from electromagnetic phenomena associated with pre-seismic processes, causing enhanced IR emissions, that we are calling TIR anomalies. The purpose of this exploratory study is to verify if TIR anomalies can be found in association with known earthquakes by systematically applying satellite data analysis techniques to imagery recorded prior-to and immediately after large earthquakes. Our approach utilizes both a mapping of surface TIR transient fields from polar orbiting satellites and co-registering geosynchronous weather satellites images. The significance of these observations was explored using data sets of recent worldwide strong earthquakes (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003) and the techniques used to capture the trace of TIR anomalies.

Satellite thermal infrared (TIR) imaging data have recorded short-lived anomalies prior to major earthquakes and associations with fault systems. Others have proposed that these signals originate from electromagnetic phenomena associated with pre-seismic processes, causing enhanced IR emissions, that we are calling TIR anomalies. The purpose of this exploratory study is to verify if TIR anomalies can be found in association with known earthquakes by systematically applying satellite data analysis techniques to imagery recorded prior-to and immediately after large earthquakes. Our approach utilizes both a mapping of surface TIR transient fields from polar orbiting satellites and co-registering geosynchronous weather satellites images. The significance of these observations was explored using data sets of recent worldwide strong earthquakes (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003) and the techniques used to capture the trace of TIR anomalies.

2004

Satellite thermal infrared (TIR) imaging data have recorded short-lived anomalies prior to major earthquakes and associations with fault systems. Others have proposed that these signals originate from electromagnetic phenomena associated with pre-seismic processes, causing enhanced IR emissions, that we are calling TIR anomalies. The purpose of this exploratory study is to verify if TIR anomalies can be found in association with known earthquakes by systematically applying satellite data analysis techniques to imagery recorded prior-to and immediately after large earthquakes. Our approach utilizes both a mapping of surface TIR transient fields from polar orbiting satellites and co-registering geosynchronous weather satellites images. The significance of these observations was explored using data sets of recent worldwide strong earthquakes (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003) and the techniques used to capture the trace of TIR anomalies.

Natural Hazards, 2008

Stress accumulated in rocks in tectonically active areas may manifest itself as electromagnetic radiation emission and temperature variation through a process of energy transformation. Land surface temperature (LST) changes before an impending earthquake can be detected with thermal infrared (TIR) sensors such as NOAA-AVHRR, Terra/Aqua-MODIS, etc. TIR anomalies produced by 10 recent earthquakes in Iran during the period of Jun 2002-Jun 2006 in the tectonically active belt have been studied using pre-and post-earthquake NOAA-AVHRR datasets. Data analysis revealed a transient TIR rise in LST ranging 2-13°C in and around epicentral areas. The thermal anomalies started developing about 1-10 days prior to the main event depending upon the magnitude and focal depth, and disappeared after the main shock. In the case of moderate earthquakes (\6 magnitude) a dual thermal peak instead of the single rise has been observed. This may lead us to understand that perhaps pre-event sporadic release of energy from stressed rocks leads to a reduction in magnitude of the main shock. This TIR temperature increment prior to an impending earthquake can be attributed to degassing from rocks under stress or to p-hole activation in the

2009

Tectonophysics, 2007

Our analysis of the continuous outgoing long wave earth radiation (OLR) indicates anomalous variations prior to a number of medium to large earthquakes. The most recent analysis of OLR is from the M9.0 Sumatra Andaman Islands mega trust event. We compared the reference fields for December 2001 to 2004 and found OLR anomalous values, N 80 W/m 2 , (2σ) within the epicentral area on Dec 21, 2004, 5 days before the event. We used the NOAA/IR daily (one degree) and monthly (two and half degree) gridded data to differentiate between the global and seasonal variability and the transient local anomalies. The cause of such anomalies is not fully understood; one possible explanation is the existence of thermal outgoing radiation as a result of near ground air ionization and latent heat change due to change of air humidity and temperature. This phenomenon is hypothesized to be part of a relationship between tectonic stresses, electrochemical and thermodynamic processes in the atmosphere and increasing mid IR flux, all part of a family of electromagnetic (EM) phenomena related to earthquake activity. The time scale of the observed variations is a few weeks before the onset of the seismic event. In comparison with several years of data, the observed time-series preceding the earthquake had unusually high OLR. The OLR anomaly corresponds to a large area of ground coverage and coincides with the main epicentral zone. The significance of these observations is explored using data from most recent East Asian earthquake swarm of December 2004 and three other earthquakes.

Natural Hazards, 2011

Cumulative stress energy in an earthquake preparation zone under operating tectonic force manifests various observable signs of the impending earthquake, i.e., earthquake precursors. This energy transformation may result in enhanced transient thermal infrared (TIR) emission, which can be detected through satellites equipped with thermal sensors like AVHRR (NOAA), MODIS (Terra/Aqua). This paper presents observations made using NOAA-AVHRR data-derived land surface temperature (LST) and outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) values in case of two moderate earthquakes (22 July 2007, Yamnotri earthquake, India and 27 October 2004, Vrancea earthquake, Romania) using anomalous TIR signals as reflected in LST rise and high OLR values can be seen conspicuously and following similar growth pattern spatially and temporally. In both the cases, data analysis revealed a transient thermal infrared rise in LST ranging 5-10°C around epicentral areas. The thermal anomalies started developing about 7-8 days prior to the main event depending upon the magnitude and focal depth and disappeared after the main shock. Similarly, the OLR values *30-45 W/m 2 higher than the normal were observed 7-8 days prior to the main event. The rise in LST can be attributed to enhanced greenhouse gas emission from the squeezed rock pore spaces and/or to the activation of p-holes in stressed rock volume and their further recombination at rock-air interface. OLR is temperature and humidity dependent, and any change in these variables may be responsible for anomalous OLR values.

2020

The science community is still looking for pre-earthquake indicators of major seismic events in order to minimize the loss of human life. Recent advances in satellite technology have helped to increase the scientific understanding of the nature of pre-earthquake phenomena in the atmosphere and their relationship with transitional thermal anomalies. It was realized that the thermal heat fluxes over areas of earthquake preparation are a result of air ionization by Rn 222 , its isotopes and progenies and consequent water vapor condensation on newly formed ions. Latent heat (LH) is released as a result of this process and leads to the formation of local thermal radiation anomalies (TRA) known as outgoing longwave radiation (OLR). We recorded data from the most recent major earthquakes in California (2014) Nepal (2015) that allowed us to summaries TRA's main morphological features. It was also established that the TRA is part of a more complex chain of the shortterm earthquake precursors, which are explained within the framework of a Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) model.

Open Geosciences, 2015

Thermal anomalies which are known to be significant precursors of strong earthquakes can be evidenced by spectral thermal infrared (TIR) bands recorded by sensors on board of NOAA-AVHRR and Terra/Aqua- MODIS satellite. In order to locate relevant thermal anomalous variations prior to some strong even moderate earthquakes recorded in Vrancea tectonic active zone in Romania, satellite derived geophysical parameters have been used: land surface temperature (LST), outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) and mean air temperature (AT). Spatiotemporal variations of LST, OLR, and AT before and after three strong earthquakes in Vrancea area (M

2004

Analyzing past earthquakes and their characteristics, perhaps a better understanding about the earthquake phenomena can be made. Pressure built-up due to tectonic activities and also associated subsurface degassing might create changes in thermal regime and if by any technique this change is detected, it can provide very important clues about future earthquake activities. Thermal satellite remote sensing which can sense the earth's surface emissivity at regular interval introduces a new way of analyzing this phenomenon. Using NOAA-AVHRR thermal infrared time series datasets, three major past earthquakes in Bhuj (India), Boumerdes (Algeria) and Bam (Iran) were analyzed for studying the thermal changes before and after the earthquakes. The study was successful in detecting pre-earthquake thermal anomalies prior to all these earthquakes. Significant thermal anomalies with a rise in temperature of about 5-10°C in the vicinity of the epicenters have been observed. The anomalies disappeared along with the events. Further, using passive microwave SSM/I sensor datasets from DMSP satellites the occurrence of the phenomenon of pre-earthquake thermal anomalies for seven earthquakes in India, China, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan were observed.