A model of the generation of electromagnetic emissions detected prior to earthquakes

Recent satellite and ground-based observations prove that during the formative period of earthquakes VLF/LF and ULF electromagnetic emissions are observed in seismogenic areas. This work offers an original model of self-generated electromagnetic oscillations of local segments of the lithospheric origins of the emissions. In the paper, the seismogenic area is considered to be an oscillatory-distributed system. This model simplifies physical analyses of the nonlinear effects and qualitatively explains the mechanisms that generate very low frequency electromagnetic waves in the period prior to an earthquake.     

Aspects regarding the use of the INFREP network for identifying possible seismic precursors

In the last decades, one of the main research directions in identifying seismic precursors involved monitoring VLF (Very Low Frequency) and LF (Low Frequency) radio waves and analysing their propagation characteristics. Essentially this method consists of monitoring different available VLF and LF transmitters from long distance reception points. The received signal has two major components: the ground wave and the sky wave, where the sky wave propagates by reflection on the lower layers of the ionosphere. It is assumed that before and during major earthquakes, unusual changes may occur in the lower layers of the ionosphere, such as the modification of the charged particles number density and the altitude of the reflection zone. Therefore, these unusual changes in the ionosphere may generate unusual variations in the received signal level.The International Network for Frontier Research on Earthquake Precursors (INFREP) was developed starting with 2009 and consists of several dedicated VLF and LF radio receivers used for monitoring various radio transmitters located throughout Europe. The receivers’ locations were chosen so that the propagation path from these VLF/LF stations would pass over high seismicity regions while others were chosen to obtain different control paths.The monitoring receivers are capable of continuously measuring the received signal amplitude from the VLF/LF stations of interest. The recorded data is then stored and sent to an INFREP database, which is available on the Internet for scientific researchers. By processing and analysing VLF and LF data samples, collected at different reception points and at different periods of the year, one may be able to identify some distinct patterns in the envelope of the received signal level over time. Significant deviations from these patterns may have local causes such as the electromagnetic pollution at the monitoring point, regional causes like existing electrical storms over the propagation path or even global causes generated by high-intensity solar flares. As a consequence, classifying these perturbations and minimizing them (when possible) would represent an important step towards identifying significant pattern deviations caused by seismic activities.Taken into consideration some of the issues mentioned above, this paper intends to present some aspects meant to improve the overall performance of the existing INFREP network. The signal-to-noise ratio improvement of the monitoring receiver may be achieved by relocating the antenna (or even the entire monitoring system if possible) in areas with less electromagnetic pollution within the VLF and LF bands. Other solution may involve replacing the existing electric “whip” antennas with magnetic loop antennas.Regarding the measuring method, long-term averaging of the received signal to reduce the electromagnetic noise should be carefully applied. If the averaging time is too long, there is a risk that, during a seismic event, the details of the received signal envelope would be lost. Moreover, this may reduce the possibility of making correlations between the monitored stations and INFREP receivers in case of sudden ERP (Effective Radiated Power) variations of the VLF/LF stations. For the same reason, the time synchronization of the recorded data using (for instance) GPS technology is highly recommended.Other aspects related to the overall performance improvement of the INFREP network consist of monitoring other VLF/LF stations such as the Krasnodar station (south of Russia), part of the ALPHA/RSDN-20 VLF navigation system, or the 77.5 kHz DCF77 time signal transmitter (near Frankfurt am Main, Germany). Moreover, the installation of a new reception point in Romania (near Cluj-Napoca) for monitoring the Vrancea area (within the Carpathians Mountains) and the Adriatic region will provide complementary scientific data within the network.     

Probing the lower ionospheric perturbations associated with earthquakes by means of subionospheric VLF/LF propagation

There have been reports for many years that the ionosphere is very sensitive to seismic effects, and the detection of ionospheric perturbations associated with earthquakes (EQs) attracts a lot of attention as a very promising candidate for short-term EQ prediction. In this review we present a possible use of VLF/LF (very low frequency (3–30 kHz)/low frequency (30–300 kHz)) radio sounding of seismo-ionospheric perturbations. In order to avoid the overlapping with my own previous reviews, we first show some pioneering results for the Kobe EQ and we try to present the latest results including the statistical evidence on the correlation between the VLF/LF propagation anomalies (ionospheric perturbations) and EQs (especially with large magnitude and with shallow depth), medium-distance (6-8 Mm) propagation anomalies, the fluctuation spectra of subionospheric VLF/LF data (the effect of atmospheric gravity waves, the effect of Earth's tides, etc.), and the mechanism of lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling. Finally, we indicate the present situation of this kind of VLF/LF activities going on in different parts of the globe and we suggest the importance of international collaboration in this seismo-electromagnetic study.     

甚低频/低频人工源电波信号地震应用研究进展

甚低频/低频人工源电波作为一种主动源发射的通讯导航信号,因其长距离波导传播的特性在地-电离层观测及应用中表现出极大的优势.本文总结了二十世纪末以来基于甚低频/低频(VLF/LF)电波观测技术及其数据分析方法、典型震例及统计研究成果、圈层耦合机理等方面的研究进展,并通过探讨其应用成果的快速积累及前兆扰动起源等研究难点,展...     

Experimental study of the features of VLF, MF, HF and VHF electromagnetic radiation accompanying rock fracture

In order to investigate the physical mechanism of seismo-electromagnetic signals, many scholars from China and other countries have carried out laboratory and field experiments of rock samples by loading them up to fracture in recent ten-odd years. In each of these experiments, the phenomenon of electromagnetic radiation was observed during the process of rock sample fracture. However, the experimental results can not explain the non-synchronous electromagnetic radiation in actual observation records. In these records, some stations displayed anomalies but some others did not, and the signals of different frequency bands observed by the same station did not occur simultaneously. This has brought about many difficulties to the application of electromagnetic radiation in earthquake prediction. The experimental result of this paper can explain the phenomenon of non-synchronous electromagnetic radiation. In the experiment of this paper, rock samples are uniaxially compressed up to fracture. The antennas of different frequency bands are installed two meters away from the rock sample in different directions. The electromagnetic signals during the whole process of rock sample fracture are recorded synchronously by a 14-channel tape recorder. The experimental results are as follows: (1) signals of the four frequency bands: VLF, MF, HF and VHF, are all recorded during the main fracturing process of rock samples, but signals of different frequencies may somtimes occur non-synchronously; (2) the intensity of electromagnetic radiation is the highest at the moment when the main fracture occurs, but signals in different directions are of different intensities. The above results are consistent with the non-synchronous electromagnetic radiation observed in real earthquakes. It seems possible to predict the orientation of future seismic source by the electromagnetic method of the LF or VLF frequency bands. Contribution No. 95A0075, Institute of Geophysics, SSB, China. The paper is translated by Prof.Jie-Fan HUANG, Peking University from the Chinese into English version.     

Neural network technique for identifying prognostic anomalies from low-frequency electromagnetic signals in the Kuril–Kamchatka region

In this paper, we suggest a technique for forecasting seismic events based on the very low and low frequency (VLF and LF) signals in the 10 to 50 Hz band using the neural network approach, specifically, the error back-propagation method (EBPM). In this method, the solution of the problem has two main stages: training and recognition (forecasting). The training set is constructed from the combined data, including the amplitudes and phases of the VLF/LF signals measured in the monitoring of the Kuril-Kamchatka region and the corresponding parameters of regional seismicity. Training the neural network establishes the internal relationship between the characteristic changes in the VLF/LF signals a few days before a seismic event and the corresponding level of seismicity. The trained neural network is then applied in a prognostic mode for automated detection of the anomalous changes in the signal which are associated with seismic activity exceeding the assumed threshold level. By the example of several time intervals in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, we demonstrate the efficiency of the neural network approach in the short-term forecasting of earthquakes with magnitudes starting from M ≥ 5.5 from the nighttime variations in the amplitudes and phases of the LF signals on one radio path. We also discuss the results of the simultaneous analysis of the VLF/LF data measured on two partially overlapping paths aimed at revealing the correlations between the nighttime variations in the amplitude of the signal and seismic activity.     

低纬地区电离层电流的人工调制数值模拟

利用高频泵波能对低电离层进行有效的人工扰动.采用ELF/VLF调幅高频电波对电离层进行加热,电子温度会随着调制频率振荡,并引起电导率周期性变化,从而使加热区内电离层电流周期性变化,形成等效的ELF/VLF电离层虚拟天线,辐射调制频率范围内的无线电波.早期的电离层人工调制研究主要集中在高纬和极区,本文讨论低纬地区电离层人工调制的可能性.本文的理论研究和数值模拟结果表明,低纬地区低电离层电导率在周期性加热的条件下能有效地被调制,使加热区域形成ELF/VLF波的电流辐射源,并分析了不同加热参数和入射条件对调制效果的影响.     

Patterns in the daily periodicity of low magnitude seismicity in Kamchatka

A daily periodicity in small (K ≤ 8. 0) Kamchatka earthquakes has been detected, with the maximum occurring during the nighttime. The effect was not observed throughout the area of study, but only in several zones. We show that the results are not affected by human and weather factors. A hypothesis is put forward to explain the physical causes of the effect, viz., that the daily periodicity of small earthquakes could be due to natural VLF electromagnetic radiation acting on the geologic medium. It is pointed out that the effect is related to the previously identified effect of natural electromagnetic radiation modulating the intensity of geoacoustic emission from rocks.     

ELF and VLF wave generation by HF heating: A comparison of AM and CW techniques

Antenna field 2 of the Tromsø Heating facility consists of six rows of six horizontal crossed full wave dipoles aligned with the rows running geographic east-west. In previous experiments on ELF/VLF wave generation it has been the practice to feed the rows in parallel, with HF radiation amplitude modulated at the ELF/VLF frequency it was desired to radiate (AM configuration). Here we describe how the antenna array was also configured so that it could be fed with a continuous wave (CW) input power but still carry information at an ELF/VLF frequency. To effect this the three southern most rows of the antenna array were driven with a CW signal at 4.04 MHz and the three northernmost rows with a CW signal at frequency greater than 4.04 MHz by the ELF/VLF frequency it was desired to radiate (CW configuration). Experiments were performed with modulation/difference frequencies of 565 and 2005 Hz and the signals were received at the Lycksele Geophysical Observatory, 500 km south of the heating facility. The signals were typically 11 dB greater in the AM than the CW configuration, despite the fact that the average power delivered to the ionosphere in the CW configuration was four times that in the AM configuration. Significant harmonic radiation (both odd and even) was produced in the AM configuration but no harmonic radiation was detected in the CW configuration. A simple theory has been developed to model the fields produced by HF heating using the two techniques (AM,CW). A good agreement has been obtained between the experimental observations and model computations. The model has been extended to show how the relative efficiency of generation, AM/CW, varies with the frequency of the ELF/VLF radiation and HF antenna element spacing. Radiation patterns for the ‘ionospheric ELF/VLF antenna’ have also been derived for the two generation techniques.     

电离层人工调制激发的下行ELF/VLF波辐射

通过大功率ELF/VLF调幅高频波对电离层进行加热,形成电离层虚拟天线,可以作为发射ELF/VLF波的一种有效手段.本文使用汪枫(2009)的调制加热模型,计算高频加热电离层产生的低频辐射源强度,采用全波解算法分析辐射的低频波向下传播过程中的衰减和反射问题,并采用HAARP实验参数,模拟出在海面上接收到的低频信号强度为...     

利用DEMETER卫星数据分析强震前后的电离层异常

基于法国DEMETER卫星观测的离子温度(T_i)、 VLF电磁场单频点频谱数据探索了2008年5月12日汶川M_S8.0、 2010年1月12日海地M_S7.3和2010年2月27日智利M_S8.8等3次强震前后与地震有关的电离层异常现象. 结果发现, 汶川地震前3天(5月9日)震中北偏西方向离子温度明显升高, 震前4天(5月8日)VLF磁场低于200 Hz的频段范围频谱在震中2°以内有明显突升; 智利地震前9天(2月18日)震中北东方向离子温度有剧烈扰动, 震前4天(2月23日)VLF磁场100—160 Hz频段范围内出现突升; 海地地震震前没有观测到明显的异常现象, 但地震发生当天(震后约4—5小时)的T_i, 40—160 Hz频段电场频谱, 以及120—480 Hz磁场频谱均有明显突升, 应为地震发生后能量释放所引起. 分析认为, 不同地震由于发震机制等各种情况的不同, 其地震前后的表现也各不相同. 虽然目前没有直接的证据表明本文研究的异常变化是由地震的孕育和发生引起的, 但在数据处理中已尽可能排除了太阳、 地磁等因素的影响, 并且研究结果与前人的研究经验吻合, 因此本文发现的异常可能与地震发生的关系较大.      

基于LWPC和IRI模型的NWC台站信号传播幅度建模分析

频率为3~30 kHz的甚低频（VLF,Very Low Frequency）电磁波具有波长长、传播距离远的特点,能够沿地面-低电离层波导进行传播,在通信、导航等许多领域都被广泛应用.基于波导模理论的长波传播模型（LWPC,Long-Wavelength Propagation Capability）能够用于计算甚低频波的传播路径及幅度,进而研究耀斑、磁暴、地震等事件对电离层的扰动.本文利用国际电离层参考模型（IRI,International Reference Ionosphere）对LWPC中电子密度和碰撞频率进行改进,并将模拟结果与武汉大学VLF接收机实际观测到的NWC （North West Cape）台站信号幅度进行比较分析,结果表明改进后LWPC模型得到的幅度及变化趋势与实际值更加接近.LWPC模型给出的电子密度与IRI模型得到的电子密度在日间基本一致,但是在夜间存在差异,造成夜间部分区域NWC台站信号幅度的差异性,验证了电离层电子密度对于VLF信号传播具有的重要影响.传播路径上的晨昏变化也可以引起VLF信号幅度分布的突变,在日出和日落时间段内存在明显的过渡区域.基于IRI模型的LWPC,改善了VLF电波传播过程的预测分析效果,提供了一种长波导航通信质量的评估方法.     

汶川震前几种低频事件波形分析

列举分析了国外文献所记载的几类低频事件.选择汶川MS8.0地震主断层附近四川省部分台网宽频带数据,采用相应频段,进行带通滤波处理,检测到4种类似的低频事件波形．分别为低频震颤与滑移事件（ETS事件）,深低频地震事件(LFE事件),深低频震动事件（DLF事件）,以及超低频震动事件（VLF事件）．定位分析实例证实,汶川震前的ETS和DLF等低频事件发生在主断层附近,表明大震发生之前龙门山断裂带附近有低频事件发生,主要为ETS和VLF两类事件及少量DLF事件．因有远震记录与LFE事件时间相近,无法确认此类事件是否存在．低频事件作为天然地震目录的补充,可为大震前兆和触发机理研究提供新的探索方向．      

强震前后空间电磁场时空演化特征

本文利用DEMETER卫星观测到的电磁场数据, 统计分析了2005—2009年全球M_S≥7.0强震前后空间电磁场的时空演化特征． 在震中上空±10°范围内, 使用震前90天至震后30天的5年同期观测到的电磁场极低频/甚低频(370—897 Hz)功率谱密度数据构建了稳定的背景场观测模型, 提取了震中上空的空间电磁场相对于背景场的扰度幅度, 并统计分析了强震前后空间电磁场的时空演化特征． 统计结果显示: 45次M_S≥7.0强震中, 35次强震在地震发生前后磁场最大扰动幅度超过2.2倍标准差, 39次强震的电场最大扰动幅度超过2倍标准差; 最大的电磁扰动主要出现在震中±4°—±10°范围内． 另外, 震中上空的电磁场扰动幅度时序变化表现为3种不同类型的扰动特征, 且震前出现电磁异常的强震震中位置的分布特征与纬度存在一定关系; 而随机选择的非震区上空空间电磁场的扰动幅度则比较小, 未呈现出明显的特征．      

Electric and electromagnetic processes in the near-Earth atmosphere before earthquakes on Kamchatka

Simultaneous records of the diurnal variations in the quasistatic electric field in the near-Earth atmosphere, fluxes of discrete electromagnetic pulses in the VLF band, source azimuths, narrowband filter output emission intensity at frequencies of 4.65 and 5.3 kHz, and time forms and spectra of VLF pulses have been analyzed. The anomalous behavior of these parameters in October 2002 and August 2004 with different time delay was accompanied by earthquakes near the southeastern coast of Kamchatka at distances of 250–400 km from the registration points. Based on the results of a fine frequency-time analysis of the broadband records of VLF signals, it has been indicated for the first time that discrete electromagnetic pulses observed in anomalous fluxes before earthquakes were signals of local thunderstorm processes.     

Interpretation of ground VLF-EM data in terms of inclined sheet-like conductor models

The response of two-dimensional, inclined, sheet-like conductors with, low conductance values to plane wave electromagnetic fields in the very low frequency (VLF) range has been evaluated by using a numerical technique. The conductance values of the conductors considered are appropriate for those produced by water and/or clay-filled fracture and shear zones in the Precambrian crystalline rocks of the Canadian Shield. The surrounding host rock was assumed to be, resistive with resistivities in the 1–10 k.m range to reflect the high resistivities over the shield areas. No overburden was assumed in this analysis.The results of the computations are presented in the form of characteristic interpretation diagrams to interpret ground VLF data in the field, where facilities for direct numerical modelling may not be available. A method for interpreting ground VLF data using such characteristic diagrams has been proposed in this paper which requires a prior knowledge of the host rock resistivity and the inclination of the conductor. These two parameters may be derived from a VLF resistivity survey and from appropriate filtering of the VLF tilt angle response. The interpretation method was applied to a ground VLF anomaly obtained at a research site near Atikokan in NW Ontario, which yielded an interpretation compatible with information from geological mapping.Geological Survey of Canada Contribution No. 51888.     

Changes in animal activity prior to a major (M = 7) earthquake in the Peruvian Andes

During earthquake preparation geophysical processes occur over varying temporal and spatial scales, some leaving their mark on the surface environment, on various biota, and even affecting the ionosphere. Reports on pre-seismic changes in animal behaviour have been greeted with scepticism by the scientific community due to the necessarily anecdotal nature of much of the evidence and a lack of consensus over possible causal mechanisms. Here we present records of changes in the abundance of mammals and birds obtained over a 30 day period by motion-triggered cameras at the Yanachaga National Park, Peru, prior to the 2011 magnitude 7.0 Contamana earthquake. In addition we report on ionospheric perturbations derived from night-time very low frequency (VLF) phase data along a propagation paths passing over the epicentral region. Animal activity declined significantly over a 3-week period prior to the earthquake compared to periods of low seismic activity. Night-time ionospheric phase perturbations of the VLF signals above the epicentral area, fluctuating over the course of a few minutes, were observed, starting 2 weeks before the earthquake. The concurrent observation of two widely different and seemingly unconnected precursory phenomena is of interest because recently, it has been proposed that the multitude of reported pre-earthquake phenomena may arise from a single underlying physical process: the stress-activation of highly mobile electronic charge carriers in the Earth’s crust and their flow to the Earth’s surface. The flow of charge carriers through the rock column constitutes an electric current, which is expected to fluctuate and thereby emit electromagnetic radiation in the ultralow frequency (ULF) regime. The arrival of the charge carriers can lead to air ionization at the ground-to-air interface and the injection of massive amounts of positive airborne ions, known to be aversive to animals.     

Electromagnetic anomalies associated with 1995 Kobe earthquake

Occurrences of anomalous electro-magnetic phenomena at varied frequency ranges, covering ELF to VHF, have been reported in relation to the 17 January 1995 Kobe earthquake (M7.2), by several independent research groups. Prominent pre-seismic peaks, which could have been emitted from the focal area, were observed on 9-10 January in ELF, VLF, LF and HF ranges. Whether these changes were truly related to the earthquake is not certain, because atmospheric (thunderbolt discharge) activities also peaked on 9-10 January. The nomalous changes were markedly enhanced toward the catastrophe in agreement with many reports on unusual radio/TV noise. Anomalous transmission of man-made electromagnetic waves in VLF and VHF ranges was also detected from a few days before the earthquake, indicating the possibility that the ionosphere above the focal zone was disturbed at the final stage of the earthquake preparation process.     

青海平安电磁辐射在中强震前短期前兆异常特征及预报效能研究

分析和整理了青海平安电磁辐射台自1993年7月以来的资料，发现震前平安单台电磁辐射在中强地震临震前有最大脉冲信号，并通过对无震异常，地震异常的分析判断，对其预报效能进行了R值评价。     

地面VLF波穿透电离层的能量衰减变化

地面VLF人工源可以导致辐射带高能粒子沉降.为研究辐射带粒子加速和沉降机制,乃至实现对辐射带电子"人工控制"的设想,需要在精确计算得到VLF人工源在电离层激发电磁场能量分布的基础上,计算哨声波对辐射带电子的调制作用.以往计算VLF人工源在电离层中激发的电磁场能量分布多基于Cary给出的波导中VLF波衰减率和Helliwell提出的经典电离层吸收曲线,但近期研究表明,这些模型结果存在较为明显的误差.本研究建立了地面VLF信号穿透电离层传播的全波计算模型,将计算结果与DEMETER卫星记录的NWC通讯台激发的电磁响应进行对比.虽然模型没有考虑电离层参数水平不均匀性,但模型计算结果与卫星观测值也有较好的一致性.利用经过验证的全波模型计算了不同地磁参数、电离层参数情况下,不同辐射特性的地面VLF辐射在波导中的衰减和穿透电离层时D/E区的吸收值,探讨了上述参数对电磁波能量在波导和D/E区中衰减的影响规律.