Ionospheric variations observed by the DEMETER satellite in the mid-latitude region during strong earthquakes

The French micro-satellite DEMETER (Detection of Electromagnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions) was launched on June 29, 2004. The orbit of DEMETER is polar, circular with an altitude of 710 km. The main scientific objective of this mission is to study the ionospheric perturbations, which may be linked to seismic activity. To achieve this, the payload of DEMETER allows the measurement of some important plasma parameters (ion composition, electron density, temperature and energetic particles). This paper presents examples of electron and ion density irregularities simultaneously observed for three earthquakes that occurred in the mid-latitude region. The DEMETER in situ measurements show the presence of electron and ion density irregularities near the epicenter of these earthquakes. These perturbations were recorded by the ISL (Langmuir Probe) and IAP (thermal plasma analyzer) experiments onboard DEMETER. The repetitiveness of the perturbations close to the epicenters is shown for these three events.     

玉树地震前电离层VLF信号信噪比变化

2010年4月13日23点49分38秒(世界时), 青海省玉树县发生了M_S7.1地震. 根据法国DEMETER卫星电场探测仪(ICE)实验数据, 研究震区上空半径500 km范围内电离层10—20 kHz甚低频(VLF)电场频谱信噪比发现, 玉树地震前3个不同频率的地面VLF发射站信号对应的信噪比均出现相同的变化特征, 即震前DEMETER卫星1个重访周期内的平均信噪比明显减弱, 而2009年相同时段和区域的平均信噪比并未出现相似变化趋势. 分析认为, 玉树地震孕震期信噪比衰减现象很可能是由地震-电离层耦合所致.      

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．      

DEMETER卫星磁场波形数据分析方法初探

为充分利用法国DEMETER地震电磁卫星中心提供的磁场波形数据对地震事件进行分析研究,详细介绍了峰度演化方法,并对峰度演化方法的有效性进行了检验.最后将峰度演化方法应用于汶川地震前后DEMETER卫星所记录到的实际数据.分析研究发现.所采用的方法能够较好的处理DEMETER卫星记录到的磁场波形数据:汶川地震发生之前较长...     

利用DEMETER卫星数据分析汶川地震前的电离层异常

DEMETER卫星由法国于2004年6月发射,高度约为665 km,圆轨道且经过极区,其主要目的是研究与地震有关的电离层异常.2008年5月12日6∶28（世界时）在四川省汶川县（31.02°N, 103.37°E）发生了M_s8.0级的特大地震.本文分析了在震前一周内DEMETER卫星观测到的电离层异常.这些异常主要包括：（1）卫星在震前4天和5天经过震中附近时,记录到电子浓度、电子温度和氧离子浓度出现剧烈变化（变化率均超过20%）;（2）在震前3天和7天,卫星探测到增强的电磁辐射.同时利用ELF频段（0~1250 Hz）的三分量电场和磁场数据,对异常电磁辐射作了进一步的分析（计算了电场功率谱、磁场功率谱、波矢方向和极化特性等）.另外,考查了观测期间的地磁指数,由此得出观测到的异常现象不大可能由地磁活动引起.最后,对震前出现的这些电离层异常的可能的物理机理进行了讨论.     

地震电磁卫星电离层扰动研究进展综述

本文总结了国内外关于地震电离层扰动现象研究的主要进展, 主要介绍了法国DEMETER卫星及其相关的统计研究和震例研究成果, 总结了目前地震电离层扰动前兆震例研究的一般步骤, 介绍了地震孕育过程中产生的电磁异常信息向电离层传播的可能途径, 包括化学途径、 声学途径和电磁途径。 大量的研究成果表明地震电离层异常的存在, 在地震发生前几个小时至几天或几个月电离层扰动被探测到, 但是地震电离层扰动前兆能否作为地震预报方法, 还有许多需要深入研究的问题。 本文提出了地震电离层研究需要解决的几个重要问题。     

Variability of the F region of the equatorial ionosphere during quiet geomagnetic conditions prior to strong earthquakes

The deviations in the hourly values of the F-region critical frequency from the monthly median for the ionospheric Huancayo station located near the magnetic equator during periods of quiet geomagnetic conditions are analyzed for 1957–1987. Ionospheric data for five days prior, one day after, and directly for the days of 33 strong (with a magnitude M ≥ 5.5) earthquakes with epicenters in the American longitudinal sector were used. It is revealed that, in 24 cases 1–5 days prior to the considered earthquakes, a decrease in the critical frequencies by more than 20% with a duration from one to six hours was observed mainly in the nighttime. One can assume that these effects (at least, part of them) are related to the processes of earthquake preparation. Disturbances were mainly detected in cases when the radius of the earthquake preparation zone exceeded the distance between the epicenter and the observation station. The need for a further study of the characteristics of different kinds of coupling “from below” on electrodynamical processes in the low-latitude ionosphere for successful recognition of disturbances of the seismogenic nature is noted.     

Analysis of seismoionospheric disturbances at the Chain of Japanese stations for vertical sounding of the ionosphere

Seismoionospheric disturbances in the parameters of the ionospheric F ₂ and sporadic E layers at the chain of the Japanese stations for vertical sounding of the ionosphere before strong crustal earthquakes with M>6.5 during the period from 1968 to 1992 have been considered. The dependence of the disturbance time of appearance in the ionospheric parameters on the earthquake magnitude and epicentral distance, obtained for each specific earthquake using the selected series of ionospheric stations, made it possible to consider these disturbances among medium-term precursors of earthquakes. The velocity of the disturbance front apparent motion has been determined based on the model of horizontal radially-isotropic disturbance propagation from the projection of the impending earthquake epicenter to the ionospheric altitudes. The conclusion has been made that the distinguished seismoionospheric disturbances follow the boundary of the earthquake preparation region, expanding on the Earth’s surface.     

电离层异常能否作为地震前兆的研究

分析日本４次地震前５个电离层垂测站资料,发现地震前后震中附近夜间电离层偶发Ｅ层的临界频率ｆ０Ｅｓ值多数呈下降趋势,少数呈增加趋势。分析国际地球物理年（ＩＧＹ）期间多个地震震中附近电离层垂测站资料,提出ｆ０Ｆ２参数变异的统计特性是震前有正扰趋势。本对震源电场影响电离层的机制进行了探讨。研究表明,地城前的电离层异常有可能作为地震前兆。     

利用DEMETER卫星数据统计分析全球Mw≥7.0 地震的电离层电子浓度异常

基于法国DEMETER卫星ISL探测器升轨数据,统计分析了2005—2009年全球37个M_w≥7.0级地震前后电离层电子浓度变化.结果发现,共有19个地震（51%）前观测到了较为明显的电子浓度异常扰动现象,其中大部分表现为异常增强;观测到的电子浓度异常现象一般出现在震前1~5天内,也有部分地震前出现两次及以上扰动现象.分析表明,在赤道和中低纬地区更容易观测到明显的电子浓度扰动,即异常震例基本发生在纬度±40°以内（18次）,更是以±20°内居多（13次）.此外,震源深度对电子浓度扰动的影响并不明显,而震级大小则与扰动幅度基本上呈正相关;震前出现的电子浓度异常有时会受到地磁活跃的共同影响,此时的扰动幅度一般较大.地震电离层扰动现象是复杂多变的,需要联合地基和天基手段共同观测,并从机理上加强研究.     

Main Factors Affecting the Distribution of the Macroscopic Destruction Field of Earthquake

It is proposed that some possible macroseismic epicenters can be determined quickly from the relationship that the microseismic epicenters located by instruments bear with faults.Based on these so-called macroseismic epicenters,we can make fast seismic hazard estimation after a shock by use of the empirical distribution model of seismic intensity.In comparison with the method that uses the microseismic epicenters directly,this approach can increase the preccision of fast seismic hazard estimation.Statistical analysis of 133 main earthquakes in China was made.The result shows that the deviation distance between the microseismic epicenter and macroseismic epicenter falls within the range of 35km for 88% earthquakes of the total and within the range of 35to 75km for the remaining ones.Then,we can take the area that has the microseismic epicenter as its center and is 35km in radius as the area for emphatic analysis,and take the area within 75km around the microseismic epicenter as the area for general analysis.The relation between the 66 earthquake cases on the N-S Seismic Belt in China and the spatial distribution characteristics of faults and the results of focal mechanism solution were analyzed in detail.We know from the analysis that the error of instrumental epicenter determination is not the only factor that gives effects to the deviation of the macroseismic epicenter.In addiditon to it,the fault size,fault distribution,fault activity,fault intersection types,earthquake magnitude,etc,are also main affecting factors.By sorting out ,processing and analyzing these affecting factors,the principle and procedures for quickly determining the possible position of the macroseismic epicenter were set up.Taking these as a basis and establishing a nationwide database of faults that contains relevant factors,it is possible to apply this method in practical fast estimation of seismic hazard.     

EOS/MODIS卫星遥感热红外辐射与台湾地区地震探讨

使用MODIS卫星遥感数据对台湾地区发生的地震进行探索性预测。对台湾地区2004年以来5级以上地震进行总结、归纳,结果表明,台湾地区大部分中强地震发生前20天左右出现了亮温异常比值突跳,发震区并不在亮温明显升温区域,而是在其附近100千米附近。震级和亮温增温比值之间没有明显的正比关系。     

Ionospheric perturbations before Pu’er earthquake observed on DEMETER

A destructive shock with magnitude of 6.3 occurred on 2 June 2007 at 21h34min56s UT in Pu’er region (23.0°N, 101.1°E), Yunnan Province, China. The data from DEMETER satellite during the period from 23 May to 2 June, i.e., ten days before the earthquake and one day just on the day of earthquake occurrence, were analyzed. Among the 284 orbits of DEMETER during the period, 29 orbits with the trace passing through the region within 1 888 km from the epicenter were selected to be studied. Seven anomalous events were found on the dataset of the seven orbits among the 29 ones. There existed synchronous perturbations on the variations of the spectrogram of the electric field and the variations of the density and temperature of the ions and electron, in contrast with the variations of its surround- ing area. And five events appeared in the space within 1 888 km from the epicenter while the other two were out of the studied area. Electrostatic turbulences were also recorded with the synchronous perturbations with that in the electron density and ions density in plasma in the region near the epicenter in the five events, which seems to sug- gest that there be some physical relation between these events and the preparation processes of Pu’er earthquake.     

Statistical search for non-random features of the seismicity of strong earthquakes

The space-time-magnitude relationship among worldwide earthquakes of magnitude M ? 7 has been investigated with a view toward discerning the statistical reliability of possibilities of epicenter migration, gaps in seismic activity, and techniques of identifying aftershocks and foreshocks. The statistical procedure involves the calculation of the second-order moment of the sequences. The statistical validity of the results was obtained by modeling the interaction of discrete seismic events by a multidimensional branching stochastic point process.The results are that epicenters of large earthquakes migrate with velocities between 300 and 2,000 km/year with a significance level greater than 99.5%; the maximum likelihood estimate of the velocity of migration of large aftershocks of large earthquakes is about 1,400 km/year; foreshocks of large earthquakes have a maximum likelihood estimate of velocity of migration of about 2,800 km/year. A gap in seismic activity occurs before large earthquakes; with somewhat less confidence, a gap also occurs after large earthquakes, after the aftershock sequence has ended. The number of immediate foreshocks is 35–40% of the number of aftershocks. Aftershocks are comparatively weaker than foreshocks when compared with the main shock. There are hints, that are not fully statistically confirmed, of interaction among large earthquakes in different depth ranges.     

地电阻率瞬时突变序列变化与临震预报

本文采用断裂力学观点，分析研究了一些临震预报实验结果与地电实际观测资料。发现在强震与部分中强震前，震中附近的台站，除能预测到有关地震的地电阻率日突变序列的短期异常变化外，在瞬时突变序上还能看到临震前明显的突变现象，还是震前三个月里的最大瞬时突变，从它的出现至发震所需的时间，将随震中距的减少而缩短，且与震级有关，对于强震多集中出现在震前一个月内，中强震为十天内，并有由外围向震中收缩的趋势，其平均收缩     

Intraplate seismicity of the Pacific Basin, 1913–1988

We establish here a comprehensive database of intraplate seismicity in the Pacific Basin. Relocation and analysis of 894 earthquakes yield 403 reliable intraplate earthquakes during 1913–1988. These numbers do not include earthquake swarms, which account for another 838 events. Most of the remainder (304 events) are actually plate boundary earthquakes that have been erroneously located in intraplate regions. A significant number occur in recent years when location capabilities should have guarded against this situation. Relocations involve a careful linear inversion ofP andS arrivals, accompanied by a Monte Carlo statistical analysis. We have also attentively removed the high number of clerical errors and nuclear tests that exist in epicenter bulletins.A geographical examination of the relocated epicenters reveals several striking features. There are three NW-SE lineaments north of the Fiji Plateau and in Micronesia; diffuse seismicity and incompatible focal mechanisms argue against the southernmost, discussed byOkal et al. (1986) andKroenke andWalker (1986), as the simple relocation of the Solomon trench to the North. Besides another striking lineament, along the 130°W meridian, there is also a strong correlation between seismicity and bathymetry in certain parts of the Basin. In the Eastcentral Pacific and Nazca plates there are many epicenters on fracture zones and fossil spreading ridges, and hot spot traces like the Louisville, Nazca and Cocos Ridges also display seismicity.     

Anomaly of the ionospheric electron density close to earthquakes: Case studies of Pu'er and Wenchuan earthquakes

The electron density recorded onboard the DEMETER satellite was analyzed to search for possible anomalies before earthquakes both in space and time. To distinguish pre-earthquake anomalies from the other anomalies related to geomagnetic activity, data were filtered using the K_p index. The analysis is based on the comparison of data recorded closely to earthquakes in space and time and past data for the same area. In analyzing data around the time and location of the Pu’er and Wenchuan earthquakes, obvious anomalies in electron density were found close to the epicenters, and some remarkable disturbances were detected before the earthquakes occurred. The results were finally compared with those of previous works that used the same data but employed different analysis methods. Good agreement was found which suggests that these anomalies have a close relation to the earthquake preparation.     

国际监测系统(IMS)对内华达地区地震事件的检测和定位能力分析

通过对国际数据中心(IDC)审议地震公报(REB)与美国先进的国家地震系统(ANSS)地震目录的比较,分析了国际监测系统(IMS)对美国内华达地区地震事件的检测和定位能力,以及影响监测结果的主要因素.结果表明,对内华达地区的地震事件,IMS最低可检测mb为2.1的地震事件.对M＞4.5的地震事件,IMS可以全部检测;对...     

Ionospheric and geomagnetic disturbances during the 2005 Sumatran earthquakes

This paper investigates the ionospheric and geomagnetic responses during the 28 March 2005 and 14 May 2005 Sumatran earthquakes using GPS and magnetometer stations located in the near zone of the epicenters. These events occurred during low solar and geomagnetic activity. TEC oscillations with periods of 5–10 min were observed about 10–24 min after the earthquakes and have horizontal propagation velocities of 922–1259 m/s. Ionospheric disturbances were observed at GPS stations located to the northeast of the epicenters, while no significant disturbances were seen relatively east and south of the epicenters. The magnetic field measurements show rapid fluctuations of 4–5 s shortly after the earthquake, followed by a Pc5 pulsation of 4.8 min about 11 min after the event. The correlation between the ionospheric and geomagnetic responses shows a good agreement in the period and time lag of the peak disturbance arrival, i.e. about 11–13 min after the earthquake.     

Statistical analysis of ionospheric TEC anomalies before global <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis><Subscript>w</Subscript> ≥ 7.0 earthquakes using data of CODE GIM

Based on Center of Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE) global ionospheric map (GIM) data, a statistical analysis of local total electron content (TEC) anomalies before 121 low-depth (D ≤ 100 km) strong (M _w ≥ 7.0) earthquakes has been made using the sliding median differential calculation method combining with a new approach of image processing technique. The results show that significant local TEC anomalies could be observed 0–6 days before 80 earthquakes, about 66.1% out of the total. The positive anomalies occur more often than negative ones. For 26 cases, both positive and negative anomalies are observed before the shock. The pre-earthquake TEC anomalies show local time recurrence for 38 earthquakes, which occur around the same local time on different days. The local time distribution of the pre-earthquake TEC anomalies mainly concentrates between 19 and 06 LT, roughly from the sunset to sunrise. Most of the pre-earthquake TEC anomalies do not locate above the epicenter but shift to the south. The pre-earthquake TEC anomalies could be extracted near the magnetic conjugate point of the epicenter for 40 events, which is 50% out of the total 80 cases with significant local TEC anomalies. In general, the signs of the anomalies around epicenter and its conjugate point are the same, but the abnormal magnitude and lasting time are not.