Anomalous increase in the foF2 critical frequency prior to the Spanish earthquake of May 11, 2011

A study of variations in the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) prior to a shallow-focus eartquake with a magnitude M = 5.1 which occurred in Spain on May 11, 2011, is carried out. The obtained results show that a positive disturbance in the foF2 value was observed at the ionospheric Del’ebre station, which is the closest to the earthquake epicenter. At the same time, no disturbances in foF2 are revealed at ionospheric stations located at a greater distance from the epicenter. This fact makes it possible to conclude that the positive disturbance in the F2 layer observed at the Del’ebre station could have a sesmogenic nature.     

Catastrophic Tohoku earthquake of March 11, 2011, in Japan

The results of the comparative analysis of parameters of the Tohoku earthquake (Honshu Island, Japan) of March 11, 2011, 05:46 UTC and its aftershocks are presented.     

Relation between daytime and nighttime values of the critical frequency foF2

The relation between the daytime in the nighttime values of the critical frequencies (foF2) of the ionospheric F ₂ layer is considered. The correlation coefficient of foF2 measured at 1400 and 0200 LT of the same day is considered in various seasons of years with different solar activity (during the complete cycle of solar activity in 1979–1989). Special accent is made on the dependencies of the above mentioned correlation on a choice of magnetically quiet days with various limitations on maximal values of geomagnetic index Ap. It has been obtained that a statistically significant negative correlation between the foF2(1400) and foF2(0200) is more pronounced in the periods of high solar activity. The effect increases with increasing limitation of the considered days on value of Ap: the largest values of the correlation coefficient are observed if only very quiet days are considered (Ap < 6). There are preliminary indications that the considered relation between daytime and nighttime foF2 values depends on latitude.     

Anomalous crustal strain prior to the 1923 Kanto,Japan, earthquake as deduced from analysis of old triangulation data

Horizontal earth's strains preceding the Kanto, Japan, earthquake of 1, September 1923, are deduced from the analysis of the old triangulation data. The anomalous strains that are several times larger than usual tectonic strain are found in the western part of Tokyo Bay, Sagamihara district, Japan for the observational period 1882/91–1898/1910, while any significant strain is not revealed in the other region of the Kanto district. The Kanto district was surveyed twice during the period 1883/85–1890/92 in the west and during the period 1890/92–1897/99 in the east respectively. The polarity of the detected anomalous strains, the directions and the signs of the principal strains, are quite the same as those of the postseismic crustal strains during the period 1924–74, and are reversed as compared to the coseismic one.The Philippine Sea plate thrusts under the South Kanto district with N25°W direction and pulls down the land during the interseismic period. The aseismic reverse faulting would begin several decades before the 1923 Kanto earthquake along the deep interface between the Asian plate and the convergent Philippine Sea plate. The down-going along the locked part of the interface would be accelerated, thus the compressional stress on the earth's surface might be concentrated over the deep fault plane together with the acceleration of the subsidence at the tip of the peninsula close to the Sagami trough.     

Low frequency seismic noise before a magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake on March 11, 2011

The dynamics of seismic noise before the catastrophic earthquake of March 11, 2011 in Japan is studied in a minute period range using the records of broadband IRIS stations. It is found that the dispersion of the noise and the number of asymmetric pulses recorded within 500 km from the epicenter of the earthquake have drastically increased 1.5 months before the event. This is the highest enhancement ever recorded by these stations during the same interval of the year for the past 15 years since the IRIS network started stably operating. No increase is revealed in the noise recorded beyond 1200 km from the epicenter. The pattern of decay in amplitudes of the anomalous noise with increasing distance from the epicenter to the corresponding stations likely indicates that the sources of the noise were located close to the source of the earthquake. The noise contains both regular and chaotic components.     

2011年日本东北近海地震震源上方的位移

2011年3月11日,一次大的板间地震(MW9.0)发生在日本东北宫城县附近的板块交界处。根据余震分布推测的震源区为约500km长、200km宽的近海区(Japan Meteo-rological Agency,2011)。     

巴基斯坦达尔巴丁(Dalbandin）地震前观测到的电离层foF2异常变化

电离层foF2变化对地震反应非常敏感,与地震有关的电离层扰动变化结果似乎非常有望用于地震短期预测。格林威治时间2011年1月18日20:23分,一次7.2级的大地震发生在巴基斯坦的达尔巴丁(28.73oＮ, 63.92oＥ）。本文研究中,我们必须利用架设在巴基斯坦的伊斯兰堡（33.78oN, 73.06oE）、玛尔坦（32.26oN,71.51oE）和卡拉奇（24.89oN,67.02oE）三个垂直探测台站获得的白天（08:00 a.m. - 05:00 p.m.）小时值数据找出地震前的foF2异常变化特征。结果显示,在达尔巴丁地震前几天,foF2出现了显著变化;并且距离震中最近的台站观测到的频率与幅度异常变化大于较远的位于孕震区边缘的台站。尽管地震异常特征显著,但增加其它电离层参数可以提高foF2异常的高置信度水平。     

The response of the electromagnetic field to the catastrophic earthquake of March 11, 2011

The electric and magnetic variations observed during the earthquake of March 11, 2011 that occurred in the Pacific close to the northeastern coast of Honshu Island in Japan are analyzed. The variations in the electric voltage were measured at the decommissioned submarine telecommunication cable laid on the bed of the Sea of Japan. The neighboring observatories recorded the anomalous geomagnetic variations during the studied time interval; the sources and spatial location of these anomalies are studied. The seismic signals were identified from the seismograms recorded by the broadband seismometer STS-2 at the nearest seismic station.

     

The response of the electromagnetic field to the catastrophic earthquake of March 11, 2011

The electric and magnetic variations observed during the earthquake of March 11, 2011 that occurred in the Pacific close to the northeastern coast of Honshu Island in Japan are analyzed. The variations in the electric voltage were measured at the decommissioned submarine telecommunication cable laid on the bed of the Sea of Japan. The neighboring observatories recorded the anomalous geomagnetic variations during the studied time interval; the sources and spatial location of these anomalies are studied. The seismic signals were identified from the seismograms recorded by the broadband seismometer STS-2 at the nearest seismic station.     

An analysis of geomagnetic response functions prior to the Tohoku,Japan earthquake

Geomagnetic records from 20 Japanese observatories have been used to yield time series of response function (RF) components for 20 years at periods of between 2.5 and 60 min. Six observatories showed anomalous variations lasting 3–5 years in the short period part of the above range of periods prior to the March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The variations could have been intermediate-term precursors. We made a detailed analysis of how noise affects the results using coherence criteria, visual control, and the remote-reference technique. We clarified the conditions that make response functions dependent on geomagnetic activity. For 19 observatories we constructed the tensor of the anomalous magnetic field with Kakioka as the base site. An anomaly in electrical conductivity striking WNW–ESE has been identified beneath the Boso Peninsula near Tokyo in the conditions of strong noise. We sought to corroborate the reality of the anomaly by visual control and processing of nighttime records with minimum noise. We advanced idea that precursors can be monitored using the DC noise field in the presence of a shallow conductivity anomaly. We provided a tectonic interpretation of the obtained RF anomalies. The Boso conductivity anomaly is interpreted as being due to a graben-shaped structure of the sediments and possibly to a deeper plate-tectonics structure, that is, the Sagami Trough. We examine similarities and differences between the Boso anomaly and the Avacha anomaly in Kamchatka, and provided recommendations for further study of the Boso anomaly and for using the Avacha anomaly to monitor EM precursors in Kamchatka.     

On the GPS-based ionospheric perturbation after the Tohoku earthquake of March 11, 2011

Based on the data from the GPS receiving networks in Japan and America which have a high time resolution (2 min), two-dimensional (2D) distributions of the variations in the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) are constructed both close to and far from of the epicenter of the submarine earthquake of March 11, 2011 in Japan. Above the epicenter, a diverging multi-period disturbance appears after the main shock due to the acoustic gravity waves. Far from the epicenter, the wave trains associated with the tsunamigenic atmospheric internal gravity waves are revealed. These atmospheric waves significantly advance the arrival of the tsunami signal initially on the Hawaiian islands and then on the western coast of North America. The presence of the tsunami precursor in the form of atmospheric gravity waves is supported by the numerical calculations and by the analysis of the dispersion relation for the waves in the atmosphere. The detected ionospheric responses close and far from the epicenter can be used in the early tsunami warning systems.     

Geotechnical engineering aspects of the catastrophic Tohoku (Japan) earthquake of March 11, 2011: the review of first results

Geotechnical engineering aspects of the catastrophic earthquake, which occurred in Japan on March, 11, 2011 and called Tohoku earthquake are discussed. A review is presented of the first results obtained mainly by Japanese scientists based on records of seismic networks of Japan K-NET, Kik-net and on GPS data. The basic concepts of seismic zoning in Japan and the location of the Tohoku-oki earthquake on the seismic zoning maps are described, as well as models of the source process obtained by various authors based on teleseismic data, strong motion data, GPS data, and tsunami observations. The recorded peak accelerations and velocities and their correspondence to the current empirical attenuation curves are discussed. The records of the Tohoku earthquake made by Japanese seismic networks K-NET, Kik-net and some others represent unique seismological material and the most complete seismic database (including vertical array records) in the near-source zone of a strongest earthquake with magnitude M _w = 9. These data will be studied by seismologists all over the world for many years and, probably, they will answer many questions of geotechnical seismic engineering.     

M_W9 Tohoku earthquake in 2011 in Japan: precursors uncovered by natural time analysis

This paper reviews the precursory phenomena of the 2011 MW9 Tohoku earthquake in Japan that emerge solely when we analyze the seismicity data in a new time domain termed natural time. If we do not consider this analysis, important precursory changes cannot be identified and hence are missed. Natural time analysis has the privilege that enables the introduction of an order parameter of seismicity. In this frame, we find that the fluctuations of this parameter exhibit an unprecedented characteristic change, i.e., an evident minimum, approximately two months before Tohoku earthquake, which strikingly is almost simultaneous with unique anomalous geomagnetic field variations recorded mainly on the z component. This is consistent with our finding that such a characteristic change in seismicity appears when a seismic electric signal(SES) activity of the VAN method(from the initials of Varotsos, Alexopoulos, Nomicos) initiates, and provides a direct confirmation of the physical interconnection between SES and seismicity.     

Tsunami damage to coastal defences and buildings in the March 11th 2011 M w 9.0 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami

On March 11th 2011 a M _w 9.0 mega-thrust interface subduction earthquake, the Great East Japan Earthquake, occurred 130 km off the northeast coast of Japan in the Pacific Ocean at the Japan Trench, triggering tsunami which caused damage along 600 km of coastline. Observations of damage to buildings (including vertical evacuation facilities) and coastal defences in Tōhoku are presented following investigation by the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) at 10 locations in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. Observations are presented in the context of the coastal setting and tsunami characteristics experienced at each location. Damage surveys were carried out in Kamaishi City and Kesennuma City using a damage scale for reinforced concrete (RC), timber and steel frame buildings adapted from an earlier EEFIT tsunami damage scale. Observations show that many sea walls and breakwaters were overtopped, overturned, or broken up, but provided some degree of protection. We show the extreme variability of damage in a local area due to inundation depth, flow direction, velocity variations and sheltering. Survival of many RC shear wall structures shows their high potential to withstand local earthquake and significant tsunami inundation but further research is required into mitigation of scour, liquefaction, debris impact, and the prevention of overturning failure. Damage to steel and timber buildings are also discussed. These observations are intended to contribute to mitigation of future earthquake and tsunami damage by highlighting the key features which influence damage level and local variability of damage sustained by urban coastal infrastructure when subjected to extreme tsunami inundation depths.     

On the earthquake of March 11, 2011 near the northeastern coast of Honshu Island

The paper addresses the interpretation of the location, type, and size of the source for the earth-quake of March 11, 2011. The source—a subvertical reverse fault trending in the azimuth of ∼25° along the island arc—is located in the middle part of the Pacific slope of Honshu Island, between 38°–38.5°N and 35.5°N. The length of the source, about 350 km, approximately corresponds to a magnitude ∼8.7 earthquake. In the north, the source is bounded by a sublatitudinal reverse fault, which generated an earthquake with magnitude 7.2–7.5 in 1978. On this segment of the Pacific slope of Honshu Island, there are probably another one or a few other large seismic sources, which are still latent. They are longitudinal reverse faults, which are comparable in scale with the source of the March, 2011 earthquake. The recurrence period of the maximal earthquakes in such sources is more than 1000 years.     

Ground motion characteristics and shaking damage of the 11th March 2011 M w9.0 Great East Japan earthquake

A catastrophic M _w9.0 earthquake and subsequent giant tsunami struck the Tōhoku and Kanto regions of Japan on 11th March 2011, causing tremendous casualties, massive damage to structures and infrastructure, and huge economic loss. This event has revealed weakness and vulnerability of urban cities and modern society in Japan, which were thought to be one of the most earthquake-prepared nations in the world. Nevertheless, recorded ground motion data from this event offer invaluable information and opportunity; their unique features include very strong short-period spectral content, long duration, and effects due to local asperities as well as direction of rupture/wave propagation. Aiming at gaining useful experience from this tragic event, Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) organised and dispatched a team to the Tōhoku region of Japan. During the EEFIT mission, ground shaking damage surveys were conducted in Sendai, Shirakawa, and Sukagawa, where the Japan Meteorological Agency intensity of 6+ was observed and instrumentally recorded ground motion data were available. The damage survey results identify the key factors for severe shaking damage, such as insufficient lateral reinforcement and detailing in structural columns from structural capacity viewpoint and rich spectral content of ground shaking in the intermediate vibration period range from seismic demand viewpoint. Importantly, inclusion of several ground motion parameters, such as nonlinear structural response, in shaking damage surveys, can improve the correlation of observed ground motion with shaking damage and therefore enhance existing indicators of potential damage.     

Anomalous modification of the ionospheric total electron content prior to the 26 September 2005 Peru earthquake

This paper investigates the features of pre-earthquake ionospheric anomalies in the total electron content (TEC) data obtained on the basis of regular GPS observations from the International GNSS Service (IGS) network. For the analysis of the ionospheric effects of the 26 September 2005 Peru earthquake, Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs) of TEC were used. The possible influence of the earthquake preparation processes on the main low-latitude ionosphere peculiarity—the equatorial anomaly—is discussed. Analysis of the TEC maps has shown that modification of the equatorial anomaly occurred a few days before the earthquake. In previous days, during the evening and night hours (local time—LT), a specific transformation of the TEC distribution had taken place. This modification took the shape of a double-crest structure with a trough near the epicenter, though usually in this time the restored normal latitudinal distribution with a maximum near the magnetic equator is observed. Additional measurements (CHAMP satellite) have also confirmed the presence of this structure. To compare the vertical TEC measurements obtained with GPS satellite signals (GPS TEC), the International Reference Ionosphere, IRI-2001, was used for calculating the IRI TEC.     

本州M_W9.1地震前破裂区内地震与地球自转之间的相关现象

强震发生前震源系统可能处于不稳定状态,在这种情况下,震中附近地区的地震活动或许会对微小的应力变化敏感.地球自转会在震源断层面上引起应力,地球自转速率变化也会在震源断层面上引起应力变化.由于地球自转速率变化非常微小,在震源断层面上引起应力变化也非常微弱,如果震源区处于极不稳定状态,这种微弱的应力变化或许会激发一些地震活动.这些被激发的地震活动将会表现出与地球自转速率变化的显著相关性.为了考察2011年3月11日日本本州9.1地震发生前震中附近地区是否存在与地球自转速率变化显著相关的地震活动,选取2000年1月-2011年2月M≥5.0地震集中活动区域为研究区域,根据USGS发布的1991年1月-2011年2月的地震目录,利用舒斯特(Schuster)统计检验方法,研究了地球自转与本州M_W9.1地震前发生的地震活动之间的相关性.检验结果用P值来评估,P值越低表示相关性越显著.结果如下:在研究区内5.4≤M≤6.9地震的P值的时间变化显示本州M_W9.1地震前从2009年6月-2010年1月存在低于0.5%的P值.当P值达最低值时,约82%的5.4≤M≤6.9地震发生在地球自转速率季节性变化的加速期,显示出了地震活动与地球自转速率加速之间的显著相关性.取3°×3°的空间窗,以0.1°的步长沿经度和纬度滑动对P值进行空间扫描,可以得到P值的空间分布.扫描区域远大于研究区,经纬度范围为(33°N-43°N,138°E-147°E).在P值的空间分布图上,可发现在P值处于最低值期间,低于0.5%的P值集中分布在研究区的北部,本州M_W9.1地震震中位于这个低P值区的边缘.因此,本州M_W9.1地震前在其破裂区内存在显著的与地球自转相关的地震活动现象,说明破裂区内存在非常不稳定的地区.     

Time variations in teleseismic reisduals prior to the magnitude 5.1 Bear Valley earthquake of February 24, 1972

Summary Teleseismic arrivals for large earthquakes occurring in the Circum-Pacific seismic source regions have been analysed forP-velocity variations prior to the February 24, 1972, Bear Valley earthquake at several stations in the vicinity of Bear Valley, California. The teleseismic arrivals have been analysed by the method of two-station residuals and corrected for observed azimuthal variations. The data covers the time period of July, 1971, through April, 1972, and suggests that during part of January, 1972, aP-velocity anomaly occurred beneath station BVL 2 km from the epicenter of the magnitude 5.1 Bear Valley event. A maximum vertical travel time delay of 0.15 seconds is observed. No other anomalous behavior associated with this event is suggested by the data for the other stations ranging from 7 to 19 km from the event's epicenter. These results support an anomalous zone of limited size with a maximum horizontal extent of less than 5 km perpendicular and about 10 km parallel to the San Andreas fault relative to the epicenter and confined within a 5 to 10 km portion of the uppermost crust. Also aP-velocity delay for waves travelling essentially along the intermediate stress axis would imply in this case that theP-velocity anomaly is caused by a bulk modulus mechanism such as that proposed by the dilatancy-fluid flow theory.