Review of Electric and Magnetic Fields Accompanying Seismic and Volcanic Activity

New observations of magnetic, electric and electromagnetic field variations, possibly related to recent volcanic and seismic events, have been obtained on Mt. Unzen in Japan, Reunion Island in Indian Ocean, the Long Valley volcanic caldera in California, and for faults in China and Russia, California and several other locations. For volcanic events, contributions from different physical processes can be identified during the various eruption stages. Slow processes (weeks to months) include near-surface thermal demagnetization effects, piezomagnetic effects, and effects from rotation/displacement of magnetized material. Rapid processes (seconds to days) include piezomagnetic effects from instantaneous stress redistribution with explosive eruptions and electrokinetic effects from rupture of high pressure fluid compartments commonly encountered in volcanic regions. For seismic events, the observed coseismic offsets are instantaneous, provided care has been taken to ensure sensors are insensitive to seismic shaking and are in regions of low magnetic field gradient. Simple piezomagnetic dislocation models based on geodetically and seismically determined fault parameters generally match the observed signals in size and sign. Electrokinetic effects resulting from rupture of fluid filled compartments at hydrostatic to lithostatic pore pressures can generate transient signals in the frequency band 100 Hz to 0.01 Hz. However, large-scale fluid driven processes are not evident in near-field measurements in the epicentral region minutes to weeks before large earthquakes. The subset of ionospheric disturbances generated by trapped atmospheric pressure waves (also termed gravity waves and/or acoustic waves, traveling ionospheric disturbances or TID's) that are excited by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common and propagate to great distances. These are known and expected consequences of earthquakes, volcanic explosions (and other atmospheric disturbances), that must be identified and their effects removed from VLF/ULF electromagnetic field records before associating new observations of ionospheric disturbances with earthquake activity.     

Precursors to dyke-fed eruptions at basaltic volcanoes: insights from patterns of volcano-tectonic seismicity at Kilauea volcano,Hawaii

To investigate the physical controls on volcano-tectonic (VT) precursors to eruptions and intrusions at basaltic volcanoes, we have analyzed the spatial and temporal patterns of VT earthquakes associated with 34 eruptions and 23 dyke intrusions that occurred between 1960 and 1983 at Kilauea, in Hawaii. Eighteen of the 57 magmatic events were preceded by an acceleration of the mean rate of VT earthquakes located close to the main shallow magma reservoir. Using a maximum-likelihood technique and the Bayesian Information Criterion for model preference, we demonstrate that an exponential acceleration is preferred over a power-law acceleration for all sequences. These sequences evolve over time-scales of weeks to months and are consistent with theoretical models for the approach to volcanic eruptions based on the growth of a population of fractures in response to an excess magma pressure. Among the remaining 40 magmatic events, we found a significant correlation between swarms of VT earthquakes located in the mobile south-flank of Kilauea and eruptions and intrusions. The behaviour of these swarms suggests that at least some of the magmatic events are triggered by transient episodes of elevated rates of aseismic flank movement, which could explain why many eruptions and intrusions are not preceded by longer-term precursory signals. In none of the 57 cases could a precursory sequence be used to distinguish between the approach to an eruption or an intrusion, so that, even when a precursory sequence is recognized, there remains an empirical chance of about 40% (24 intrusions from 57 magmatic events) of issuing a false alarm for an imminent eruption.     

The time-dependence of electromagnetic response functions

Dynamic processes within the Earth are capable of modifying many of its physical properties. This review considers the modification of electrical resistivity mainly by time-changes in the stressfield experienced by crustal materials. Laboratory experiments indicate that certain rock types, whose resistivity is controlled by the volume and geometry of microcracks, can undergo large resistivity variations in response to the typical strain accumulation and release that accompanies major earthquakes. Electromagnetic response functions are reviewed with regard to their ability to monitor time-changes of resistivity in active regions. Some examples of the different experimental techniques used to investigate precursory changes in response functions prior to earthquakes are noted. The problems and successes of the subsequent correlation and interpretation of the derived response as a function of time are then discussed. Only relatively few controlled and integrated studies of time-dependent electromagnetic response functions exist. Those which are available, however, emphasise that changing stress-differentials occurring before major earthquakes can be monitored using suitable electromagnetic techniques.     

Trends in the aggregated rate of pre-eruptive volcano-tectonic seismicity at Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

Accelerating rates of volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes are commonly observed during volcanic unrest. Understanding the repeatability of their behaviour is essential to evaluating their potential to forecast eruptions. Quantitative eruption forecasts have focused on changes in precursors over intervals of weeks or less. Previous studies at basaltic volcanoes in frequent eruption, such as Kilauea in Hawaii and Piton de La Fournaise on Réunion, suggest that VT earthquake rates tend to follow a power-law acceleration with time about 2 weeks before eruption, but that this trend is often obscured by random fluctuations (or noise) in VT earthquake rate. These previous studies used a stacking procedure, in which precursory sequences for several eruptions are combined to enhance the signal from an underlying acceleration in VT earthquake rate. Such analyses assume a common precursory trend for all eruptions. This assumption is tested here for the 57 eruptions and intrusions recorded at Kilauea between 1959 and 1984. Applying rigorous criteria for selecting data (e.g. maximum depth; restricting magnitudes to be greater than the completeness magnitude, 2.1), we find a much less pronounced increase in the aggregate rate of earthquakes than previously reported. The stacked trend is also strongly controlled by the behaviour of one particular pre-eruptive sequence. In contrast, a robust signal emerges among stacked VT earthquake rates for a subset of the eruptions and intrusions. The results are consistent with two different precursory styles at Kilauea: (1) a small proportion of eruptions and intrusions that are preceded by accelerating rates of VT earthquakes over intervals of weeks to months and (2) a much larger number of eruptions that show no consistent increase until a few hours beforehand. The results also confirm the importance of testing precursory trends against data that have been filtered according to simple constraints on the spatial distribution and completeness magnitude of the VT earthquakes.     

内应力模式震前蠕裂感生的前兆特征

已有的前兆模型大体上可分两类:一类从完整岩石的破裂试验为基础,得出破裂区（震中）附近完全一致的前兆曲线;另一类以数理理论为基础,推得震源区附近有力学性质不同的区域,而同一性质的区域有与构造应力同步的前兆曲线。由于它们的前提与实际情况有较大的差异,没有考虑孕震区中原有裂纹的存在,这些前兆模型似不能很好地说明许多震例中的复杂的前兆现象。本文在“构造地震的局部内应力源模式”和“失稳破裂与蠕裂”两文的基础上,进一步讨论由于震前蠕裂所产生的应力场的时空变化而感生的前兆特征。     

Magnetic field anomalies associated with geodynamic phenomena

Significant variations of the Earth's magnetic field seem to be associated with geodynamic phenomena, particularly volcanic cruptions and earthquakes. The variations have small amplitudes, generally only a few nT. These small signals are embedded into larger transient variations due to other natural or artificial causes. An original method of recovering interesting signals having amplitudes down to 1 nT, is to describe the whole variation analytically so that each component may be isolated. Several studies have shown that significant signals exist for tectonically active regions: 10–30 nT for large-scale arrays over periods of years; 5–15 nT for volcanic phenomena; 1–5 nT for earthquakes.Only a few test sites for volcanoes (New Zealand, Hawaii, Antilles) and earthquakes (essentially the San Andreas fault system) have been monitored so far.The cause of the type of magnetic variations studied here, which are associated with volcanism and rock failures, has most often been attributed to piezomagnetism. Some authors have suggested that electrokinetic effects associated with porosity-changes may also play a role.The isolated signals may, in the future, be used for hazard forecasting when the time-constants associated with the effects are known more precisely.     

Establishment of the ELF Network in Yunnan and Electromagnetic Precursory Monitoring Results of the Yangbi MS5.1 Earthquake on March 27, 2017

This paper summarizes the layout of the Yunnan seismic ELF electromagnetic observation network, site selection, ELF electromagnetic instrument system, data processing and other construction. The principle and method of using the ELF electromagnetic wave technique to monitor and predict earthquakes are expounded. The long term monitoring of ELF electromagnetic fields is carried out in the Yunnan earthquake prone area, and at the same time, the changes in electrical parameters and spatial electromagnetic fields of the regional crustal medium structure are monitored. The functions such as automatic, quasi real time, remote monitoring, network monitoring, data processing specialization, data service, data sharing and industrialization of the ELF electromagnetic observation data have been realized. In order to capture the deep electromagnetic precursory information of the earthquakes, service for earthquake prediction research, which has broad application prospects and development potential. Through the research of the seismicity of Yunnan in the trial run period of the project, the preliminary results of the extreme low frequency electromagnetic observation of the Yunnan earthquake in recent years are given. The electromagnetic precursors and the electromagnetic effects of the Yangbi earthquake are recorded. In the 3-month period before the earthquake, the power spectrum of the electric and magnetic fields, the apparent resistivity and the impedance phase in the observed signals are all abnormal, and gradually increased with time. The maximum value is reached 20 days before the earthquake, and an earthquake occurs when the change is restored to normal.     

ELECTROMAGNETIC ANOMALOUS PULSES BEFORE AND AFTER EARTHQUAKES(M>6.0) IN CHINA CONTINENT IN 2008

In this paper,we provided the electromagnetic anomaly phenomena prior to five earthquakes with magnitude M_W>6.0 occurring in China continent in 2008.The electromagnetic data in frequency bands 800~0.1Hz are recorded at two stations located in Urumqi,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (URQ) and Tonghai,Yunnan Province (TH).The time series of four horizontal components of the electromagnetic field at the stations are converted to the spectra using Fast Fourier Transform.The relationship between the electromagnetic anomalous phenomena and the earthquake events is studied through analyzing the temporal variation of electromagnetic spectra and comparing them with earthquake events.This study provides the new examples for electromagnetic anomaly phenomena before the earthquakes.The following features can be found.①The obvious anomalous power spectrum density (PSD) of electromagnetic fields in frequency band of 128~0.5Hz appeared before earthquakes.The anomalous PSD is related to the earthquake magnitude and the epicenter distance.The anomaly size of magnetic PSD is about 1-3 orders of magnitude bigger than the background field before Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake.② The changes of parameters are also related with frequency of the signal;The ELF signal strength observed at seismic stations is significantly related with distance between the stations or the measured magnetic and electrical field components and the source of earthquake.We also found that the field strength attenuated faster in area closer to the source than in far area.It is clear that the magnetic signals have higher signal noise ratio than the electric data.③ The amplitudes are also related with the azimuth of the earthquake to station and with the frequency of the data.④ The anomalous pulses showed cluster phenomenon in time.     

Eruption-induced modifications to volcanic seismicity at Ruapehu,New Zealand,and its implications for eruption forecasting

Broadband seismic data collected on Ruapehu volcano, New Zealand, in 1994 and 1998 show that the 1995-1996 eruptions of Ruapehu resulted in a significant change in the frequency content of tremor and volcanic earthquakes at the volcano. The pre-eruption volcanic seismicity was characterized by several independent dominant frequencies, with a 2 Hz spectral peak dominating the strongest tremor and volcanic earthquakes and higher frequencies forming the background signal. The post-eruption volcanic seismicity was dominated by a 0.8-1.4 Hz spectral peak not seen before the eruptions. The 2 Hz and higher frequency signals remained, but were subordinate to the 0.8-1.4 Hz energy. That the dominant frequencies of volcanic tremor and volcanic earthquakes were identical during the individual time periods prior to and following the 1995-1996 eruptions suggests that during each of these time periods the volcanic tremor and earthquakes were generated by the same source process. The overall change in the frequency content, which occurred during the 1995-1996 eruptions and remains as of the time of the writing of this paper, most likely resulted from changes in the volcanic plumbing system and has significant implications for forecasting and real-time assessment of future eruptive activity at Ruapehu.     

Seismic energy releases from volcanoes

Seismic energy release during the precursory, eruptive and declining stages of volcanic activities provides various information about the mechanisms of volcanic eruptions and the temporary developments of their activities. Hitherto the energy release patterns from precursory earthquake swarms were used to predict the eruption times, especially of andesitic or dacitic volcanoes. In this paper the discussion is expanded to quantify the total amount of seismic energy released at the threshold of volcanic eruptions, with reference to the results observed at several volcanoes. The results generally indicate that the cumulative seismic energy release from the precursory earthquake swarms exceed 10¹⁷¹⁸ergs before eruptions at any andesitic or dacitic volvanoes. This allows the seismic efficiency, or the ratio of energy radiated seismically, and the energy required for the volumetric expansion to be estimated by incorporating available deformation data with the seismic data. The dependency of seismic efficiency on the type of volcanic activity, i. e. non-explosive outbreaks, phreatic and magmatic eruptions, dome formation, etc., was evaluated from observations at a few volcanoes that provided a variety of examples.     

Thermal anomalies in fumaroles at Vulcano island (Italy) and their relationship with seismic activity

Fumarole thermal monitoring is a useful tool in the evaluation of volcanic activity, since temperatures strongly relate to the upward flux of magmatic volatiles. Once depurated from meteorological noise, their variations can reflect permeability changes due to crustal stress dynamics eventually associated to seismic activity. In this work, we discuss a fumarole temperature record acquired in the period September 2009–May 2012 at Vulcano island (Italy), during which changes of volcanic state, local seismic activity and teleseisms occurred. Apart from positive thermal anomalies driven by increments in volcanic activity, we observed 3 episodes at least of concurrence between tectonic earthquakes and fumarole temperature increments, with particular reference to the local August 16th, 2010 Lipari earthquake, the March 11th, 2011 Sendai–Honshu (Japan) earthquake and a seismic swarm occurred along the Tindari-Letojanni fault in July–August 2011. We interpreted the seismic-related anomalies as “crustal fluid transients”, i.e. signals of volcanogenic vapour flow variations induced by stress-induced permeability changes. From this perspective fumarolic activity can be considered as a tracer of geodynamic instability but, since seismic and volcanic phenomena are in mutual cause-effect relationships, a multidisciplinary observation system is mandatory for correctly addressing thermal data interpretation.     

核工程选址中的火山调查与评价——以吉林省为例

火山活动是核电厂选址中无法回避的重要课题。吉林省新生代以来火山活动极为强烈,特别是第四纪和现代火山活动更为突出,据吉林省火山分布与喷发活动特点,分析了火山与地震活动、火山与构造活动、火山与深部环境的关系,以及火山类型与性质、火山危险性预测和灾害评估。在上述讨论的基础上,提出了在核电厂选址工作中有关火山调查和评价方法的建议     

火山地震监测在火山喷发预测中的应用

火山地震学是火山监测的一种重要方法,同时也是预测火山喷发最有效的方法。本文首先回顾了火山地震监测的历史,分析汇总了火山地震的类型和特征,并介绍了各类地震的形成机理。然后,对近年来发展起来的火山地震学方法进行了简要介绍,如地震活动性分析、实时振幅比测量、地震波速度变化和重复地震等,同时列举了具体的应用实例。最后,介绍了火山地震学方法在中国大陆火山监测中的应用。     

The interdependence of seismic and volcanic phenomena: Some space — Time relationships in seismicity and volcanism

Research is described aimed at detecting significant relationships between patterns of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. A large data file of seismic and volcanic events has been assembled on punched cards, and two computer programmes used to relate earthquakes to active or potentially active volcanic centres, and deep earthquakes to succeeding shallower ones and volcanic eruptions after the manner suggested byBlot. It is concluded that recognisable sequences occur in some areas, but that the process is neither universal nor invariable. The presence of random events or events due to other causes almost always obscures patterns of seismicity which seem to be related to volcanic eruptions. The «Blot process» appears to operate in some cases but is probably a second order phenomenon: primarily, correlated sequences of seismic and volcanic events result from periods of tectonic instability and perhaps increased tensional conditions which affect very wide areas of the Earth’s surface for periods of several months to several years at a time.     

Deep crustal structure of the kamchatkan volcanic regions

Crustal structure in a number of Kamchatka volcanic regions is deduced from geophysical data. Anomalous structure and physical properties of the crust are found beneath some volcanic groups. Beneath the Klyuchevskaya and Avachinskaya volcanic groups crustal layers have high elastic properties. There is a thick transition layer from the crust to the upper mantle which has lower clastic properties and electrical resistance. These data, supported by experimental investigations of elastic properties of xenoliths in volcanic rocks at high pressures and temperatures, enable the probable substance composition of the crustal layers to be defined. The feeding zones and magma chambers of individual volcanoes are deduced from anomalies in gravity, electrical conductivity and seismic wave propagation.     

Short-term and intermediate-term geochemical precursors

Detection of precursory phenomena in observation data is essential to earthquake prediction studies. Continuous monitoring of radon concentration in groundwater in Japan in one case showed a short-term anomaly related to a nearby earthquake. With the exception of the 1978 Izu-Oshimakinkai earthquake (M7.0), however, no abnormal change has been noted. This may be due partially to difficulty in detecting insignificant precursory signals from observation data, which ordinarily contains a noise-induced fluctuations, and partially to lack of understanding of the mechanism controlling the appearance of precursory phenomena. In order to increase our knowledge of the variation pattern of precursory changes in radon concentration of groundwater, hydrologic precursors with significant features are examined in this paper. Complexity of appearance of precursory phenomena and problems in assignment of the specific earthquake are discussed.     

A model for eruptive mechanisms of Mt. Etna from the study of seismicity from 1978 to 1983

The papers deals with the seismic activity occurred on Mt. Etna from 1978 to 1983, and special emphasis is given to the seismicity linked to eruptive phenomena that took place during that period.Location of epicentres and hypocentres of all earthquakes occurred during the considered years and in association with each eruption has shown to be a useful tool to investigate relationships between seismicity and characteristics of various eruptions.A preliminary model is proposed to explain seismo-eruptive mechanisms controlling the uprise of magma and subsequent eruptions of Mt. Etna. The complexity of phenomena observed in the Etnean area could be interpreted as the result of the combined effect of regional stress field and local changes of it due to the volcano structural inhomogeneities. Thus, the earthquakes occurring in the studied area may cause either partial intrusion of magma at various depth, or final opening of surface fractures and subsequent output of lava.     

Physicochemical mechanics of large crustal earthquakes

We examine the geological factors that control the precursory processes of earthquakes and the occurrence of low-and high-magnitude seismicity. Degassing and mutual displacements of lithospheric blocks are under discussion as the leading factors. Three scenarios for seismotectonic processes are discussed, these scenarios incorporate the occurrence of physicochemical reactions in solids and fluids in three dimensions. The precursory processes of large crustal earthquakes are related to block boundaries being locked due to the physicochemical reactions. Possibilities for earthquake prediction and sesimicity modification are discussed.     

Influence of fluids and magma on earthquakes: seismological evidence

In this paper, we present seismological evidence for the influence of fluids and magma on the generation of large earthquakes in the crust and the subducting oceanic slabs under the Japan Islands. The relationship between seismic tomography and large crustal earthquakes (M=5.7-8.0) in Japan during a period of 116 years from 1885 to 2000 is investigated and it is found that most of the large crustal earthquakes occurred in or around the areas of low seismic velocity. The low-velocity zones represent weak sections of the seismogenic crust. The crustal weakening is closely related to the subduction process in this region. Along the volcanic front and in back-arc areas, the crustal weakening is caused by active volcanoes and arc magma resulting from the convective circulation process in the mantle wedge and dehydration reactions in the subducting slab. In the forearc region of southwest Japan, fluids are suggested in the 1995 Kobe earthquake source zone, which have contributed to the rupture nucleation. The fluids originate from the dehydration of the subducting Philippine Sea slab. The recent 2001 Geiyo earthquake (M=6.8) occurred at 50 km depth within the subducting Philippine Sea slab, and it was also related to the slab dehydration process. A detailed 3D velocity structure is determined for the northeast Japan forearc region using data from 598 earthquakes that occurred under the Pacific Ocean with hypocenters well located with SP depth phases. The results show that strong lateral heterogeneities exist along the slab boundary, which represent asperities and results of slab dehydration and affect the degree and extent of the interplate seismic coupling. These results indicate that large earthquakes do not strike anywhere, but only anomalous areas which can be detected with geophysical methods. The generation of a large earthquake is not a pure mechanical process, but is closely related to physical and chemical properties of materials in the crust and upper mantle, such as magma, fluids, etc.     

单轴压力下样品破裂过程中几种化学参数变化的实验结果

为了研究地震之前的异常现象,在实验室内对岩石标本和人造样品加压时观测氡和钍射气量、水电导率以及氢气的变化。实验结果表明,样品破裂之前这些参数发生明显变化。这些变化与地震前的某些水化学异常现象是近似的。显然,还有许多因素可引起地下水中化学成分、含量的变化,为研究其变化机理问题,需要进一步的实验及现场观测。