Seismo-meteo-electromagnetic phenomena observed during a 5-year interval around the 2011 Tohoku earthquake

The purpose of the paper is to try to find ULF electromagnetic precursors to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (EQ), on the basis of extensive investigation of radiations in vertical component of the magnetic field or with a large ratio of the vertical to full horizontal component. Nighttime records have been analyzed of three Japanese fluxgate magnetometers located in a distance from 300 to 1300 km from the epicenter of the main shock, and the frequency range from 10 to 150 mHz was used for the analysis. We have applied wavelet analyses to improve the detection of pulsed signals. All obtained scalograms have been averaged over the nighttime interval from 01 h to 05 h JST and flattened by means of multiplication by square of frequency. The sequence of spectra thus obtained has been compared with the evolution of seismicity, which has resulted in that the radiation in the vertical component has been detected. It exhibits seasonal variations with winter maxima, but it increases further by approaching the moment of the EQ and decreases after that. This radiation seems to be correlated with atmospheric parameters – air humidity, temperature, vapor pressure and rainfall. So, we consider that this radiation cannot be caused by subsurface sources, but its possible sources can be atmospheric discharges. The evolution of this phenomenon can be explained by a seasonal variation of atmospheric parameters and also its variations under the influence of injection of gas from the focal zone of a forthcoming EQ.     

The ultra-low-frequency magnetic disturbances associated with earthquakes

The ultra-low-frequency (ULF) electromagnetic emission is recently recognized as one of the most promising candidates for short-term earthquake (EQ) prediction. This paper reviews previous convincing evidence on the presence of ULF emissions before three major EQs. Then, we present further statistical study on the ULF occurrence, our networks of ULF monitoring in different spatial scales in Japan and finally we present several signal processings to identify the seismogenic emissions by showing latest results for recent large EQs.     

Improvement in predictability of waves over the Indian Ocean

Accurate prediction of ocean surface waves is a challenging task with many associated difficulties. Availability of good quality wind and wave information from satellite platforms inspired the scientific community to assimilate such data in various spectral wave models for enhancing the accuracy of prediction. Over the Indian Ocean, which is the region of interest for the present study, wave heights in extreme situation can go up to 12–14 m, thereby increasing the probability of coastal hazards. This region is further governed by the southern ocean swells that propagate thousands of kilometers. These are, in general, not well captured by the spectral wave models. Therefore, assimilation of altimeter data in open ocean wave model WAM has been attempted with the aim of enhancing the quality of prediction of significant wave height. Further, simulated wave spectra have been assimilated in a coastal wave model SWAN. This assimilation has been found to significantly improve the prediction of the height of wind waves as well as swell waves. V. Bhatt and S. Surendran are former students of Meteorology and Oceanography Group, Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad.     

新疆和田ML7.1地震前ULF电磁辐射的激发机理

1996年11月19日新疆和田地区发生了ML=7.1地震. 在这次地震发生前,观测到了地震的超低频（ULF）电磁辐射前兆. 电磁辐射前兆的特点是电位漂移、极化椭圆主轴的垂直方向指向震中和大幅度的电磁辐射. 本文根据电磁辐射特征建立了地震电磁辐射前兆垂直电偶极子模型,并且给出了观测结果的物理解释. 偶极子产生一个不稳定的静电场使水平分量的电位日均值发生明显漂移,震前电偶极子中电荷复合放电产生的随机弱电磁噪声造成在ULF频段上水平分量偏振主轴方向偏转. 喀什台站和安西台站观测到的电势比值与模型估计值相近,从水平分量判断出偶极子间电流方向向下,与垂直电偶极子模型一致.     

Pc3–4 ULF waves at polar latitudes

A search for Pc3–4 wave activity was performed using data from a trans-Antarctic profile of search-coil magnetometers extending from the auroral zone through cusp latitudes and deep into the polar cap. Pc3–4 pulsations were found to be a ubiquitous element of ULF wave activity in all these regions. The diurnal variations of Pc3 and Pc4 pulsations at different latitudes have been statistically examined using discrimination between wave packets (pulsations) and noise. Daily variations of the Pc3–4 wave power differ for the stations at the polar cap, cusp, and auroral latitudes, which suggests the occurrence of several channels of propagation of upstream wave energy to the ground: via the equatorial magnetosphere, cusp, and lobe/mantle. An additional maximum of Pc3 pulsations during early-morning hours in the polar cap has been detected. This maximum, possibly, is due to the proximity of the geomagnetic field lines at these hours to the exterior cusp. The statistical relation between the occurrence of Pc3–4 pulsations and interplanetary parameters has been examined by analyzing normalized distributions of wave occurrence probability. The dependences of the occurrence probability of Pc3–4 pulsations on the IMF and solar wind parameters are nearly the same at all latitudes, but remarkably different for the Pc3 and Pc4 bands. We conclude that the mechanisms of high-latitude Pc3 and Pc4 pulsations are different: Pc3 waves are generated in the foreshock upstream of the quasi-parallel bow shock, whereas the source of the Pc4 activity is related to magnetospheric activity. Hourly Pc3 power has been found to be strongly dependent on the season: the power ratio between the polar summer and winter seasons is 8. The effect of substantial suppression of the Pc3 amplitudes during the polar night is reasonably well explained by the features of Alfven wave transmission through the ionosphere. Spectral analysis of the daily energy of Pc3 and Pc4 pulsations in the polar cap revealed the occurrence of several periodicities. Periodic modulations with periods 26, 13 and 8–9 days are caused by similar periodicities in the solar wind and IMF parameters, whereas the 18-day periodicity, observed during the polar winter only, is caused, probably, by modulation of the ionospheric conductance by atmospheric planetary waves. The occurrence of the narrow-band Pc3 waves in the polar cap is a challenge to modelers, because so far no band-pass filtering mechanism on open field lines has been identified.     

通量堆积和偶极化过程中的超低频波动

2004年9月17日TC-1卫星在近地磁尾夜侧观测到一次伴随有通量堆积和偶极化过程的典型亚暴事件.本文利用离散小波分析和FFT分析方法对本次事件中4 s精度的FGM和HIA数据进行分析,以了解通量堆积过程和偶极化过程中的低频波特性.分析结果表明,通量堆积过程和偶极化过程中场和粒子有明显的不规则低频波动,主要波动频率范围为4~15 mHz,和Pi-2脉动一致.通量堆积过程中磁场各个分量的低频波动和偶极化过程中的低频波动有明显不同,表明这两个物理过程可能存在不同的波动机制.在通量堆积过程和偶极化过程中,平行磁场方向上温度和速度的波动和垂直方向上温度和速度的波动有明显区别,平行磁场方向上温度和速度的波动有较好的相关性,且热离子密度的波动和平行磁场方向上的波动有较好的相关性,表明存在快模压缩波.TC-1卫星的观测显示通量堆积过程中磁场By分量有明显增长.我们的分析结果表明ULF波与By分量的增长有密切关系,从而可能对亚暴膨胀相的触发有重要影响.     

Suspended sediment fluxes at an intertidal flat: The shifting influence of wave,wind, tidal,and freshwater forcing

Using in situ, continuous, high frequency (8–16 Hz) measurements of velocity, suspended sediment concentration (SSC), and salinity, we investigate the factors affecting near-bed sediment flux during and after a meteorological event (cold front) on an intertidal flat in central San Francisco Bay. Hydrodynamic forcing occurs over many frequency bands including wind wave, ocean swell, seiching (500–1000 s), tidal, and infra-tidal frequencies, and varies greatly over the time scale of hours and days. Sediment fluxes occur primarily due to variations in flow and SSC at three different scales: residual (tidally averaged), tidal, and seiching. During the meteorological event, sediment fluxes are dominated by increases in tidally averaged SSC and flow. Runoff and wind-induced circulation contribute to an order of magnitude increase in tidally averaged offshore flow, while waves and seiching motions from wind forcing cause an order of magnitude increase in tidally averaged SSC. Sediment fluxes during calm periods are dominated by asymmetries in SSC over a tidal cycle. Freshwater forcing produces sharp salinity fronts which trap sediment and sweep by the sensors over short (∼30 min) time scales, and occur primarily during the flood. The resulting flood dominance in SSC is magnified or reversed by variations in wind forcing between the flood and ebb. Long-term records show that more than half of wind events (sustained speeds of greater than 5 m/s) occur for 3 h or less, suggesting that asymmetric wind forcing over a tidal cycle commonly occurs. Seiching associated with wind and its variation produces onshore sediment transport. Overall, the changing hydrodynamic and meteorological forcing influence sediment flux at both short (minutes) and long (days) time scales.     

Observations of Alfvén Ionospheric Resonances on the Earth's Surface

The paper briefly reviews the preliminary results of observations of Alfvén ionospheric resonances performed in the northern Carpathian Mountains (south-eastern Poland) by the Cracow Schumann Resonances Group. The results confirm the simple models proposed recently by Lysak and Sentman.     

Wave interaction with an upright breakwater structure

Breakwaters are often built in coastal waters to facilitate navigation and recreation, both inside and outside regions of the breakwater. This requires that the reflection and transmission characteristics of the structure be both minimized at the same time. This is achieved by a design that will allow dissipation of wave energy by multiple reflection. Such structures will need the knowledge of these characteristics in their design. Model tests were performed on a shallow water breakwater concept of this type to determine the reflection and transmission coefficients. The concept of the breakwater was to reduce both the reflection and transmission of waves. It was found that the breakwater design was effective at certain wave characteristics. Nondimensional loads and local pressures on the breakwater panels are also reported which will facilitate the structural design of such breakwaters.     

An intercomparison of GEOSAT, TOPEX and ERS1 measurements of wind speed and wave height

Mean monthly values of altimeter wind speed and wave height are compared with data from NDBC buoys. As a result of these comparisons, corrections are made to the raw data products available from these satellites. Data from the GEOSAT, TOPEX and ERS1 missions corrected in this fashion are used to show that there have been no measurable changes in the global wind and wave climate during the 10 years spanned by these various missions. It is proposed that the corrected values of wind speed and wave height provide the basis for the formation of a long-term global data base which spans the periods of these multiple missions.