Scaling laws between seismo-electric/magnetic fields and earthquake magnitude

The mechanisms generating the charges/potentials and abnormal electromagnetic radiation that accompany earthquakes have been discussed based on observational, theoretical and laboratory studies, in particular over the last few decades. We previously conducted stick‐slip tests using precut granite cores with a contact electrode on the sample side, and proposed that surface charges released from charge trapping centres on sheared asperities are a possible source of the above‐mentioned charges or potentials. Here we discuss seismo‐electric and magnetic fields formed by the surface charges, and derive their scaling laws with the earthquake magnitude at a distance. According to our model, detectability of these fields at a point on the ground surface depends strongly on wet/dry condition at a fault zone (sheared asperities).