Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of ionospheric TEC precursors related to the M7.8 Nepal and M8.3 Chile earthquakes in 2015 based on spectral and statistical analysis

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ionospheric total electron content (TEC) variations prior to 2 large earthquakes in Nepal (M = 7.8) and Chile (M = 8.3) in 2015 were analyzed using measurements from global navigation satellite system network with the aim to detect possible ionospheric anomalies associated to these seismic events and describe their main features, by applying statistical and spectral analysis. It was shown that abnormal TEC variations appeared few days up to few hours before the events lasting up to 8 h, whereas intensified TEC wave-like oscillations with periods 20 and 2–5 min were also identified that could be linked to the impending earthquakes. An unusual modification of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly 5 days before the main shock was also detected. Spectral analysis on TEC satellite measurements proved an effective method for the discrimination between seismically induced ionospheric waves and those of different origin such as the solar terminator transition and geomagnetic storms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Afraimovich EL (2008) First GPS-TEC evidence for the wave structure excited by the solar terminator. Earth Planets Space 60(8):895–900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afraimovich EL, Astafieva EI, Gokhberg MB, Lapshin VM, Permyakova VE, Steblov GM, Shalimov SL (2004) Variations of the total electron content in the ionosphere from GPS data recorded during the Hector Mine earthquake of October 16, 1999 California. Russ J Earth Sci 6(5):339–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afraimovich EL, Edemskiy IK, Voeykov SV, Yasyukevich YV, Zhivetiev IV (2009a) The first GPS-TEC imaging of the space structure of MS wave packets excited by the solar terminator. Ann Geophys 27(4):1521–1525

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afraimovich EL, Edemskiy IK, Voeykov SV, Yasyukevich YV, Zhivetiev IV (2009b) Spatio-temporal structure of the wave packets generated by the solar terminator. Adv Space Res 44(7):824–835

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carter B, Kellerman A, Kane T, Dyson P, Norman R, Zhang R (2013) Ionospheric precursors to large earthquakes: a case study of the 2011 Japanese Tohoku earthquake. J Atmos Sol Terr Phys 102:290–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciraolo L (1993) Evaluation of GPS L2-L1 biases and related daily TEC profiles. In: Proceedings of the GPS/ionosphere workshop, Neustrelitz, pp 90–97

  • Contadakis ME, Arabelos DN, Pikridas C, Spatalas SD (2012) Total electron content variations over southern Europe before and during the M 6.3 Abruzzo earthquake of April 6, 2009. Ann Geophys. doi:10.4401/ag-5322

    Google Scholar 

  • Dautermann T, Calais E, Haase J, Garrison J (2007) Investigation of ionospheric electron content variations before earthquakes in southern California, 2003–2004. J Geophys Res. doi:10.1029/2006JB004447

    Google Scholar 

  • Devi M, Medhi A, Sarma AJDS, Barbara AK (2013) Growth and inhibition of equatorial anomaly prior to an earthquake (EQ): case studies with total electron content (TEC) data for major EQs of Japan 2011 and Indonesia 2012. Positioning 4:240–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dobrovolsky IR, Zubkov SI, Myachkin VI (1979) Estimation of the size of earthquake preparation zones. Pageoph 117:1025–1044

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Liu ZZ (2002) Precise ionosphere modeling using regional GPS network data. J Global POS Syst 1(3):18–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He LM, Wu LX, Pulinets SA, Liu SJ, Yang F (2012) A nonlinear background removal method for seismo-ionospheric anomaly analysis under a complex solar activity scenario: a case study of the M9.0 Tohoku earthquake. Adv Space Res 50:211–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He LM, Wu LX, De Santis A, Liu SJ, Yang Y (2014) Is there a one-to-one correspondence between ionospheric anomalies and large earthquakes along Longmenshan faults? Ann Geophys 32(2):187–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hines CO (1960) Internal atmospheric gravity waves at ionospheric heights. Can J Phys 38(8):1441–1481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hocke K, Schlegel K (1996) A review of atmospheric gravity waves and travelling ionospheric disturbances: 1982–1995. Ann Geophys 14:917–940. doi:10.1007/s00585-996-0917-6

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunsucker RD (1982) Atmospheric gravity waves generated in the high latitude ionosphere: a review. Rev Geophys Space Phys 20:293–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karpov IV, Bessarab FS (2008) Model studying the effect of the solar terminator on the thermospheric parameters. Geomagn Aeron 48:209–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kafatos M, Ouzounov D, Pulinets S, Cervone G, Sing, R (2007). Energies associated with the Sumatra earthquakes of December 26, 2004 and March 28, 2005, AGU 2007 fall meeting, San Francisco, paper S42B-04

  • Klimenko MV, Klimenko VV, Zakharenkova IE, Pulinets SA, Zhao B, Tsidilina MN (2011) Formation mechanism of great positive TEC disturbances prior to Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008. Adv Space Res 48(3):488–499

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klotz S, Johnson NL (1983) Encyclopedia of statistical sciences. Wiley, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Korsunova LP, Khegai VV (2006) Medium-term ionospheric precursors to strong earthquakes. Int J Geomagn Aeron. doi:10.1029/2005GI000122

    Google Scholar 

  • Laštovička J (2006) Forcing of the ionosphere by waves from below. J Atmos Sol Terr Phys 68(3):479–497

    Google Scholar 

  • Li J, Meng G, Wang M, Liao H, Shen X (2009) Investigation of ionospheric TEC changes related to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake based on statistic analysis and signal detection. Earthq Sci 22(5):545–553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu JY, Chen YI, Chuo YJ, Tsai HF (2001) Variations of ionospheric total electron content during the Chi–Chi earthquake. Geophys Res Lett 28:1381–1386

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu JY, Chen YI, Chuo YJ, Chen CS (2006) A statistical investigation of pre-earthquake ionospheric anomaly. J Geophys Res. doi:10.1029/2005JA011333

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu JY, Chen YI, Chen CH, Liu CY, Chen CY, Nishihashi M, Li JZ, Xia YQ, Oyama, KI, Hattori K, Lin CH (2009) Seismo-ionospheric GPS total electron content anomalies observed before the 12 May 2008 Mw7.9 Wenchuan earthquake. J Geophys Res. doi:10.1029/2008JA013698

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikhailova GA, Mikhailov YM, Kapustina OV, Druzhin GI, Smirnov SE (2008) Propagation of internal gravity waves to the altitudes of the ionospheric D and dynamo regions in the seismic region (Kamchatka): preliminary results. Geomagn Aeronomy 48(2):251–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyaki K, Hayakawa M, Molchanov OA (2002) The role of gravity waves in the lithosphere–ionosphere coupling, as revealed from the subionospheric LF propagation data. In: Hayakawa M, Molchanov O (eds) Seismo-electromagnetics (lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling). Terrapub, Tokyo, pp 229–232

    Google Scholar 

  • Muslim B, Efendi J, Suryanal DR (2013) Developing near real time TEC computation system from GPS data for improving spatial resolution of ionospheric observation over Indonesia. In: Proceedings of 1st international seminar on space science and technology, Serpong, Indonesia, 3 Dec 2013

  • Nenovski PI, Pezzopane M, Ciraolo L, Vellante M, Villante U, De Lauretis M (2015) Local changes in the total electron content immediately before the 2009 Abruzzo earthquake. Adv Space Res 55(1):243–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogawa T, Nishitani N, Tsugawa T, Shiokawa K (2012) Giant ionospheric disturbances observed with the SuperDARN Hokkaido HF radar and GPS network after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Earth Planets Space 64:1295–1307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omori Y, Yasuoka Y, Nagahama H, Kawada Y, Ishikawa T, Tokonami S, Shinogi M (2007) Anomalous radon emanation linked to pre-seismic electromagnetic phenomena. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 7:629–635

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ouzounov D, Liu D, Chunli K, Cervone G, Kafatos M, Taylor P (2007) Outgoing long wave radiation variability from IR satellite data prior to major earthquakes. Tectonophysics 431:211–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrone L, Korsunova LP, Mikhailov AV (2010) Ionospheric precursors for crustal earthquakes in Italy. Ann Geophys 28:941–950

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pulinets S (2004) Ionospheric precursors of earthquakes; recent advances in theory and practical applications. Terr Atmos Ocean Sci 15(3):413–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulinets SA, Boyarchuk K (2004) Ionospheric precursors of earthquakes. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulinets SA, Legen’ka AD (2002) Dynamics of the near-equatorial ionosphere prior to strong earthquakes. Geomagn Aeron 42:239–244

    Google Scholar 

  • Pulinets SA, Legen’ka AD (2003) Spatial-temporal characteristics of the large scale disturbances of electron concentration observed in the F-region of the ionosphere before strong earthquakes. Cosm Res 41(3):1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pulinets SA, Ouzounov D (2011) Lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling (LAIC) model—an unified concept for earthquake precursors validation. J Asian Earth Sci 41:371–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pulinets SA, Legen’Ka AD, Gaivoronskaya TV, Depuev VK (2003) Main phenomenological features of ionospheric precursors of strong earthquakes. J Atmos Sol Terr Phys 65(16):1337–1347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pundhir D, Singh B, Singh OP (2014) Anomalous TEC variations associated with the strong Pakistan–Iran border region earthquake of 16 April 2013 at a low latitude station Agra, India. Adv Space Res 53(2):226–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rios VH, Kim VP, Hegai VV (2004) Abnormal perturbations in the F2 region ionosphere observed prior to the great San Juan earthquake of 23 November 1977. Adv Space Res 33(3):323–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rozhnoi A, Solovieva MS, Molchanov OA, Hayakawa M (2004) Middle latitude LF (40 kHz) phase variations associated with earthquakes for quiet and disturbed geomagnetic conditions. Phys Chem Earth 29:589–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rozhnoi A, Solovieva MS, Molchanov OA, Hayakawa M, Maekawa M, Biagi PF (2005) Anomalies of LF signal during seismic activity in November–December 2004. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 5:1–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rozhnoi A, Solovieva M, Molchanov O, Biagi PF, Hayakawa M (2007) Observation evidences of atmospheric Gravity Waves induced by seismic activity from analysis of subionospheric LF signal spectra. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 7(5):625–628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somsikov VM (1991) Atmospheric waves caused by the solar terminator. Geomagn Aeron 31(1):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Song Q, Ding F, Yu T, Wan W, Ning B, Liu L, Zhao B (2015) GPS detection of the coseismic ionospheric disturbances following the 12 May 2008 M7. 9 Wenchuan earthquake in China. Sci China Earth Sci 58(1):151–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toutain J-P, Baubron J-C (1998) Gas geochemistry and seismotectonics: a review. Tectonophysics 304:1–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dam JW, Horton W, Tsintsadze NL, Kaladze TD, Garner TW, Tsamalashvili LV (2009) Some physical mechanisms of precursors to earthquakes. J Plasma Fusion Res 8:199–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Villalobos C, Bravo M, Ovalle E, Foppiano AG (2016) Ionospheric characteristics prior to the greatest earthquake in recorded history. Adv Space Res 57:1345–1359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu T, Chen Z, Li C, Wu J, Hu Y, Wu Z (2011) GPS total electron content and surface latent heat flux variations before the 11 March 2011 M9. 0 Sendai earthquake. Adv Space Res 48(8):1311–1317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao YB, Chen P, Zhang S, Chen JJ, Yan F, Peng WF (2012) Analysis of pre-earthquake ionospheric anomalies before the global M = 7.0+ earthquakes in 2010. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 12(3):575–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng ZC, Zhang B, Fang GY, Wang DF, Yin HJ (2009) An analysis of ionospheric variations before the Wenchuan earthquake with DEMETER data. Chin J Geophys 52(1):13–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu F, Zhou Y, Wu Y (2013) Anomalous variation in GPS TEC prior to the 11 April 2012 Sumatra earthquake. Astrophys Space Sci 345(2):231–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This paper is funded by the project investigation of earthquake signatures on the ionosphere over Europe-ΔΙΑΚΡΑΤΙΚΕΣ/ΚY-ΡΟY/0713/37which is co-financed by the Republic of Cyprus and the European Regional Development Fund (through the ΔΕΣΜΗ 2009–2010 of the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Frederick Research Center, Filokyprou St. 7, Palouriotissa, 1036, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Christina Oikonomou & Haris Haralambous

  2. Space Science Center, Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space, Jl. Dr. Junjunan 133, Bandung, 4017, Indonesia

    Buldan Muslim

Authors
  1. Christina Oikonomou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Haris Haralambous
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Buldan Muslim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christina Oikonomou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Oikonomou, C., Haralambous, H. & Muslim, B. Investigation of ionospheric TEC precursors related to the M7.8 Nepal and M8.3 Chile earthquakes in 2015 based on spectral and statistical analysis. Nat Hazards 83 (Suppl 1), 97–116 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2409-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-016-2409-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation