Anomalous phenomena in DC–ULF geomagnetic daily variation registered three days before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan <i>M</i><sub>S</sub> 8.0 earthquake

Abstract

The hourly data of the vertical Z and the horizontal H components of 37 ground–based DC–ULF geomagnetic stations are examined during 20 April–12 May 2008. On 9 May 2008, three days before the Wenchuan MS 8.0 shock, anomalies — a double low-point and a decreased amplitude — are registered on the curves of the Z component at 25 stations in a large-scale area surrounding the Wenchuan epicentral area. The H component shows none of the double low-point phenomenon but does exhibit a reduced magnitude at the same time. The geomagnetic index Kp is also examined and indicates that the anomalies appear at a solar quiet period. The appearing time shift (Tzs) between the first low-point on May 9 and the minimum point occurring time of May 1–5, 2008 is also checked. The results show that Tzs is on the order of 1–2 hours earlier or later than usual and there is a 2–6 hours’ gap between these two low-points. However, there is still a transition area which includes the epicenter where Tzs = 0. Variation amplitude examined on vertical Z increases as the distance from the epicenter decreases. An Earth–air–ionosphere model has been employed to investigate a possible mechanism of this phenomenon and positive results have been unexpectedly attained. All these above-related results tend to prove that the variations of the Z and H on May 9, 2008 during the solar quiet period are probably associated with the forthcoming Wenchuan MS 8.0 earthquake.