Anomalous temperature changes in the UTLS region prior to the 2008 Nura Earthquake

Leonid Sverdlik,G.M Tsybulski Gennady,M.V Noskov,Yu.A Maglinets

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202133302013

Abstract

The paper presents results of retrospective analysis of satellite temperature time series above the epicentral area of the destructive Nura earthquake of M=6.7, occurred in a seismically active Tien-Shan region on October 5, 2008. An algorithm based on the use of a modified STA/LTA criterion has been developed for the purpose of selection and identification of perturbations associated with seismic activity. It has been established that an explicit mesoscale temperature anomaly in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) was observed during the period from October 1 to 3, 2008. Temporal and spatial distributions of the temperature perturbations consistently appeared at various UTLS levels suggest probable association with seismic event preparation.

Highlights

Exploration of thermal anomalies on the Earth surface and in the atmosphere is one of the most promising line of research aimed at establishment of possible connection with seismic activity [1]
This study presents an analysis of spatial-temporal temperature variations in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS)
Local heating and turbulence caused by acoustic-gravity waves (AGW) directly or indirectly change the thermal and dynamic structure of the tropopause area [8, 9] making for formation of perturbations in UTLS [10], that become apparent in temperature short-period anomalous variations

Summary

Introduction

Exploration of thermal anomalies on the Earth surface and in the atmosphere is one of the most promising line of research aimed at establishment of possible connection with seismic activity [1]. Exploration of processes of interaction between various atmospheric layers and the lithosphere taking place under conditions of strong spatial-temporal variability of the vertical atmosphere temperature structure is both complicated and critical task. It determines the importance of development of effective ways of identification of anomalous variations in temperature changes. In recent decades scientists have achieved a great progress in remote sensing data processing, interpretation of origin atmospheric perturbations origin and development of physical models demonstrating connection between the anomalies and earthquake occurrence [3]. Being slightly modified this criterion may be applied to satellite measurements of temperatures. Through the example of the Nura destructive earthquake of M=6.7 results of identification of anomalous temperature perturbations associated with seismic activity were demonstrated

Seismic and satellite measurements data

Satellite measurements processing algorithm

Identification of perturbations in temperature time series

Spatial-temporal distribution of atmospheric temperature anomalies

Conclusion