Intensity Variations of OI 557.7 nm and OI 630.0 nm Lines before M5.0 and Greater Earthquakes in Tokyo Region, Japan, in 1979 to 1990

Abstract

The intensity variation of 557.7 nm oxygen green line and 630.0 nm oxygen red line at Kiso observatory, Tokyo, and variations in critical frequency of the ionospheric F2 layer (foF2) and semi transparency coefficient related to the E layer before earthquakes with magnitude ≥ 5 are considered for 1979 to 1990. The intensity of both the lines increases within six days before earthquakes; foF2 and semi transparency coefficient abnormally increase before enhancement of airglow. The superposed epoch analysis of each variable is done for further confirmation. Some physical processes in atmosphere-ionosphere in pre-seismic days enhance the concentration of electron and neutral molecules in the ionospheric F and E regions. These events influence the dissociative recombination processes related to oxygen emission, and so the intensity of two line emissions show some special type of variations during earthquake events.