IONOSPHERIC PLASMA VARIATIONS AFORE THE EAST OF KURIL ISLANDS EARTHQUAKE OF 13th JANUARY, 2007

Thomas, J E,George, N J,Akpan, A E,Ekanem, A.M

doi:10.26480/gbr.01.2020.42.46

Abstract

Plasma Analyzer (IAP) and Langmuir Probe (ISL) experiments of the DEMETER microsatellite were used to check the state of the ionosphere in the region of the M8.1 East of Kuril Islands earthquake of 13th January, 2007,30 days afore and 10 days after the event using statistical approach. The study strongly revealed that all three investigated ionospheric parameters of electron density, total ion density and electron temperature displayed unfamiliar ionospheric variations eight days before the earthquake in the daytime time half orbit measurement. To this, the electron density, total ion density and electron temperature recorded a variation of 4.09, 5.73 and -2.03 respectively. These irregularities were vetted for untrue signals using the geomagnetic indices of Kp and Dst. It was however realized that the state of the ionosphere was geomagnetically quiet during this day, hence the observed variations were seismogenic.

Highlights

The physics of earthquake has proven to be very complex and vast
Plasma parameters in the ionosphere obtained from DEMETER data have been succinctly investigated for unusual variations within the radius of the earthquake preparation zone before, during and after East of Kuril Islands earthquake of 13th January 2007
We have clearly shown the proficiency of DEMETER IAP and ISL devices to detect striking anomalies in electron temperature, electron density and total ion density parameter variations, in the region of strong earthquake epicenters eight days before its occurrence

Summary

Introduction

The physics of earthquake has proven to be very complex and vast. The incident is connected to the dynamics of earth crust. Parrot et al (2016) reported that the onset of the abnormalities in the morphology of the ionosphere is near to the future epicenter (7-15 days) These irregularities were brought about by gravity waves emanating from the activation of the fault where the permeability changes and where aerosols and gas including radon can appear (Surkov, 2015). This results in the ionization of air molecules, which accounts for the re-modification of the ionosphere.

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Discussion

Conclusion