One mechanism for generation of the co-seismic electromagnetic oscillations

Abstract

The paper deals with the problem of electromagnetic pulses, which are generated in the earthquake centre at the very moment of main shock, and the co-seismic magnetic oscillations accompanying the propagation of the Love waves far away from the epicentre. The generation of electromagnetic signals under the action of acceleration of the rocks is inertial mechanism in the Earth's crust, which is also known as the Tolman–Stewart effect. Theoretical investigations for excitation of magnetic oscillations by mechanical motion in the earthquake centre are considered, and we have analysed the 1D and 2D models. Using those models we interpret the magnetic signal associated with the M=7.2 earthquake on January 17, 1995. The detection of magnetic oscillations accompanying the propagation of surface Love wave after the strong earthquake far away from the epicentre gives one further argument in support of the hypothesis on the inertial mechanism operating in the Earth's crust. We examine the data of seismic station Talaya and magnetic observatory Mondy located in East Siberia.