Skip to main content
Log in

A physical model for the precursory magnetic anomalies of the M5.4 Alum Rock and M6.0 Parkfield earthquakes

  • Review article
  • Published:
International Journal of Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Here, we propose an alternative physical model, based on the concept of criticality, for the explanation of the observed magnetic signals prior to the M6.0 Parkfield and the M5.4 Alum Rock earthquakes. Motivated by an analogous experience from major earthquakes in Greece, where both magnetic field variations and seismic electric signals were also recorded few weeks before the main shock, we suggest that in all these cases, similar dynamic processes characterized by critical behaviour should govern the corresponding pre-focal areas when the relevant precursory signals emerged.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abe S, Sarlis NV, Skordas ES, Tanaka HK, Varotsos PA (2005) Origin of the usefulness of the natural time representation of complex time series. Phys Rev Lett 94:170601. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.170601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleier T, Dunson C, Maniscalco M, Bryant N, Bambery R, Freund F (2009) Investigation of ULF magnetic pulsations, air conductivity changes, and infra red signatures associated with the 30 October Alum Rock M5.4 earthquake. Nat Hazard Earth Syst Sci 9:585–603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eftaxias K, Kapiris P, Dologlou E, Kopanas J, Bogris N, Antonopoulos G, Peratzakis A, Hadjicontis V (2002) EM anomalies before the Kozani earthquake: a study of their behaviour through laboratory experiments. Geophys Res Lett 29:691–694

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraser-Smith AC, Bernadi A, McGill PR, Villard OG Jr (1991) ULF magnetic field measurements near the epicentre of the Ms 7.1 Loma Prieta earthquake. Phys Earth Planet Int 68:45–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fujinawa Y, Takahashi K (1990) Emission of electromagnetic radiation preceding the Ito seismic swarm of 1989. Nature 347:376–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gokhberg M, Morgunov V, Tomizawa I (1982) Experimental measurements of electromagnetic emissions possibly related to earthquake in Japan. J Geophys Res 87:7824–7828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayakawa M, Itoh T, Hattori K, Yumoto K (2000) ULF electromagnetic precursors for an earthquake at Biak, Indonesia on 17 February 1996. Geophys Res Lett 27:1531–1534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molchanov OA, Hayakawa M (2008) Seismo-electromagnetics and related phenomena, history and latest results. TERRAPUB, Tokyo 189

    Google Scholar 

  • Molchanov O, Schekotov A, Fedorov E, Belyaev G, Gordeev E (2003) Preseismic ULF electromagnetic effect from observation at Kamchatka. Nat Hazard Earth Syst Sci 3:203–209. http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/3/203/2003/

  • Orihara Y, Kamogawa M, Nagao T, Uyeda S (2012) Preseismic anomalous telluric current signals observed in Kozu-shima Island, Japan. PNAS 109: 19125–19128. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1215669109

  • Rundle JB, Turcotte DL, Klein W (eds) (2000) Geocomplexity and the physics of earthquakes. American Geophysical Union, Washington

  • Sarlis N, Lazaridou M, Kapiris P, Varotsos P (1999) Numerical model of the selectivity effect and the DV/L criterion. Geophys Res Lett 26:3245–3248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarlis NV, Skordas ES, Lazaridou MS, Varotsos PA (2008) Investigation of the seismicity after the initiation of a seismic electric signal activity until the main shock. Proc Japan Acad Ser Β 84:331–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sornette A, Sornette D (1990) Earthquake rupture as a critical point: consequences for telluric precursors. Tectonophysics 179:327–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Telesca L, Cuomo V, Lapenna V (2001) A new approach to investigate the correlation between geoelectrical time fluctuations and earthquakes in a seismic area of southern Italy. Geophys Res Lett 28:4375–4378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uyeda S, Hayakawa M, Nagao T, Molchanov O, Hattori K, Orihara Y, Gotoh K, Akinaga Y, Tanaka H (2002) Electric and magnetic phenomena observed before the volcano-seismic activity in 2000 in the Izu Island Region, Japan. PNAS 99:7352–7355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos PA (2005) The physics of seismic electric signals. TerraPub, Tokyo

    Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos P, Alexopoulos K (1977) Calculation of the formation entropy of vacancies due to anharmonic effects. Phys Rev B 15:4111–4114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos P, Alexopoulos K (1984a) Physical properties of the variations of the electric field of the earth preceding earthquakes, I. Tectonophysics 110:73–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos P, Alexopoulos K (1984b) Physical properties of the variations of the electric field of the earth preceding earthquakes, II. Determination of epicentre and magnitude. Tectonophysics 110:99–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos P, Alexopoulos K (1986) Thermodynamics of point defects and their relation with the bulk properties. In: Amelinckx S, Gevers R, Nihoul J (eds) Stimulated current emission in the Earth. North Holland, Amsterdam, pp 403–404

  • Varotsos P, Lazaridou M (1991) Latest aspects of earthquake prediction in Greece based on seismic electric signals I. Tectonophysics 188:321–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos P, Alexopoulos K, Lazaridou M (1993) Latest aspects of earthquake prediction in Greece based on seismic electric signals II. Tectonophysics 224:1–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos P, Sarlis N, Lazaridou M, Kapiris P (1998) Transmission of stress induced electric signals in dielectric media. J Appl Phys 83:60–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos P, Sarlis N, Lazaridou M (1999) Interconnection of defect parameters and stress- induced electric signals in ionic crystals. Phys Rev B 59:24–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos P, Sarlis N, Skordas E (2001a) Magnetic field variations associated with SES. The instrumentation used for investigating their detectability. Proc Japan Acad Ser B 77:87–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos P, Sarlis N, Skordas E (2001b) Magnetic variations associated with SES before the 6.6 Grevena- Kozani earthquake. Proc Japan Acad Ser B 77:93–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varotsos PA, Sarlis NV, Skordas ES (2002) Long-range correlations in the electric signals that proceed rupture. Phys Rev E 66. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.66.011902

  • Varotsos PA, Sarlis NV, Skordas ES (2003a) Electric fields that ‘‘Arrive’’ before the time derivative of the magnetic field prior to major earthquakes. Phys Rev Lett 91. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.91.148501

  • Varotsos PA, Sarlis NV, Skordas ES (2003b) Long-range correlations in the electric signals that precede rupture: further investigations. Phys Rev E 67. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.67.021109

  • Varotsos PA, Sarlis NV, Skordas ES, Lazaridou MS (2008) Fluctuations under time reversal of the natural time and the entropy distinguish similar looking electric signals of different dynamics. J Appl Phys 103. doi:10.1063/1.2827363

  • Varotsos PA, Sarlis NV, Skordas ES (2009) Detrended fluctuation analysis of the magnetic and electric field variations that precede rupture. CHAOS 19. doi:10.1063/1.3130931

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elizabeth Dologlou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dologlou, E. A physical model for the precursory magnetic anomalies of the M5.4 Alum Rock and M6.0 Parkfield earthquakes. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 103, 977–980 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-014-1004-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-014-1004-y

Keywords

Navigation