Abstract
This paper is related to study of the ion density recorded by the low altitude satellite DEMETER. It will present ionospheric perturbations observed during large seismic events. As the ionosphere is highly variable, the paper will show a statistical analysis performed on the plasma parameters during night time. An algorithm has been implemented to detect crests and troughs in the data before world-wide earthquakes. The earthquakes have been classified depending on their magnitude, depth, and location (land, below the sea, close to a coast). Due to the orbit, DEMETER returns above the same area every day (once during day time, once during night time) but not at the same distance of a given epicenter. Then, for each earthquake, data have been checked until 15 days before the shock when the distance between the trace of the orbit and the epicenter is less than 1 500 km. The results of the statistical analysis are presented as functions of various parameters. A comparison is done with two other databases where, on one hand, the location of the epicenters has been randomly modified, and on the other hand, the longitude of the epicenters has been shifted. Results show that the number and the intensity of the ionospheric perturbations are larger prior to earthquakes than prior to random events, and that the perturbations increase with the magnitude.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Akhoondzadeh M, Parrot M and Saradjian M R (2010). Electron and ion density variations before strong earthquakes (M>6.0) using DEMETER and GPS data. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci10: 7–18.
Bankov L G, Parrot M, Heelis R A, Berthelier J-J, Marinov P G and Vassileva A K (2010). DEMETER and DMSP satellite observations of the disturbed H+/O+ ratio caused by Earth’s seismic activity in the Sumatra area during December 2004. Adv Space Res46(4): 419–430.
Berthelier J-J, Godefroy M, Leblanc F, Seran E, Peschard D, Gilbert P and Artru J (2006). IAP, the thermal plasma analyzer on DEMETER. Planet Space Sci54: 487–501.
Burke W J, de La Beaujardière O, Gentile L C, Hunton D E, Pfaff R F, Roddy P A, Su Y-J and Wilson G R (2009). C/NOFS observations of plasma density and electric field irregularities at post-midnight local times. Geophys Res Lett36: L00C09, doi:10.1029/2009GL038879.
Freund F (2009). Stress-activated positive hole charge carriers in rocks and the generation of pre-earthquake signals. In: Hayakawa M ed. Electromagnetic Phenomena Associated With Earthquakes. Transworld Research Network, Trivandrum (India), 41–96.
Gokhberg M B, Morgounov V A and Pokhotelov O A (1995). Earthquake Prediction: Seismo-Electromagnetic Phenomena. Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, Reading, Philadelphia, 287pp.
Harrison R G, Aplin K L and Rycroft M J (2010). Atmospheric electricity coupling between earthquake regions and the ionosphere. J Atmos Sol Terrestr Phys72: 376–381.
Hayakawa M (1996). Special issue: Seismo-electromagnetic phenomena. Journal of Atmospheric Electricity16(3): 247–257.
Hayakawa M (1997). Electromagnetic Precursors of Earthquakes: Review of Recent Activities. Review of Radio Science, 1993–1996. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 807–818.
Hayakawa M ed. (1999). Atmospheric and Ionospheric Electromagnetic Phenomena Associated with Earthquakes. Terra Scientific Publishing Company (TERRAPUB), Tokyo, 997pp.
Hayakawa M ed. (2002). Seismo-electromagnetics. J Atmos Electricity22(3): 115–222.
Hayakawa M (2009). Electromagnetic Phenomena Associated With Earthquakes. Transworld Research Network, Trivandium (India), 279pp.
Hayakawa M and Fujinawa Y (1994). Electromagnetic Phenomena Related to Earthquake Prediction. TERRAPUB, Tokyo, 677pp.
Hayakawa M and Molchanov O A eds. (2002). Seismo Electromagnetics: Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling. TERRAPUB, Tokyo, 477pp.
Hayakawa M, Molchanov O A, Kodama T, Afonin V V and Akentieva O A (2000). Plasma density variations observed on a satellite possibly related to seismicity. Adv Space Res26(8): 1 277–1 280.
Hayakawa M, Molchanov O A, Biagi P and Vallianatos F eds. (2004). Seismo electromagnetics and related phenomena. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth29: 287–662.
He Y F, Yang D M, Zhu R, Qian J D and Parrot M (2010). Variations of electron density and temperature in iono sphere based on the DEMETER ISL data. Earthquake Science23(4): 349–355, doi:10.1007/s11589-010-0732-8.
Kelley M C (2009). The Earth’s Ionosphere: Plasma Physics and Electrodynamics. Academic Press, San Diego, 556pp.
Lebreton J P, Stverak S, Travnicek P, Maksimovic M, Klinge D, Merikallio S, Lagoutte D, Poirier B, Kozacek Z and Salaquarda M (2006). The ISL Langmuir probe experiment and its data processing onboard DEMETER: Scientific objectives, description and first results. Planet Space Sci54: 472–486.
Liu J Y, Chen Y I, Chuo Y J and Chen C S (2006). A statistical investigation of pre-earthquake ionospheric anomaly. J Geophys Res111: A05304, doi:10. 1029/2005JA011333.
Molchanov O A (1993). Wave and plasma phenomena inside the ionosphere and magnetosphere associated with earthquakes. In: Ross Stone W ed. Review of Radio Science 1990–1992. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 591–600.
Molchanov O A and Hayakawa M (2008). Seismo-Electromagnetics and Related Phenomena: History and Latest Results. TERRAPUB, Tokyo, 189pp.
Nemec F, Santolík O and Parrot M (2009). Decrease of intensity of ELF/VLF waves observed in the upper ionosphere close to earthquakes: A statistical study. J Geophys Res114: A04303, doi:10.1029/2008JA013972.
Nemec F, Santolík O, Parrot M and Berthelier J-J (2008). Spacecraft observations of electromagnetic perturbations connected with seismic activity. Geophys Res Lett35: L05109, doi:10.1029/2007GL032517.
Ouyang X Y, Zhang X M, Shen X H, Liu J, Qian J D, Cai J A and Zhao S F (2008). Ionospheric Ne disturbances before 2007 Pu’er, Yunnan, China, earthquake. Acta Seismologica Sinica21(4): 425–437, doi:10. 1007/s11589-008-0425-8.
Parrot M ed. (2006). Special Issue: First Results of the DEMETER Micro-satellite. Planet Space Sci54(5): 411–558.
Parrot M, Berthelier J-J, Lebreton J P, Sauvaud J A, Santolík O and Blecki J (2006). Examples of unusual ionospheric observations made by the DEMETER satellite over seismic regions. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth31: 486–495, doi:10.1016/j.pce.2006.02.011.
Parrot M and Johnston M (1989). Special Issue: Seismoelectromagnetic Effects. Phys Earth Planet Inter57(1–2): 1–177.
Parrot M and Johnston M (1993). Special Issue: Seismoelectromagnetic Effects. Phys Earth Planet Inter77(1–2): 1–141.
Písa D, Parrot M and Santolík O (2011). Ionospheric density variations recorded before the 2010 MW8.8 earthquake in Chile. J Geophys Res116: A08309, doi:10.1029/2011JA016611.
Pulinets S A (2007). Natural radioactivity, earthquakes, and the ionosphere. Eos Trans AGU88(20): 217.
Pulinets S A (2009). Physical mechanism of the vertical electric field generation over active tectonic faults. Adv Space Res44(6): 767–773, doi:10.1016/j.asr.2009.04.038.
Pulinets S A and Boyarchuk K A (2004). Ionospheric Precursors of Earthquakes. Springer, Hedelberg, New York, 316pp.
Sarkar S, Gwal A K and Parrot M (2007). Ionospheric variations observed by the DEMETER satellite in the midlatitude region during strong earthquakes. J Atmos Sol Terr Phys69: 1 524–1 540.
Su S Y, Liu C H, Ho H H and Chao C K (2006). Distribution characteristics of topside ionospheric density irregularities: Equatorial versus midlatitude regions. J Geophys Res111: A06305, doi:10.1029/2005JA011330.
Su Y Z, Bailey G J and Oyama K I (1998). Annual and seasonal variations in the low-latitude topside ionosphere. Ann Geophys16(8): 974–985.
Tronin A A (2006). Remote sensing and earthquakes: A review. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth31: 138–142.
Zeng Z C, Zhang B, Fang G Y, Wang D F and Yin H J (2009). The analysis of ionospheric variations before Wenchuan earthquake with DEMETER data. Chinese J Geophys52(1): 11–19.
Zhang X, Shen X, Liu J, Ouyang X, Qian J, and Zhao S (2009c). Analysis of ionospheric plasma perturbations before Wenchuan earthquake. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci9: 1 259–1 266.
Zhang X, Zeren Z, Parrot M, Battiston R, Qian J and Shen X (2011). ULF/ELF ionospheric electric field and plasma perturbations related to Chile earthquakes Adv Space Res47(6): 991–1 000, doi:10.1016/j.asr.2010.11.001.
Zhang X M, Liu J, Shen X H, Parrot M, Qian J D, Ouyang X Y, Zhao S F and Huang J P (2010b). Ionospheric perturbations associated with theM8.6 Sumatra earthquake on 28 March 2005. Chinese J Geophys53(3): 567–575.
Zhang X M, Qian J D, Ouyang X Y, Shen X H, Cai J A and Zhao S F (2009a). Ionospheric electromagnetic perturbations observed on DEMETER satellite before Chile M7.9 earthquake. Earthquake Science22: 251–255.
Zhang X M, Qian J D, Ouyang X Y, Cai J A, Liu J, Shen X H and Zhao S F (2009b). Ionospheric electro-magnetic disturbances prior to Yutian 7.2 earthquake in Xinjiang. Chin J Space Sci29(2): 213–221 (in Chinese with English abstract).
Zhang X M, Shen X H, Liu J, Ouyang X Y, Qian J D and Zhao S F (2010a). Ionospheric perturbations of electron density before the Wenchuan earthquake. International Journal of Remote Sensing31(13): 3 559–3 569.
Zhu R, Yang D M, Jing F, Yang J Y and Ouyang X Y (2008). Ionospheric perturbations before Pu’er earthquake observed on DEMETER. Acta Seismologica Sinica21(1): 77–81, doi:10.1007/s11589-008-0077-8.
Zlotnicki J, Li F and Parrot M (2010). Signals recorded by DEMETER satellite over active volcanoes during the period 2004 August-2007 December. Geophys J Inter183(3): 1 332–1 347.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Parrot, M. Statistical analysis of the ion density measured by the satellite DEMETER in relation with the seismic activity. Earthq Sci 24, 513–521 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11589-011-0813-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11589-011-0813-3