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Effect of VLF Electromagnetic Radiations Associated with Some Moderate Shallow Earthquakes (4.9 ≤ M ≤ 6, Depth ≤ 20 Km) on the Atmosphere as Observed in the Terrestrial Antenna at Mathura

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Abstract

Monitoring of the vertical component of VLF electric fields is in progress at Chaumuhan, Mathura observatory (Lat. 27.5° N, Long. 77.68° E) at the frequency 3.012 kHz since 24 March 2011 employing the terrestrial antenna for studying the effect of electromagnetic radiations associated with earthquakes on the atmosphere. The bulk of the data collected for 8 months from February 2016 to October 2016 (except April 2016) have been analyzed in the light of shallow moderate earthquakes (4.9 ≤ M ≤ 6, depth ≤ 20 km) that have occurred in India and around within a radius of 1500 km assuming Mathura as a center. The VLF data obtained for each day is averaged out and its daily variation is compared with the monthly average for the group of eight months considered in the present analysis for identifying the disturbed days. It is found that daily variation exceeds the monthly mean, 1–23 days before the onset of the earthquakes in India and around within the radius of 1500 km. The influence of magnetic storms, lightning, local building noises, and seismic activities are studied on these VLF amplitude enhancements and it is found that they are not related to these spurious sources but are associated with the moderate seismic events that have occurred during the period of observations. Further, the generation and transmission mechanisms of these signals are also discussed.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thanks are to the World Data Centre, Kyoto, Japan, and United States Geological Survey for furnishing magnetic storm (ΣKp) and earthquake data.

Funding

The authors are thankful to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, New Delhi for giving financial support through a major research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, GLA University, Mathura, Chaumuhan, India

    Raj Pal Singh

  2. Department of Physics, Amarnath Girls Degree College, Mathura, India

    Sarita Sharma

  3. Department of Physics, R.B.S. Engineering Technical Campus, Agra, Bichpuri, India

    Devbrat Pundhir

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Raj Pal Singh, Sharma, S. & Pundhir, D. Effect of VLF Electromagnetic Radiations Associated with Some Moderate Shallow Earthquakes (4.9 ≤ M ≤ 6, Depth ≤ 20 Km) on the Atmosphere as Observed in the Terrestrial Antenna at Mathura. Geomagn. Aeron. 62, 663–674 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016793222050140

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