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Preseismic Ionospheric Electric Field Irregularities Detected by the Double Probes Method

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Abstract

Based on the double probe method, we investigated the ionospheric preseismic electric effects for the strong Chile earthquake of magnitude M = 8.8 that occurred on February 27, 2010, at 06:3414 universal time (UT). To correlate the electrical disturbance to natural geophysical activities in the ionosphere associated with the earthquake, we used a new approach to analyze these disturbances a few days before the event, based on DEMETER spacecraft collected data in the ultra low frequency (ULF) band. The double probes method and the calculated preseismic ionospheric electric field resulting from the potential difference between two electrical probes of ICE (Instrument Champ Electrique) onboard the DEMETER satellite are investigated. Once the effect of the satellite motion is canceled, it is found that the disturbance is caused only by the telluric activity. Moreover, the investigation of the collected data illustrates a clear correlation between preseismic electrical disturbances and ionospheric plasma parameters recorded near the future epicenter. The strongest ionospheric electrical disturbances are located near the future epicenter and close to the geomagnetic conjugate points.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study is based on ICE (Instrument Champ Electrique) experience embedded on DEMETER satellite. We are grateful to Jean-Jacques Berthelier the PI of this electrical instrument.

Funding

This work was supported by ongoing institutional funding. No additional grants to carry out or direct this particular research were obtained.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysics Department—FSTGAT, University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, 16111, Algiers, Algeria

    S. Makhlouf

  2. Faculty of Physics-Theoretical Physics Laboratory-University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), BP 32 El Alia, 16111, Algiers, Algeria

    M. Djebli

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Makhlouf, S., Djebli, M. Preseismic Ionospheric Electric Field Irregularities Detected by the Double Probes Method. Geomagn. Aeron. 63 (Suppl 1), S71–S82 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016793223600236

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