Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Estimation of the Epicenter Position of Kamchatka Earthquakes

  • Published:
Pure and Applied Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this article, we describe a method for predicting of the epicenter location region of Kamchatka and Commander earthquakes (EQs). It is based on the properties of the precursory atmospheric ULF/ELF (1–30 Hz) radiation and the spatial statistics of local EQs in relation to the Kuril-Kamchatka and Aleutian trenches. From this statistics, it follows that more than 90% of events with magnitude (ML) of more than 5 occur in the gap ~ 150 km west of the Kuril-Kamchatka trench and north-east of the Aleutian trench. Additionally, we obtain the approximate location of the epicenter by determining the position of the radiation source. We suppose that it is caused by gas eruption from the hearth of the EQ to the trench and has the nearest location to the EQ epicenter. Further, we obtain other parameters of supposed position of the epicenter from spatial statistics of EQs relative to the projection of radiation source, which approximately coincides with gas emanation area in the ocean surface. The main drawbacks of the method are the dependence of its accuracy on the industrial interferences and the ambiguity of determining the epicenter location in the case of single-point registration of radiation when the main lobe of the azimuthal distribution of radiation crosses both trenches.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Fowler, R. A., Kotick, B. J., & Elliot, R. D. (1967). Polarization analysis of natural and artificially induced geomagnetic micropulsations. Journal of Geophysical Research, 72, 2871–2875.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich, C., & Pulliam, J. (1999). Single-station location of seismic events: a review and a plea for more research. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 113(I1–4), 277–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayakawa, M. (2015). Earthquake prediction with radio techniques. Singapore: John Wiley & Sons.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Janský, J., Novotný, O., Plicka, V., et al. (2012). Earthquake location from P-arrival times only: problems and some solutions. Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica, 56, 553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11200-011-9036-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopytenko, Y. A., et al. (2006). Determination of earth position of a forthcoming strong EQ using gradients and phase velocities of geomagnetic disturbances. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 31, 292–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liperovsky, V. A., et al. (2005). On the possible influence of radon and aerosol injection on the atmosphere and ionosphere before earthquakes. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 5(6), 783–789.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liperovsky, V. A., et al. (2008). On the generation of electric field and infrared radiation in aerosol clouds due to radon emanation in the atmosphere before earthquakes. Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 8, 1199–1205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohta, K., Izutsu, J., Schekotov, A., & Hayakawa, M. (2013). The ULF/ELF electromagnetic radiation before the 11 March 2011 Japanese earthquake. Radio Science, 48, 589–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ouzounov, D., Bryant, N., Logan, T., et al. (2006). Satellite thermal IR phenomena associated with some of the major earthquakes in 1999–2003. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 31, (4–9), 154–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2006.02.036.

  • Pulinets, S., & Ouzunov, D. (2011). Litosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) model—An unified concept for earthquake precursors validation. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 41, 371–382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2010.03.005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pulinets, S., Ouzounov, D., Karelin, A., et al. (2006). The physical nature of thermal anomalies observed before strong earthquakes. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 31(4–9), 143–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2006.02.042.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schekotov A, Hayakawa M (2017) ULF/ELF Electromagnetic phenomena for short-term earthquake prediction. LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing, ISBN 978-3-330-06286-3.

  • Schekotov, A. Y., Molchanov, O. A., Hayakawa, M., et al. (2007). ULF/ELF magnetic field variations from atmosphere induced by seismicity. Radio Science, 42, RS6S90. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005RS003441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schekotov, A. Y., Molchanov, O. A., Hayakawa, M., et al. (2008). About possibility to locate an EQ epicenter using parameters of ELF/ULF preseismic emission. Natural Hazards and Earth Systems Sciences, 8, 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schekotov, A., Fedorov, E., Molchanov, O., Hayakawa, M. (2013). Low Frequency Electromagnetic Precursors as a Prospect for Earthquake Prediction. In: Hayakawa M, Ed., Earthquake Prediction Studies: Seismo-Electromagnetics, TERRAPUB, Tokyo, pp 81–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Schekotov, A., Zhou, H. J., Qiao, X. L., & Hayakawa, M. (2016). ULF/ELF atmospheric radiation in possible association to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake as observed in China. Earth Science Research, 5(2), 47. https://doi.org/10.5539/esr.v5n2p47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schekotov, A., Chebrov, D., Hayakawa, M., et al. (2020). Short-term earthquake prediction in Kamchatka using low-frequency magnetic fields. Natural Hazards, 100, 735–755. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-019-03839-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tronin, A. (2006). Remote sensing and earthquakes: A review. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C, 31(4–9), 138–142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2006.02.024.

  • Uyeda, S. (2013). Earthquake prediction in Japan. Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B, 89(9), 391–400. https://doi.org/10.2183/pjab.89.391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, S., et al. (2012). Locating earthquakes with surface waves and centroid moment tensor estimation. Journal of Geophysical Research, 117, B04309. https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JB008501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong, H. J., Zhao, J., & Shan, X. (2018). Pre-seismic anomalies from optical satellite observations: a review. Natural Hazards and Earth Systems Sciences, 18, 1013–1036.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank the whole staff of the Kamchatka Branch of Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for providing the data of magnetic fields and seismicity.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth, Russian Academy of Sciences (IPE RAS), 10-1 B. Gruzinskaya, Moscow, 123242, Russia

    A. Schekotov

  2. Kamchatka Branch of Geophysical Survey of Russian Academy of Sciences, KB GS RAS, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatski, Russia

    D. Chebrov

  3. Hayakawa Institute of Seismo Electromagnetics, Co. Ltd. (Hi-SEM), UEC (University of Electro-Communications) Alliance Center, #521, 1-1-1 Kojima-cho, Chofu, Tokyo, 182-0026, Japan

    M. Hayakawa

  4. Advanced Wireless and Communications Research Center (AWCC), UEC, 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo, 182-8585, Japan

    M. Hayakawa

  5. Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radiowave Propagation (IZMIRAN), RAS, Kaluzhskoe Hwy 4Troitsk, 108840, Moscow, Russia

    G. Belyaev

Authors
  1. A. Schekotov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Chebrov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Hayakawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Belyaev
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Schekotov.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Schekotov, A., Chebrov, D., Hayakawa, M. et al. Estimation of the Epicenter Position of Kamchatka Earthquakes. Pure Appl. Geophys. 178, 813–821 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-021-02679-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-021-02679-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation