Anomalous variations of air temperature prior to earthquakes

Abstract

Earthquakes occur because of increase of stress and rock fracture. Prior to impending earthquake, physical and chemical interactions in the earth’s crust lead to anomalous variations of air temperature (AT). Satellite based remote sensing method allows to determine earthquake precursors over a large tectonic area. Buildup of stresses in a seismically active area manifests as thermal anomaly. In the present study, variations in AT prior to eastern Turkey, Bella Bella (Canada) and Pocito (Argentina) earthquakes were studied by utilizing multi-year background data. The analysis shows strong anomalous variations of AT prior to the seismic events with the highest AT values recorded before the earthquakes. Anomaly plots show that the release of energy was concentrated in the region along epicenter. Descriptive statistics of AT for the earthquakes show significant changes prior to the seismic event. Degassing of gases occur during rock micro-fracturing, which results in air ionization, thereby resulting in AT precursory anomalies.

Keywords:

• AT
• earthquake precursors
• air ionization
• thermal anomalies
• LAIC

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to NCEP and NOAA/OAR/ESRL PSD, Boulder. Colorado, USA for providing AT data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.