Atmospheric, ionospheric and earth-related variations associated with the 11th August 2012 earthquakes, Ahar, Iran. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mohamed, Emad K.; Gahalaut, Vineet K.; Sekertekin, Aliihsan; Inyurt, Samed
• Is Part Of: Journal of atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics. Volume 216(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Land surface temperature (LST) -- Total electron content (TEC) -- Outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) -- Air temperature (AT) -- Seismic activity -- Ahar earthquakes. earthquake precursors; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Atmospheric physics -- Periodicals; Géophysique -- Périodiques; Météorologie physique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 551.51
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2021.105595
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-6826

Abstract

Abstract: On August 11, 2012, two successive strong earthquakes (Mw = 6.4 and 6.3) hit the East Azerbaijan Province, NW Iran at 12:23 and 12:34 UTC. This study investigated the variations of multi earthquakes precursors, (Land Surface Temperature (LST), Total Electron Content (TEC), Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR), and Air Temperature (AT) of non-seismic phenomena before and after the successive Ahar (Iran) earthquakes. In this study, we used the moving median method to detect the anomalies in TEC, whereas ±2σ (95% confidence level) interval was used in MODIS LST and OLR analyses as an anomaly indicator. The results indicated that the MODIS Nighttime LST decreased by 5.5–6.3 °C compared to the mean (LST) within 10–12 days before the earthquakes Then a dramatic increase was observed on August 02, 2012. The LST results were consistent with the results of OLR, where the anomaly was observed on July 29, 2012. In addition to LST and OLR, significant TEC anomalous disturbances (increase and decrease) occurred two weeks before the earthquakes started on 28th July and reached the highest value 3 days before the earthquakes. Furthermore, AT analysis also provided identical results with LST behaviors. These results were instructive for seismologists and represent the importance of the corresponding potential precursors for upcoming earthquakes. Highlights: MODIS LST daytime/nighttime, AT, OLR and GIM-TEC were examined before and after August 11, 2012 Ahar (Iran) Earthquakes. Two anomalous days of LST of nighttime were observed within 10–12 days before the earthquakes. The results of OLR indicated that one anomalous day was observed in the data set. TEC anomalies were observed three days before the earthquakes.