Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) Models

A special issue of Atmosphere (ISSN 2073-4433). This special issue belongs to the section "Upper Atmosphere".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2019) | Viewed by 28317

Special Issue Editor

Space Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997 Moscow, Russia
Interests: physics of the ionosphere; atmospheric electricity; natural hazards; lithosphere-atmosphere–ionosphere coupling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

When I met the famous Japanese seismologist Seiya Uyeda nearly 20 years ago, he was the same age as I am now. Listening to my enthusiastic reasoning that we are very close to finding the solution to the short-term earthquake forecast problem, Seiya told me that we would be able to confirm this only once the theory of pre-earthquake processes had been created. In the last 20 years, many scientists have worked hard trying to understand how information from underground has propagated through the atmosphere up to its higher layer ionosphere. We are very close now to solving this problem, and the aim of this Special Issue is to summarize the recent progress in understanding the lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling (LAIC). This should include at least five important segments:

  1. A description of the lithosphere–atmosphere interface including the mechanical, geochemical, and electromagnetic interactions;
  2. A description of pre-earthquake processes in the boundary layer of the atmosphere including the plasmachemical reactions, heat generation, atmospheric movements/AGW generation, and the impact on the global electric circuit (conductivity, EF, etc.);
  3. A description of atmosphere–ionosphere coupling leading to ionospheric precursors generation considering two main possibilities: electromagnetic coupling and the AGW effect on the ionosphere;
  4. A description of the ionospheric anomalies associated with earthquake preparation, including variations of electron and ion concentration, electron and ion temperature, modification of the vertical profiles of electron concentration, modification of ion composition in the F-layer of the ionosphere, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of all these parameters;
  5. The synergy of all these parameters, demonstrating their common origin, uniqueness, and time directivity, indicating the approaching of the system to the critical point.

Dr. Sergey Pulinets
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • radon
  • tectonic fault
  • ionization
  • ion's hydration
  • electric field
  • air conductivity
  • global electric circuit
  • latent heat
  • aerosols
  • acoustic gravity waves
  • electron concentration

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1714 KiB  
Article
IonoSeis: A Package to Model Coseismic Ionospheric Disturbances
by Thomas Dylan Mikesell, Lucie M. Rolland, Rebekah F. Lee, Florian Zedek, Pierdavide Coïsson and Jean-Xavier Dessa
Atmosphere 2019, 10(8), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10080443 - 01 Aug 2019
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3971
Abstract
We present the framework of the modeling package IonoSeis. This software models Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) derived slant total electron content (sTEC) perturbations in the ionosphere due to the interaction of the neutral atmosphere and charged particles in the ionosphere. We [...] Read more.
We present the framework of the modeling package IonoSeis. This software models Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) derived slant total electron content (sTEC) perturbations in the ionosphere due to the interaction of the neutral atmosphere and charged particles in the ionosphere. We use a simplified model to couple the neutral particle momentum into the ionosphere and reconstruct time series of sTEC perturbations that match observed data in both arrival time and perturbation shape. We propagate neutral atmosphere disturbances to ionospheric heights using a three-dimensional ray-tracing code in spherical coordinates called Windy Atmospheric Sonic Propagation (WASP3D), which works for a stationary or non-stationary atmospheric models. The source of the atmosphere perturbation can be an earthquake or volcanic eruption; both couple significant amounts of energy into the atmosphere in the frequency range of a few Millihertz. We demonstrate the output of the code by comparing modeled sTEC perturbation data to the observed perturbation recorded at GNSS station BTNG (Bitung, Indonesia) immediately following the 28 September 2018, Sulawesi-Palu earthquake. With this framework, we provide a software to couple the lithosphere, atmosphere, and ionosphere that can be used to study post-seismic ionospherically-derived signals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) Models)
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8 pages, 1583 KiB  
Article
Methods for the Evaluation of the Stochastic Properties of the Ionosphere for Earthquake Prediction—Random Matrix Theory
by Leontýna Břizová, Jan Kříž, Filip Studnička and Jan Šlégr
Atmosphere 2019, 10(7), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10070413 - 18 Jul 2019
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3011
Abstract
Seismo-ionospheric coupling is a field of great interest and is currently subject to rigorous study; using both ground and satellite data and many phenomenological features, the ionospheric precursors of earthquakes were identified. In this work, we present methods to study the stochastic properties [...] Read more.
Seismo-ionospheric coupling is a field of great interest and is currently subject to rigorous study; using both ground and satellite data and many phenomenological features, the ionospheric precursors of earthquakes were identified. In this work, we present methods to study the stochastic properties of the lower ionosphere, derived from the data obtained with very low frequency (VLF) receivers at frequencies in the range of 19.6 to 37.5 kHz. Two main approaches are described: auto-correlation and random matrix theory treatments of amplitude time series data. It is shown that before shallow earthquakes with magnitudes greater than four, there are measurable changes that can be used in earthquake prediction. Although the exact form of the causal chain that leads to these changes are currently subject to diligent study, we believe that the investigations described herein are worth adding to the repertoire of ionospheric precursors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) Models)
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27 pages, 5327 KiB  
Article
Magnetic Field and Electron Density Data Analysis from Swarm Satellites Searching for Ionospheric Effects by Great Earthquakes: 12 Case Studies from 2014 to 2016
by Angelo De Santis, Dedalo Marchetti, Luca Spogli, Gianfranco Cianchini, F. Javier Pavón-Carrasco, Giorgiana De Franceschi, Rita Di Giovambattista, Loredana Perrone, Enkelejda Qamili, Claudio Cesaroni, Anna De Santis, Alessandro Ippolito, Alessandro Piscini, Saioa A. Campuzano, Dario Sabbagh, Leonardo Amoruso, Marianna Carbone, Francesca Santoro, Cristoforo Abbattista and Daniela Drimaco
Atmosphere 2019, 10(7), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10070371 - 03 Jul 2019
Cited by 44 | Viewed by 4709
Abstract
We analyse Swarm satellite magnetic field and electron density data one month before and one month after 12 strong earthquakes that have occurred in the first 2.5 years of Swarm satellite mission lifetime in the Mediterranean region (magnitude M6.1+) or in the rest [...] Read more.
We analyse Swarm satellite magnetic field and electron density data one month before and one month after 12 strong earthquakes that have occurred in the first 2.5 years of Swarm satellite mission lifetime in the Mediterranean region (magnitude M6.1+) or in the rest of the world (M6.7+). The search for anomalies was limited to the area centred at each earthquake epicentre and bounded by a circle that scales with magnitude according to the Dobrovolsky’s radius. We define the magnetic and electron density anomalies statistically in terms of specific thresholds with respect to the same statistical quantity along the whole residual satellite track (|geomagnetic latitude| ≤ 50°, quiet geomagnetic conditions). Once normalized by the analysed satellite tracks, the anomalies associated to all earthquakes resemble a linear dependence with earthquake magnitude, so supporting the statistical correlation with earthquakes and excluding a relationship by chance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) Models)
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8 pages, 4260 KiB  
Article
Seismogenic Disturbances of the Ionosphere During High Geomagnetic Activity
by Aleksandr Namgaladze, Mikhail Karpov and Maria Knyazeva
Atmosphere 2019, 10(7), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10070359 - 28 Jun 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2506
Abstract
Herein, we analyze the variations in the ionosphere for the period of two weeks before the M6.7 earthquake in India on 3 January 2016. The earthquake occurred after a series of magnetic substorms on 31 December 2015 and 1 January 2016. The relative [...] Read more.
Herein, we analyze the variations in the ionosphere for the period of two weeks before the M6.7 earthquake in India on 3 January 2016. The earthquake occurred after a series of magnetic substorms on 31 December 2015 and 1 January 2016. The relative total electron content (TEC) disturbances have been estimated using global TEC maps and calculated numerically using the 3D global first-principle Upper Atmosphere Model (UAM) for the whole period including the days before, during, and after the substorms. Numerical simulations were repeated with the seismogenic vertical electric currents switched on at the earthquake epicenter. The UAM calculations have reproduced the general behavior of the ionosphere after the main phase of the geomagnetic storm on 1 January 2016 in the form of negative TEC disturbances propagating from high latitudes, being especially strong in the Southern (summer condition) Hemisphere. It was shown that the local ionospheric effects of seismic origin can be identified in the background of the global geomagnetic disturbances. The seismo-ionospheric effects are visible in the nighttime regions with the additional negative TEC disturbances extending from the eastern side of the epicenter meridian to the western side, both in the observations and in the UAM simulations. It was found that the vertical electric field and corresponding westward component of the electromagnetic [E × B] drift played a decisive role in the formation of the ionospheric precursors of this earthquake. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) Models)
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18 pages, 3455 KiB  
Article
Indications of Ground-based Electromagnetic Observations to A Possible Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Electromagnetic Coupling before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan MS 8.0 Earthquake
by Mei Li, Jun Lu, Xuemin Zhang and Xuhui Shen
Atmosphere 2019, 10(7), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10070355 - 27 Jun 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3228
Abstract
A large number of various precursors have been reported since the Wenchuan MS 8.0 earthquake (EQ) took place on 12 May 2008 in China. In this work, previous investigations of both ground-based electromagnetic (EM) parameters and spatial ionospheric parameters were first examined. [...] Read more.
A large number of various precursors have been reported since the Wenchuan MS 8.0 earthquake (EQ) took place on 12 May 2008 in China. In this work, previous investigations of both ground-based electromagnetic (EM) parameters and spatial ionospheric parameters were first examined. The statistical results showed that various anomalies presented different time-scale variations but tended to be characterized by a common feature – reaching their climax on 9 May, three days before the Wenchuan event, which indicates a lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere (LAI) electromagnetic coupling. Second, the fluctuations on 9 May based on the observational ground-based ultra low frequency (ULF) electrical field at the Gaobeidian (GBD) station and the direct current/ultra low frequency (DC–ULF) geomagnetic vertical Z field at the Chengdu (CD) station were comparably analyzed with those of ionospheric disturbances reported previously. The results showed that distinct electromagnetic changes, geomagnetic “double low-point” phenomena, and ionospheric disturbances above both sides of the Earth started in turn, respectively, but reached their climax simultaneously within dozens of hours on 9 May. This evolutionary process increases the probability that electromagnetic energy propagates from the epicentral area, via the atmosphere and ionosphere, to the equatorial plane, and through this plane finally to its magnetically conjugated area in the opposite hemisphere, causing electromagnetic disturbances on the Earth’s surface, in the atmosphere, and in the ionosphere and its conjugate point, in that order. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) Models)
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8 pages, 1589 KiB  
Article
Global Distribution of Persistence of Total Electron Content Anomaly
by Yang-Yi Sun, Jann-Yenq Liu, Tsung-Yu Wu and Chieh-Hong Chen
Atmosphere 2019, 10(6), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10060297 - 01 Jun 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2987
Abstract
To better understand the ionospheric morphology response to lithospheric activities, we study the global location preference of the positive and negative total electron content (TEC) anomalies persisting continuously for longer than 24 h at middle and low latitudes (within ±60° N geomagnetic latitudes). [...] Read more.
To better understand the ionospheric morphology response to lithospheric activities, we study the global location preference of the positive and negative total electron content (TEC) anomalies persisting continuously for longer than 24 h at middle and low latitudes (within ±60° N geomagnetic latitudes). The TEC is obtained from the global ionospheric map (GIM) of Center for Orbit Determination in Europe (CODE) under the geomagnetic quiet condition of Kp ≤ 3o during the period of 2005 to 2018. There are a few (less than 4%) TEC anomalies that can persist over 24 h. The conjugate phenomenon is most significant in the eastern Asia to Australia longitudinal sector. The result shows the persistence of the positive TEC anomaly along the ring of fire on the western edge of the Pacific Ocean. The high persistence of the TEC anomalies at midlatitudes suggests that thermospheric neutral wind contributes to the anomaly formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) Models)
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16 pages, 2785 KiB  
Article
Joint Anomalies of High-Frequency Geoacoustic Emission and Atmospheric Electric Field by the Ground–Atmosphere Boundary in a Seismically Active Region (Kamchatka)
by Yury Marapulets and Oleg Rulenko
Atmosphere 2019, 10(5), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10050267 - 13 May 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2695
Abstract
The authors generalize and analyze the investigation results of joint anomalies of high-frequency geoacoustic emission and atmospheric electric field by the ground–atmosphere boundary which were detected by them in Kamchatka. These anomalies are observed as geoacoustic emission increases in kilohertz frequency range and [...] Read more.
The authors generalize and analyze the investigation results of joint anomalies of high-frequency geoacoustic emission and atmospheric electric field by the ground–atmosphere boundary which were detected by them in Kamchatka. These anomalies are observed as geoacoustic emission increases in kilohertz frequency range and bay-like decreases of atmospheric electric field with the sign change which occur close in time during calm weather conditions. It is the authors’ opinion that the common nature of these anomalies is short-time stretching of the near-surface sedimentary rocks at an observation site during unstable tectono-seismic process. A scheme of the detected anomalies formation has been suggested. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) Models)
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20 pages, 6338 KiB  
Article
Pre-Earthquake and Coseismic Ionosphere Disturbances of the Mw 6.6 Lushan Earthquake on 20 April 2013 Monitored by CMONOC
by Kunpeng Shi, Xin Liu, Jinyun Guo, Lu Liu, Xinzhao You and Fangjian Wang
Atmosphere 2019, 10(4), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos10040216 - 22 Apr 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4194
Abstract
In order to study the coupling relationship between large earthquakes and the ionosphere, the techniques of ionosphere data acquisition were refined by the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) to detect the pre-earthquake ionospheric abnormal and coseismic ionospheric disturbances (CID) of the [...] Read more.
In order to study the coupling relationship between large earthquakes and the ionosphere, the techniques of ionosphere data acquisition were refined by the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) to detect the pre-earthquake ionospheric abnormal and coseismic ionospheric disturbances (CID) of the Mw 6.6 Lushan earthquake on 20 April 2013. Based on the regional ionosphere maps (RIMs) derived from the Global Positioning System (GPS) observations of CMONOC, the ionospheric local effects near the epicenter of the Lushan earthquake one month prior to the shock were analyzed. The results show that the total electron content (TEC) anomalies appeared 12–14 (6–8 April), 19 (1 April), and 25–27 (24–26 March) days prior to the Lushan earthquake, which are defined as periods 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Multi-indices including the ring current index (Dst), geomagnetic planetary (Kp) index, wind plasma speed (Vsw) index, F10.7, and solar flares were utilized to represent the solar–terrestrial environment in different scales and eliminate the effects of solar and geomagnetic activities on the ionosphere. After the interference of solar–terrestrial activity and the diurnal variation in the lower thermosphere were excluded, the TEC variations with obvious equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA) in period-1 were considered to be related to the Lushan earthquake. We further retrieved precise slant TECs (STECs) near the epicenter to study the coseismic ionospheric disturbance (CID). The results show that there was clear STEC disturbance occurring within half an hour after the Lushan earthquake, and the CID propagation distance was less than the impact radius of the Lushan earthquake (689 km). The shell models with different altitudes were adopted to analyze the propagation speed of the CID. It is found that at the F2-layer with the altitude of 277 km, which had a CID horizontal propagation velocity of 0.84 ± 0.03 km/s, was in accordance with the acoustic wave propagation velocity. The calculated velocity acoustic wave from the epicenter to the ionospheric pierce points of this shell model was about 0.53 ± 0.03 km/s, which was also consistent with its actual velocity within the altitude of 0–277 km. Affected by the geomagnetic field, the CID mainly propagated along the southeast direction at the azimuth of 190°, which was almost parallel to the local magnetic line. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) Models)
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