CC BY
13Journal of Siberian Federal University. Engineering & Technologies, 2018, 11(8), 956-963
yflK 551.507; 551.524; 550.34
Diagnosis of Atmospheric Temperature Anomalies in Seismically Active Regions of Asia on the Basis of Satellite Data
Leonid G. Sverdlik and Sanjar A. Imashev*
Research Station of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Bishkek
Bishkek, 720049, Kyrgyzstan
Received 23.01.2018 , received in revised form 16.07.2018, accepted 11.10.2018
Results of diagnosis of temperature anomalies based on retrospective analysis of long-term time-series of temperature in separation zone of troposphere and stratosphere over epicenters of 10 strong earthquakes with magnitude of M>6.5 that occurred in different seismically active regions of Asia are presented. Anomalous temperature perturbations were observed in all the studied cases 1-8 days before the main seismic event.
Keywords: earthquake, satellite data, atmosphere, temperature time series, tropopause, anomalies, outgoing long-wave radiation.
Citation: Sverdlik L.G., Imashev S.A. Diagnosis of atmospheric temperature anomalies in seismically active regions of Asia on the basis of satellite data, J. Sib. Fed. Univ. Eng. technol., 2018, 11(8), 956-963. DOI: 10.17516/1999-494X-0117.
Диагностирование аномалий температуры атмосферы в сейсмически активных регионах Азии по спутниковым данным
Л.Г. Свердлик, С.А. Имашев
Научная станция Российской академии наук в г. Бишкек
Кыргызстан, 720049, Бишкек
Представлены результаты диагностирования аномалий температуры, основанные на ретроспективном анализе долговременных спутниковых данных в зоне раздела тропосферы и стратосферы над эпицентрами 10 сильных землетрясений магнитудой М>6,5, произошедших в различных сейсмически активных регионах Азии. Аномальные возмущения температуры наблюдались во всех рассмотренных случаях за 1-8 дней до основного сейсмического события.
© Siberian Federal University. All rights reserved
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). Corresponding author E-mail address: l.sverdlik@mail.ru, sanzhar.imashev@gmail.com
*
Ключевые слова: землетрясение, спутниковые данные, атмосфера, временные ряды температуры, тропопауза, аномалии, уходящая длинноволновая радиация.
Introduction
One of the directions of complex monitoring of seismically active regions and interaction of geospheres is study a connection between dynamics lithospheric and atmospheric processes during earthquakes. At current time, using satellite remote sensing is a modern trend in detecting anomalous perturbations in atmosphere associated with seismic activity and main advantages of such method are global coverage, regular data obtaining, possibility of studying space-temporal structure of various atmospheric parameters, including temperature [1]. Thermal anomalies before strong earthquakes were observed at different levels, ranging from the surface of the earth to the upper cloud boundary, and were repeatedly recorded by many researchers [2, 3], but the results of such studies were not always unambiguous [4].
Meanwhile, as shown by satellite measurements, it is observed that in the layers of atmosphere separated by tropopause and characterized by different behavior of temperature gradient, the dynamics of amplitude and phase variation of temperature fluctuations have a fairly stable relationship with variations in seismicity. These tropospheric effects, which can be used for short-term forecasts of large seismic events were identified in [5] for the first time. The relationship between seismic activity and temperature variations in upper troposphere was clearly shown during the fatal earthquake in Japan in the spring of 2011 [6, 7], and also before the relatively strong seismic events in the Northern Tien-Shan [8, 9]. The main objective of this work, which is a continuation of these studies, consisted in additional test of effectiveness of the technique developed by the authors for diagnosing temperature perturbations in tropopause region, using as an example the strong earthquakes that occurred in seismically active regions of Asia.
Seismic and satellite data
According to the task, we construct a set of seismic data from earthquakes with magnitudes M > 6.5 using interactive service IEB [10]. These events occurred in Asia over the last few years (2011-2015) and for which satellite measurement are available in GIOVANNI system of visualization and analysis [11]. In order to ensure representativeness, temperature data were analyzed during the periods of preparation of 9 arbitrarily selected earthquakes with magnitudes from 6.6 to 8.6, which recorded in different geographic zones with high seismic risks from the equator to medium latitudes both over land and over the ocean: in Russia (Tuva, 27.12.2011, M = 6.6), Russia (Tuva, 26.02.2012, M = 6.7), Indonesia (Sumatra, 11.04.2012, M = 8.6), Pakistan (Balochistan, 24.09.2013, M = 7.7), China (Tibet, 12.02.2014, M = 6.8), Japan (Honshu island, 16.02.2015, M = 6.7), Nepal (Lamjung, 25.04.2015, M = 7.8), Japan (Honshu island, 12.05.2015; M = 6.8) and Japan (Ogasawara island, 30.05.2015, M = 7.8). The strongest regional seismic event in Kyrgyzstan (Suusamyr, 19.08.1992, M = 7.4), information about which is taken from the catalog of earthquakes [12] is also analyzed.
The time series of temperature T(t) with 12-hour time resolution (At = 12h) were reconstructed from satellite measurements at 10 isobaric levels (pk) from 500 to 70 hPa over each box of ±1° from the epicenters of earthquakes [11]. The duration of observation series was 12 months for the earthquake in Kyrgyzstan and 2-3 months before and after each of the other events.
Procedure of atmospheric temperature time series processing
The procedure for processing of temperature time series (documented in detail in [9]) is based on analysis of quasiperiodic components, whose period is ~5-8 days. The validity of such approach is demonstrated by wavelet spectrograms (Morle) [13], clearly distinguishing variations of such a time scale before large earthquakes (Fig. 1).
At the initial stage, the time series T(t) were transformed to dimensionless form, altogether with the removal of nonlinearity of altitude temperature distribution by calculating the temporal dynamics of temperature anomalies (&T) at each isobaric level in the form of deviation of the current temperature from the average monthly level (AT) normalized by standard deviation (or). The resulting series of temperature anomalies were averaged over two altitude ranges corresponding to the free troposphere (&TFT) and a region above the tropopause (&TTP), which were characterized by antiphased changes of &T duehodiiferencem hemperahure ghadihnt(}Vc = A77A/?< 0; yTP = AT/Ap > 0) (Fig. 2).
The choice of isobaric levels, which were averaged over each range, was based on a correlation comparison of the behavior of temperature anomalies, based on the maximum similarity of the temporal variability of &T.
After that, &TFT and &TTP time series were converted using moving window, when each element in the final series was calculated as a variance of some number (m) of previous values. The size of the
Nepal, 01 Feb-31 May 2015 (150 hPa]
W(a.b) Russia, 01 Nov 2011 -30 Apr2012 (500 hPa)
r
W[a,b)
100 200 300 400 500 60) 700
200 400 600 800 1000 1200 MOO
Fig. 1. Wavelet spectrograms of temperature time series (At = 3h) during periods of seismic activity in Nepal (150 hPa) (a)vnd RussraliOO heA( (A). VvrticpllinA s show (he moments efstrong AerthphPheT
TEMPERATURE, K APR MAY
Fig. 2. Transformation of vertical temperature profiles (a) and time series of average values of temperature anomalies in 450-300 and 150-100 hPa layers (b) before the earthquake in Japan (marker indicates the moment of the earthquake M = 6.8onMay12,2015)
"window", as a rale, was taken equtt too vu = 6, wluct allowed us to analyze the short-period temperature variations in rhe opectrum. DiagaosOias of tempunaturepertuobaoions is; basedou eroducs ol maving varience s of timessrlesoftempersOurcdndmaOies in the free troposphere and above tropopause:
D = Dft ■ DTP
Tie parameCerZl detruminea the ptoition nn a timt sciilic of the anomalous temperature variations in both layers, significantly exceeds 1 for large values of D@T, but is significantly less than 1 in the absence of temperature fluctuations, when the natural variability does not exceed the average monthly values (AT <<rrh or under site tnfluence oe random factote, wlicn npe of the multiplicands is less than ona (DFT < 1 huh DT/T < 1).
This procedure was tested in a series of relatively strong seismic events with energy class of K > 13.0 that occurred in the Northern Tien-Shan in 2003-2015, showing that the anomalous temperature perturbations in tropopause region over the epicentral areas of the upcoming earthquakes showed a fairly stable trendwhichwereobserved inabout70%of allcases [8, 9].
Discussionofresultsoftemperature anomaliesdiagnosing
Suusamyr earthquake(M = 7.4), August19,1992
On August 19,1992, the strongest in the last decades, Suusamyr earthquake of magnitude M = 7.4 was registered in the Northern Tien Shan, after which an intensive activation of seismicity is began. The main seismic event was accompanied by a large number of aftershocks (636 and 527 seismic events in August and September, respectively, which is more than typical annual rate). The temperature variations at isobaric levels from 300to100hPain 1992 areshownin Fig. 3a.
Correlation between time series of temperature increment AT = T(ti+1) - T(t) at levels of 300 and 100 hPa and calculated for the same time in moving window of m = 20 days, is shown in Fig. 3b.
-300 '|K
-200 ' |K
LOO hPa a M=7.4
8-0 -1
3 - D_300-250_150-100 hPn (m=10) « M=7.4 c
E- 2"
a i 0 ,/JVlvJL aJLàa..„^_K -1 wL. nJ JliA
FEB MAR APR MAY
JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC
Fig. 3. Dynamics of temperatures at isobaric levels of 300, 200 and 100 hPa (a); correlation between A T for one moment of time (b); parameter D (c) in 1992 (marker indicates the moment of the earthquake M = 7.4 on August 19, 1992)
- U59-
Increase in local correlation coefficients up to R = -0.84 before the strong seismic event is associated with both increase in amplitude of temperature fluctuations and with synchronous temperature changes. Immediately after the earthquake, there was a sharp decrease in the consistency of the internal dynamics of the series, which lasted more than two months. The results of diagnosing of temperature anomalies (D parameter) in layers of 300-250 and 150-100 hPa, separated by tropopause, show an area with a high D = 2.5 for 8-9 days before the earthquake (Fig. 3c). Similar results were obtained using the product of moving variances of variations range (Rr). Thus, it is clear coincidence of temperature anomaly with preparation period of a strong earthquake.
Anomalies of outgoing longwave radiation
In addition, to independently confirm formation of thermal anomalies before a strong earthquake we constructed the maps of spatial distribution of daily average values of outgoing long-wave radiation (OLR) [14]. Based on these data, we calculate zonal anomalies for each pixel, as a deviation of the current value from the average of the previous 5-year period (1987-1991) [15]. Calculations showed that OLR anomaly, observed on August 15, 1992, exceeded the level of 2a and approximately repeated the location of the active regional faults (shown with dashed lines) elongated in the latitudinal direction (Fig. 4a). Three days later, one day before the earthquake (August 18, 1992), the anomaly of outgoing long-wave radiation was recorded near the epicenter of the main seismic shock (Fig. 4b), which is consistent with similar results obtained earlier for the Tien-Shan earthquakes [8]. The size of the main OLR anomaly (> 3a) was -150x300 km.
Earthquakes with magnitude of M > 6.5 in seismically active regions of Asia
Peculiarities of thermal regime of the upper troposphere in seismically active regions of Asia were characterized by significant differences, which were probably determined by overall effect of physical processes developing in the atmosphere and in the earth's surface. One of such influencing factors was, probably, seismic activity. However, despite theamplitude and phase differencesin temperature variations in tropopauie tegion, the oppltcation of lht techuiquemade io postibie lo teveor general patteons (or signs) whiah were typicat for all the studied earthquakes. As an epample, Fig. 0 eOewstime series nf average voiueh ed temncratuae apompaer to alie (ndccated layeos (urnet fiupresl ondproeuct of moving variances calculated for m = 6 previous values (D) for earthquakes in Russia (M = 6.6-6.7)
anomaly 15 August 1992
45°N
44" N 43°N 42°N 41°N
30° N 38° M
anomaly 1» Aug usl 1992
78°E 81°E
Fig. 4. Spatial distribution of anomalies of outgoing long-wave radiation near epicenter of the earthquake: a ■ August 15; b - August 18, 1991!
and Sumatra (M = 8.6) in winter and spring periods of 2011-2012. It is clear that the regions with the highest values of D parameter correlated with the main seismic shock, appearing several days before these events.
The results of diagnosing of atmospheric temperature anomalies, combined together to same moment of earthquake, are shown in Fig. 6a in the form of variations of D parameter for the time period from 14 days before the event up to 4 days after it. For comparison, similar data are given for earthquakes of energy class of K > 13.0 in Tien-Shan in 2003-2015 (Fig. 6b).
Obviously, both plots demonstrate a significant degree of similarity in high values of D parameter, which either coincide with seismic shocks, or precede them. In general, these regions correspond to more intense and correlated variations in atmospheric layers separated by tropopause during a period of time determined by the size of moving window which is approximately corresponding to half-
Russia, 2011-2012 (51.7 N; 96.0 E)
Sumatra, 2012 (02.3 N; 93.1 E)
14 20 26 2 S 14 20 26 1 7 13 19 25 31 6 12 IS 24 1 7 13 NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR
S 1522 29 5 1219 26 4 11 1823 1 8 152229 6 13 20 27 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY
Fig. 5. Temporal dynamics of average temperature anomalies in the layers (a, b), moving variance and their product (D) (c, d) in Russia (from November 14, 2 011 till March 15, 2012) and Sumatra (from 01 January till May 31, 2012). Tune reiolution Af1 12h, unouin1 ramdow s^e ¡0=6
- Ru55ia, 2011 Asia' 2011-2013
»•• Russia, 2012 Sumatera, 2012
- Pakistan, 2013
Chim, 2014
- Nepal, 2015
-Japan_l_2015
♦ Japan_2, 2015
- Japan_3_2015
c. EQ
-14 -12 -10
20 04 Kyrgysstan, 2003 2015 (b)
2006a 2006 b
■ 200C • 2011a
■ 2011b ■ 2012
t«
Fig. 6. Results of diagnosis of air temperature anomalies (parameter D) before earthquakes in the Northern Tien-Shan (K > 13.0) in 2003-2015 (a) and in seismically active regions of Asia (M > 6.5) in 2011-2015 (b)
period of the analyzed component of temperature variation spectrum (3-4 days). The criterion for the anomalous behavior of temperature in all the cases was the integral parameter D, exceeding 1.5 (D > 1.5). This parameter can be used as a short-term precursor of a strong earthquake.
Summary and Conclusions
Analysis of satellite data showed that the considered sample of 10 strong seismic events (M > 6.5), which occurred in different regions of Asia, was preceded by abnormal temperature change in area between troposphere and stratosphere and which appeared 1-8 days before the main shock. Taking into account that epicenters of earthquakes have significant differences in latitude and conditions of the earth's surface, which determine characteristics of thermal regime of atmosphere, the developed method showed acceptable efficiency of diagnosing temperature anomalies.
Despite the positive statistics accumulated to date on diagnosing of temperature anomalies in the upper troposphere, it is early to say that they apply to all major seismic events, and, thus additional studies are needed. The main purpose of our future studies will be extension of data statistics and also construction of a model showing how the processes occurring in during preparation of earthquakes cause abnormal temperature fluctuations in the upper troposphere and antiphase oscillations in tropopause.
Acknowledgments
Authors would like to acknowledge managers and staff of NASA GES-DISC for providing a free access to the data used in this study.
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