HR: 0800h
AN: T51B-0457    [Abstracts]
TI: The search for Infrared radiation prior to major earthquakes
AU: * Ouzounov, D
EM: ouzounov@cor2.gsfc.nasa.gov
AF: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Geodynamics, MS 921 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771 United States
AU: Taylor, P
EM: Patrick.Taylor@nasa.gov
AF: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Geodynamics, MS 921 Greenbelt Rd, Greenbelt, MD 20771 United States
AU: Pulinets, S
EM: pulse@geofisica.unam.mx
AF: UNAM, Delegaci˘n de Coyoac n, Mexico, D.F 04510 Mexico
AB: This work describes our search for a relationship between tectonic stresses and electro-chemical and thermodynamic processes in the Earth and increases in mid-IR flux as part of a possible ensemble of electromagnetic (EM) phenomena that may be related to earthquake activity. Recent analysis of continuous ongoing long- wavelength Earth radiation (OLR) indicates significant and anomalous variability prior to some earthquakes. The cause of these anomalies is not well understood but could be the result of a triggering by an interaction between the lithosphere-hydrosphere and atmospheric related to changes in the near surface electrical field and gas composition prior to the earthquake. The OLR anomaly covers large areas surrounding the main epicenter. We have use the NOAA IR data to differentiate between the global and seasonal variability and these transient local anomalies. Indeed, on the basis of a temporal and spatial distribution analysis, an anomaly pattern is found to occur several days prior some major earthquakes. The significance of these observations was explored using data sets of some recent worldwide events.
DE: 8164 Stresses--crust and lithosphere
DE: 7215 Earthquake parameters
DE: 1640 Remote sensing
DE: 0689 Wave propagation (4275)
SC: Tectonophysics [T]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting