This paper presents observations based on in-situ and time series MODIS Terra/Aqua and NOAA-AVHRR satellite data on derived anomalies of multi geophysical parameters (land surface temperature -LST, outgoing long-wave radiation- OLR, and mean air temperature- AT for some seismic events recorded in Vrancea seismic region in Romania. Starting with almost one week prior to a moderate or strong earthquake a transient thermal infrared rise in LST of several Celsius degrees (°C) and the increased OLR values higher than the normal have been recorded around epicentral areas, function of the magnitude and focal depth, which disappeared after the main shock. A developed Lithosphere-Surfacesphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LSAIC) model can explain most of these presignals as a synergy between different anomalies of geophysical/geochemical parameters. These anomalies prior to medium to strong earthquakes are attributed to the thermodynamic, degassing and ionization processes in the Earth- Atmosphere system and micro-fracturing in the rocks especially along area’s active faults. The main outcome of this paper is an unified concept for systematic validation of different types of earthquake precursors of which Land Surface Temperature (LST), outgoing Long wave Radiation (OLR), Air Temperature (AT), radon gas concentration, are the most reliable parameters within the chain of the processes described by a LSAIC model.

Date Published: 18 October 2016
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 10005, Earth Resources and Environmental Remote Sensing/GIS Applications VII, 100050A (18 October 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2241265

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 10005:
Earth Resources and Environmental Remote Sensing/GIS Applications VII
Ulrich Michel; Karsten Schulz; Manfred Ehlers; Konstantinos G. Nikolakopoulos; Daniel Civco, Editor(s)