Ionospheric detection and imaging of earthquakes and tsunamis in near-real-time

• Grant number: 22/03502-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2023
• End date: December 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Agreement: ANR
• Principal Investigator: Esfhan Alam Kherani
• Grantee: Esfhan Alam Kherani
• Principal researcher abroad: Elvira Astafyeva
• Institution abroad: Institut de physique du globe de Paris, France
• Host Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Alexandre Alvares Pimenta ; Eurico Rodrigues de Paula ; Giuliano Sant'Anna Marotta ; Jonas Rodrigues de Souza ; Virginia Klausner de Oliveira
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/10488-8 - Early Warning-to-Forecasting of major earthquakes, based on seismic disturbances in the ionosphere, BP.PD; 24/18564-2 - Study and analysis of ionospheric perturbations in tec signals driven by natural hazards for near - Real-Time Detection, BP.TT; 23/07807-9 - Study of Co-seismic Ionospheric Disturbances in Near-Real-Time, BP.TT

Abstract

The Project IONO-DIET aims to develop, for the first time, ionosphere-based methods that will detect earthquakes and tsunamis in Near-Real-Time (NRT), and will determine the earthquake source parameters and/or tsunami wave-heights from the ionosphere in NRT. The latter will be done based on detection of co-seismic and co-tsunamic ionospheric disturbances by GNSS receivers. The ambition of IONO-DIET is to contribute in the improvement of the existing warning systems by rapidly providing the missing piece of information about the seismic source and the tsunami-genesis of an earthquake, or the estimates of the wave heights of tsunamis propagating in open sea. The idea to use ionospheric measurements for tsunami warnings is not new. However, despite several promising seismo-ionospheric results presented recently, the system is not yet there. IONO-DIET aims to become the last step before the ionosphere-based EQ/tsunami risk assessment system becomes a reality.Our approach is based on development of empirical relationships between earthquake & tsunami parameters and their ionospheric signatures. To fully achieve this main goal, it is necessary to address the following specific objectives: 1) to advance in the understanding of the solid Earth/ocean/atmosphere/ionosphere coupling and to respond the fundamental scientific questions; 2) to distinguish NH-driven disturbances from those of other origins. For this purpose, we'll work on and resolve the biggest challenge in the modern ionospheric sciences - the identification and differentiation of the source of Travelling Ionospheric Disturbances (TIDs); 3) to develop a few novel methodologies that satisfy the NRT requirements by being precise and rapid. To perform the Project's Tasks, besides the permanent staff in both institutes, we plan to recruit 1PhD Student, 2 PostDocs and 1 Engineer. The recruitment charges and the workload will be divided equally between France and Brazil. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SANCHEZ, S. A.; KHERANI, E. A.; ASTAFYEVA, E.; DE PAULA, E. R.. Rapid Detection of Co-Seismic Ionospheric Disturbances Associated With the 2015 Illapel, the 2014 Iquique and the 2011 Sanriku-Oki Earthquakes. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS, v. 128, n. 9, p. 15-pg., 2023-09-01. (17/50115-0, 23/07807-9, 22/03502-6)

SANCHEZ, S. A.; KHERANI, E. A.; ASTAFYEVA, E.; DE PAULA, E. R.. The First Near-Real-Time Compatible Numerical Method for Co-Seismic Ionospheric Disturbances Simulation. Geophysical Research Letters, v. 52, n. 8, p. 12-pg., 2025-04-28. (22/03502-6, 23/07807-9, 17/50115-0)

HONDA, R. H.; KHERANI, E. A.; FIGUEIREDO, C. A. O. B.; ASTAFYEVA, E.; WRASSE, C. M.; NACCARATO, K. P.. Resonant Infrasonic Disturbances in Total-Electron-Content During a Severe Thunderstorm on 23 October 2021. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS, v. 130, n. 3, p. 9-pg., 2025-03-01. (22/03502-6, 24/18564-2)