Rapid Detection of Co-Seismic Ionospheric Disturbances Associated With the 2015 Illapel, the 2014 Iquique and the 2011 Sanriku-Oki Earthquakes

Author(s)

Sanchez, S. A. ; Kherani, E. A. ; Astafyeva, E. ; de Paula, E. R.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS; v. 128, n. 9, p. 15-pg., 2023-09-01.

Abstract

Co-seismic Ionospheric disturbances (CID, or "ionoquakes") are disturbances in the electron density or total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere, produced by the ground motion due to earthquakes. Usually, ionoquakes are detected in the near-epicentral region within 8-10 min after an earthquake onset time. In this work, we present a new methodology that allows to estimate the CID arrival time based on determining the CID peak time in TEC measurements with respect to the peak time of seismic waves registered by the nearest seismic station. Our methodology also allows to understand the altitude of GNSS detection that otherwise remains ambiguous. We apply the newly developed techniques to detect CID signatures associated with three large earthquakes: the 2015 Illapel, the 2014 Iquique, and the 2011 Sanriku-Oki. We show that for these events, the CID arrive 250-430 s after the time of the seismic wave peak, or 350-700 s after the earthquake onset time. Our analysis show that the first CID are detected at the altitudes of 150-180 km (the Sanriku earthquake) and of 200-300 km (the Illapel and the Iquique earthquakes). The disturbances represent high-frequency acoustic oscillations that propagate with a horizontal speed faster than 0.75 km/s. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/50115-0 - GNSS technology for supporting air navigation
• Grantee: Joao Francisco Galera Monico
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research in Public Policies
• FAPESP's process: 23/07807-9 - Study of Co-seismic Ionospheric Disturbances in Near-Real-Time
• Grantee: Saúl Alejandro Sánchez Juarez
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Technical Training Program - Technical Training
• FAPESP's process: 22/03502-6 - Ionospheric detection and imaging of earthquakes and tsunamis in near-real-time
• Grantee: Esfhan Alam Kherani
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants