Ionospheric perturbations in possible association with the 2010 Haiti earthquake, as based on medium-distance subionospheric VLF propagation data

Author(s)

Hayakawa, M. ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Raulin, J. P. ^[4] ; Kasahara, Y. ^{[1, 5]} ; Bertoni, F. C. P. ^[4] ; Hobara, Y. ^{[1, 5]} ; Guevara-Day, W. ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Electrocommun, Res Stn Seismo Electromagnet, Chofu Tokyo 1828585 - Japan

^[2] Univ Electrocommun, Adv Wireless Commun Res Ctr, Chofu Tokyo 1828585 - Japan

^[3] Informat Syst Inc, Earthquake Anal Lab, Minato Ku, Tokyo 1070062 - Japan

^[4] Univ Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Escola Engn, Ctr Radio Astron & Astrofis, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] UEC, Grad Sch Informat & Elect Engn, Chofu Tokyo - Japan

^[6] Comis Nacl Invest & Desarrollo Aeroespacial CONID, Lima - Peru

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: NATURAL HAZARDS AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES; v. 11, n. 2, p. 513-518, 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 16

Abstract

Ionospheric perturbations in possible association with the 2010 Haiti earthquake occurred on 12 January 2010 (with a magnitude of 7.0 and depth of 10 km) are investigated on the basis of subionospheric propagation data from the NAA transmitter on the east coast of the USA to a VLF receiving station in Peru. The local nighttime VLF amplitude data are extensively investigated during the period from the beginning of October 2009 to the end of March 2010, in which the trend (nighttime average amplitude), dispersion and nighttime fluctuation are analysed. It is found that a clear precursory ionosphere perturbation is detected just around New Years day of 2010, about 12 days before the main shock, which is characterised by the simultaneous decrease in the trend and the increases in dispersion and nighttime fluctuation. An additional finding might be the presence of the effect of the Earth's tide one and two months before the main shock, which can only be seen for a huge EQ. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/05630-1 - Ionospheric effects of magnetic storms in global scale
• Grantee: Fernando Celso Perin Bertoni
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 06/02979-0 - Monitoring the solar activity and the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA) using a network of very low frequency (VLF) receivers: SAVNET - South America VLF NETwork
• Grantee: Jean Pierre Raulin
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants