Observed Weather Satellite Thermal Responses Prior to and After Earthquakes
Abstract
The observance of a "thermal anomaly" 15 hours prior to the occurrence of the Hector Mine, California earthquake of October 1999 by thermal infrared sensors (10.4-12.5 microns) on Landsat-7, lead to further investigation of the phenomenon with polar orbiting and geosynchronous weather satellites. New techniques were developed to assure the precise co-registration of all satellite scenes and permit accurate time-series analyses of satellite observations, studies not previously undertaken for significant earthquake events. Contrary to expectations, apparent measurable ground temperature increases of limited area extent near the faults were observed only hours prior to the earthquake and observed over a much broader area for a short duration afterwards. Investigation of two other large earthquakes, on 17 August 1999 near Izmit Turkey and on 26 January 2001 near Bhuj, India, showed similar elevations in apparent ground surface temperature shortly prior to the events and up to a day after each event. These results would appear to rule out explanations in the literature because of the rapidity of pre-event thermal change and the broad extent of post-event apparent temperature elevation. A possible explanation for these observations may be that thermal infrared luminescence rather than emissivity is the contributing mechanism.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003AGUFM.T52D..04B
- Keywords:
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- 5194 Instruments and techniques;
- 7223 Seismic hazard assessment and prediction;
- 7294 Instruments and techniques;
- 8123 Dynamics;
- seismotectonics