Discussion on the Correlation of Surface Latent Heat Flux Variation and Marine Earthquakes

In recent years, the relationship between the anomalous variation of SLHF (Surface Latent Heat Flux) and marine earthquakes has been a new subject of seismology study. It is a key problem that how to detect and extract the abnormal changes which is directly or indirectly result of seismic activities from the whole complicated latent heat flux varying background. In this presentation, by using SLHF data of NCEP (National Center for Environmental Prediction), we discussed the SLHF behaviors prior and post to five giant marine earthquakes (Sumatra, 2001/01/12, Mw9.1; Papua, 2009/01/03, Ms7.7; Samoa 2009/09/29, Ms8.0; Haiti, 2010/01/12, Ms7.0 and Tohoku, 2011/03/11, Mw 9.0). Besides, we also analyzed the long-term relationship of earthquakes and so-called SLHF anomalies of the five individual study areas in twenty years. The results suggest that, (1) the SLHF variations which happened before Tohoku and Papua earthquake were probably not anomalies, and they might not be caused by these events; (2) there were many "anomalies" which cannot find out any earthquake in the study area might be related to; (3) there were more than 60% earthquakes without any SLHF varying precursors; (4) related factors should be taken into account as many as possible to analyze correlation between SLHF variation and seismic activities; (5) we should investigate long time series data instead of focusing on individual earthquake event; (6) the detecting procedure should be formalized and related parameters should be got rid of subjective or retroactive adjustment.