The Potential of Satellites to Investigate the Lithosphere-Atmosphere Coupling Processes Linked to Geo-health Environment

We present an interdisciplinary study on Earth-geospheres-interaction and human health by integrating space and ground-data observations. Following the initial studies of the deep origin of geogas (e.g., Rn, CH₄, CO₂, He) during geodynamic activities (Gold and Soter, 1985), we are exploring the detection feasibility of their concentration variations by measuring their coupling impact on the Earth's atmosphere by both ground and space observations. We study the physical processes of Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) linked to natural radioactivity by utilizing latest satellite data from NPOESS, AIRS, and the NASA assimilation model MERRA2.

Based on our findings, we suggest that an increase in the release of geogases might trigger several atmospheric processes, namely inside the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL): air molecules ionization and plasma chemical reactions which lead to release of latent heat energy forming hot spots of long-wave radiation at the top of the atmosphere (TOA; Pulinets and Ouzounov, 2011). During the validation analysis over the Mediterranean we have found unusual hotspots appearing at TOA over the islands of Ikaria (Greece) and Sardinia (Italy). The hotspot patterns do no follow usual weather patterns. Some are correlated with geodynamic activities in the region. Ground geophysical surveys indicated high levels of radon, CO₂ and He in both regions, which can be attributed as significant worldwide (Vogiannis and Nikolopoulos, 2015; Lombardi and Voltattorni, 2010). We formulate a hypothesis that a concentration increases of geogases (Rn, CH₄, CO₂, He) triggers near-surface air ionization processes exceeding natural background levels that could influence local aquatic, flora and fauna being beneficial/decremental for the geo-health environment. Ikaria (Greece) and Vodda (Sardinia) are listed as Blue spots for healthy living on our planet. We are exploring the temporal-spatial and evolution patterns in the thermal hotspots and ionization potential of ABL as a function of geogas variability. This preliminary study demonstrates the advantage of integrating NASA/NOAA observation with assimilation modeling data to detect coupling processes between geospheres impacting the way of living, usually not recognizable from the ground and by in situ observations