THE PHYSICAL NATURE OF THERMAL ANOMALIES OBSERVED BEFORE STRONG EARTHQUAKES

Abstract

The paper examines the effect of air ionization on the thermal balance of the boundary layer of atmosphere. In seismically active areas the increased radon emanation from active faults and cracks before earthquakes is the primary source of air ionization. The problem is analyzed both on microscopic and macroscopic levels and in both cases the significant changes of the air relative humidity and air temperature are obtained. This happens due to the water molecules attachment to the newly formed ions (or in other words, condensation) which leads to the excretion of the latent heat. Obtained results permit us to explain the changes of the surface temperature and the surface latent heat flux increase before earthquakes observed by remote sensing satellites, as well as ground based measurements of the air temperature and relative humidity variations before the Colima earthquake (M7.6) of 2003 in Mexico, Hector Mine earthquake (M7.1) of 1999 in USA and Parkfield earthquake (M6) of 2004 in USA. These findings are also supported by the results of active experiments where the installation of artificial ionization of atmosphere is used. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.