Ionospheric Anomalies Observed by GPS-TEC Prior to the 3rd of July 2013 Uganda’s Earthquake

Enoch Elemo

doi:10.4236/oalib.1101326

Home > Journals > Biomedical & Life Sciences | Business & Economics > OALibJ

Open Access Library Journal > Vol.2 No.6, June 2015

Ionospheric Anomalies Observed by GPS-TEC Prior to the 3^rd of July 2013 Uganda’s Earthquake ()

Enoch Elemo

Centre for Atmospheric Research, Anyigba, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/oalib.1101326 PDF HTML XML 756 Downloads 1,040 Views

Abstract

Recently ionospheric variability remains one of the most intensive studies in the area of ionospheric physics. Despite the massive improved knowledge of its dynamics, the ability to use this data to provide early, as well as valid warning of upcoming earthquakes (seismo-ionospheric coupling) is still controversial. However, anomalous behaviours of TEC in the ionosphere before the occurrence of earthquakes have received several attentions by scientists. In this paper, GPS-TEC variations of 31 days (15 days before and 15 days after the occurrence of Uganda’s earthquake of July 3^rd 2013) were examined to see if there was any seismo-ionospheric coupling. Any correlation between the identified TEC anomalies and the earthquake in question was examined. It was discovered that, there was the presence of an anomaly that occurred on the 8^th day of the data. And then there was another set of consistent rise in the TEC values that started 4 days before the day of the earthquake and continued till the day of the earthquake. A change of situation was however noticed after the occurrence of the earthquake. The combination of all these led to the conclusions that the anomaly in the TEC is an ionospheric signature for the earthquake.

Keywords

Ionospheric Variability, Seismo-Ionospheric Coupling, GPS-TEC Variations, Uganda’s Earthquake, Upper Anomalies, Ionospheric Signatures

Share and Cite:

Elemo, E. (2015) Ionospheric Anomalies Observed by GPS-TEC Prior to the 3^rd of July 2013 Uganda’s Earthquake. Open Access Library Journal, 2, 1-6. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1101326.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Hayakawa, M. and Fujinawa, Y. (1994) Electromagnetic Phenomena Relater to Earthquake Predication. Terra Science Publishing Co., Tokyo.
[2]	Hayakawa, M. (1999) Atmospheric and Ionospheric Electromagnetic Phenomena Associated with Earthquakes. Terra Science Publishing Co., Tokyo.
[3]	Hayakawa, M., Molchanov, O.A., Kodama, T., Afonin, V.V. and Akentieva, O.A. (2000) Plasma Density Variations Observed on a Satellite Possibly Related to Seismicity. Advances in Space Research, 26, 1277-1280. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(99)01224-7
[4]	Hayakawa, M. and Molchanov, O.A. (2002) Seismo-Eletromagnetics: Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling. Terra Science Publishing Co., Tokyo.
[5]	Pulinets, S.A. and Boyarchuk, K.A. (2004) Ionospheric Precursors of Earthquakes. Springer, Berlin.
[6]	Liu, J.Y., Chen, Y.I., Jhuang, H.K. and Lin, Y.H. (2004) Ionospheric f0F2 and TEC Anomalous Days Associated with M ≥ 5.0 Earthquakes in Taiwan during 1997-1999. Terrestrial Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, 15, 371-383.
[7]	Liu, J.Y., Chen, Y.I. and Chen, C.H. (2009) Seismoionospheric GPS Total Electron Content Anomalies Observed before the 12 May 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan Earthquake. Journal of Geophysical Research A, 114, Article ID A04320.
[8]	Liu, J.Y., Chen, Y.I., Pulinets, S.A., Tsai, Y.B. and Chuo, Y.J. (2000) Seismo-Ionospheric Signatures Prior to M ≥ 6.0 Taiwan Earthquakes. Geophysical Research Letters, 27, 3113-3116. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2000GL011395
[9]	Liu, J.Y., Chen, Y.I., Chuo, Y.J. and Tsai, H.F. (2001) Variations of Ionospheric Total Content during the Chi-Chi Earthquake. Geophysical Research Letters, 28, 1381-1386. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2000GL012511
[10]	Liu, J.Y., Chuo, Y.J., Shan, Y.J., Tsai, S.J., Chen, Y.B., Pulinets, S.A. and Yu, S.B. (2004) Pre-Earthquake Ionospheric Anomalies Registered by Continuous GPS TEC Measurements. Annals of Geophysics, 22, 1585-1593. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/angeo-22-1585-2004
[11]	Liu, J.Y., Tsai, Y.B. and Ma, K.F. (2006) Precursory Phenomena Associated with the 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake in Taiwan as Identified under the iSTEP Program. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 31, 365-377.
[12]	Pulinets, S.A., Khegai, V.V., Boyarchuk, K.A. and Lomonosov, A.M. (1998) Atmospheric Electric Field as a Source of Ionospheric Variability. Physics-Uspekhi, 41, 515-522. http://dx.doi.org/10.1070/PU1998v041n05ABEH000399
[13]	Pulinets, S.A., Hernandez-Pajares, M. and Depuev, V.K.H. (2003) Equatorial Anomaly Variability as a Function of the Local Time and the Longitude. Proceedings of the IRI Task Force Activity, Trieste, 159-166.
[14]	Zakharenkova, I.E., Shagimuratov, I.I. and Tepenitzina, N.Yu. (2008) Anomalous Modification of the Ionospheric Total Electron Content Prior to the 26 September 2005 Peru Earthquake. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 70, 1919-1928. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2008.06.003
[15]	Liu, L., Wan, W., Zhang, M.L., Zhao, B. and Ning, B. (2008) Prestorm Enhancement in NmF2 and Total Electron Content at Low Latitudes. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, A02311. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007JA012832
[16]	Zhao, B.Q., Wang, M. and Yu, T. (2008) Is an Unusual Large Enhancement of Ionospheric Electron Density Linked with the 2008 Great Wenchuan Earthquake? Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, A11304. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2008JA013613
[17]	Kelley, M.C. (1989) The Earth Ionosphere. Elsevier Press, Amsterdam, 487p.
[18]	Fujinawa, Y. and Tkahashi, K. (1990) Emission of Electromagnetic Radiation Preceeding the Ito Seismc Swarm of 1989. Nature, 347, 376-378. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/347376a0
[19]	Pulinets, S.A., Boyarchuk, K.A., Hegai, V.V., Kim, V.P. and Lomonosov, A.M. (2000) Quasielectrostatic Model of Atmosphere-Theremosphere-Ionosphere Coupling. Advances in Space Research, 26, 1209-1218.
[20]	Hei, M.A., Heelis, R.A. and McClure, J.P. (2005) Seasonal and Longitudinal Variation of Largescale Topside Equatorial Plasma Depletions. Journal of Geophysical Research, 110, A12315. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2005JA011153
[21]	Yizengaw, E., Moldwin, M.B., Mebrahtu, A., Damtie, B., Zesta, E., Valladares, C.E. and Doherty, P.H. (2011) Comparison of Storm Time Equatorial Ionospheric Electrodynamics in the African and American Sectors. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 73, 156-163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2010.08.008
[22]	Burke, W.J., Gentile, L.C., Huang, C.Y., Valladares, C.E. and Su, S.Y. (2004) Longitudinal Variability of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Observed by DMSP and ROCSAT-1. Journal of Geophysical Research, 109, A12301. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2004JA010583