TR: Atmosphere Above Japan Heated Rapidly Before M9 Earthquake

[China]

Atmosphere Above Japan Heated Rapidly Before M9 Earthquake

Infrared emissions above the epicenter increased dramatically in the days before the devastating earthquake in Japan, say scientists.

Geologists have long puzzled over anecdotal reports of strange atmospheric phenomena in the days before big earthquakes. But good data to back up these stories has been hard to come by.

In recent years, however, various teams have set up atmospheric monitoring stations in earthquake zones and a number of satellites are capable of sending back data about the state of the upper atmosphere and the ionosphere during an earthquake.

Last year, we looked at some fascinating data from the DEMETER spacecraft showing a significant increase in ultra-low frequency radio signals before the magnitude 7 Haiti earthquake in January 2010

Today, Dimitar Ouzounov at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland and a few buddies present the data from the Great Tohoku earthquake which devastated Japan on 11 March. Their results, although preliminary, are eye-opening.

They say that before the M9 earthquake, the total electron content of the ionosphere increased dramatically over the epicentre, reaching a maximum three days before the quake struck.

At the same time, satellite observations showed a big increase in infrared emissions from above the epicentre, which peaked in the hours before the quake. In other words, the atmosphere was heating up.

These kinds of observations are consistent with an idea called the Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling mechanism. The thinking is that in the days before an earthquake, the great stresses in a fault as it is about to give cause the releases large amounts of radon.

The radioactivity from this gas ionises the air on a large scale and this has a number of knock on effects. Since water molecules are attracted to ions in the air, ionisation triggers the large scale condensation of water.

But the process of condensation also releases heat and it is this that causes infrared emissions.

Click on the link for the full article

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

Did the heat rise rapidly before the one here a couple weeks ago?

[PokerPacker]

so does this mean we can detect earthquakes before they happen now?

[twa]

so does this mean we can detect earthquakes before they happen now?

if it holds up it would be a strong precursor

pretty cool China

[daveakl]

Infrared emissions above the epicenter increased dramatically in the days before the devastating earthquake in Japan, say scientists.

Crud, they are going to think there is an Earthquake in Raleigh every time we do Chili night now

[endzone_dave]

Can't they go back and check the infared measurements on numerous other quakes? Can't they go back and look at historical data? Wouldn't it take just a day or two to do this?

[PCS]

Oh Lord. The Haarp ring folks are going to go ape **** over this. :doh:

Interesting. So if this does pan out,then can they do this kind of detection in a broad spectrum way and also get an idea of where and how big a possible quake will be? Lot's of work to do I'm sure,but that's got to have some scientist staying up nights looking at data.

[twa]

Can't they go back and check the infared measurements on numerous other quakes? Can't they go back and look at historical data? Wouldn't it take just a day or two to do this?

I would imagine most areas do not have the correct sensors,but you would think at least a few do have.

the satellite coverage is probably spotty as well