Multi-Parameter Observation and Detection of Pre-Earthquake Signals in Seismically Active Areas

Institute of Space Science, National Central University, Chung-Li 320, Taiwan The recent large earthquakes (: M9.0 Tohoku, 03/2011; M7.0 Haiti, 01/2010; M6.7 L’Aquila, 04/2008; and M7.9 Wenchuan 05/2008) have renewed interest in pre- anomalous seismic signals associated with them. Recent workshops (DEMETER 2006, 2011 and VESTO 2009 ) have shown that there were precursory atmospheric /ionospheric signals observed in space prior to these events. Our initial results indicate that no single pre-earthquake observation (seismic, magnetic field, electric field, thermal infrared [TIR], or GPS/TEC) can provide a consistent and successful global scale early warning .. This is most likely due to complexity and chaotic nature of earthquakes and the limitation in existing ground (temporal/spatial) and global satellite observations. In this study we analyze preseismic temporal and spatial variations (gas/radon counting rate, atmospheric temperature and humidity change, long-wave radiation transitions and ionospheric electron density/plasma variations )which we propose occur before the onset of major earthquakes:. We propose an Integrated Space – Terrestrial Framework (ISTF), as a different approach for revealing pre-earthquake phenomena in seismically active areas. ISTF is a sensor web of a coordinated observation infrastructure employing multiple sensors that are distributed on one or more platforms; data from satellite sensors (Terra, Aqua, POES, DEMETER and others) and ground observations,