Mid-infrared emission prior to strong earthquakes analyzed by remote sensing data Original Research Article

Solid Earth–atmosphere interactions and possibly solid Earth–seafloor interactions prior to major earthquakes are the subject of this study. Using data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard National Aeronautical Space Agency (NASA) Terra and Aqua satellites, we have begun to analyze infrared (IR) emissivity, land surface temperature (LST) and sea surface temperature (SST) data. Specifically, we look for correlations between solid Earth processes and atmosphere/ocean dynamics prior to strong earthquakes, selecting examples from 2001 and 2000. We find evidence for such correlations, specifically for a thermal anomaly LST pattern that is apparently related to pre-seismic activity. A new mechanism has recently been proposed based on positive hole-type charge carriers in rocks, which become activated when rocks are subjected to high levels of stress prior [J. Geodyn. 33 (2002) 545–572]. The appearance of these electronic charge carriers within a finite rock volume leads to enhanced IR emission from the rock surface in the 8–12 μm region.