Three-dimensional structure of the seismo-electromagnetic ionospheric electron density disturbances

TL;DR

This study models the three-dimensional ionospheric electron density disturbances caused by vertical electric currents over faults before earthquakes, highlighting the importance of all plasma drift directions for understanding seismo-electromagnetic phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a 3D modeling approach using the Earth's Upper Atmosphere Model to analyze ionospheric disturbances related to earthquakes, emphasizing all plasma drift directions.

Findings

All three plasma drift directions are important in ionospheric disturbances.

Vertical electric currents influence the 3D structure of electron density.

The model provides insights into pre-earthquake ionospheric behavior.

Abstract

The paper presents the three-dimensional structure of the ionospheric electron density disturbances triggered by the vertical electric currents flowing between the Earth and ionosphere over the faults before the strong earthquakes. The results were obtained using the global numerical Earth's Upper Atmosphere Model (UAM). The vertical electric currents flowing between the Earth and ionosphere over the faults were used as lower boundary conditions for the UAM electric potential equation. The UAM calculated 3D structure of the ionospheric electron density disturbances demonstrates an importance of all three ionospheric plasma drift directions (movements) - vertical, meridional and zonal but not only vertical one.