On the recent seismic activity at Kefalonia island (Greece): Manifestations of an Earth system in critical state

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that electromagnetic emissions detected before two earthquakes on Kefalonia indicate the Earth's system reached a critical state, with analysis revealing critical fluctuations prior to seismic events.

Contribution

It shows that fracture-induced electromagnetic emissions can serve as precursors, with the method of critical fluctuations revealing criticality before earthquakes.

Findings

EME recorded days before earthquakes indicated critical state

Critical fluctuations were identified using MCF analysis

EME signals showed simultaneous criticality on Kefalonia and Zante

Abstract

In this paper we show, in terms of fracture-induced electromagnetic emissions (EME) that the Earth system around the focal areas came to critical condition a few days before the occurrence of each one of the two recent earthquakes of Kefalonia (Cephalonia), Greece. Specifically, EME were recorded two days prior to the first earthquake [(38.22o N, 20.53oE), 26 January 2014, M=6.1] & six days prior to the second one [(38.26o N, 20.39oE), 03 February 2014, M=6.0]. Specifically, the MHz EME recorded by the remote telemetric stations on the island of Kefalonia and the neighboring island of Zante came simultaneously to critical condition in both cases. The analysis was performed by means of the method of critical fluctuations (MCF) revealing critical features.