# Non-uniform scaling of the magnetic field variations before the $M_w$9.0 Tohoku earthquake in 2011

## TL;DR

This study explains the increased non-uniform scaling in magnetic field variations before the 2011 Tohoku earthquake by linking it to superimposed seismic electric signals, using DFA and multifractal analysis.

## Contribution

It provides a novel explanation for the non-uniform scaling behavior in magnetic data prior to earthquakes, connecting it to electric signals and superimposed trends.

## Key findings

- Magnetic field variations show increased non-uniform scaling before the earthquake.
- Seismic electric signals exhibit similar scaling behavior.
- Superimposition of electric signals on trends affects magnetic field scaling.

## Abstract

Applying Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) to the geomagnetic data recorded at three measuring stations in Japan, Rong et al. in 2012 reported that anomalous magnetic field variations were identified well before the occurrence of the disastrous Tohoku $M_w$9.0 earthquake that occurred on 11 March 2011 in Japan exhibiting increased "non-uniform" scaling behavior. Here, we provide an explanation for the appearance of this increase of "non-uniform" scaling on the following grounds: These magnetic field variations are the ones that accompany the electric field variations termed Seismic Electric Signals (SES) activity which have been repeatedly reported that precede major earthquakes. DFA as well as multifractal DFA reveal that the latter electric field variations exhibit scaling behavior as shown by analyzing SES activities observed before major earthquakes in Greece. Hence, when these variations are superimposed on a background of pseudosinusoidal trend, their long range correlation properties -quantified by DFA- are affected resulting in an increase of the "non-uniform" scaling behavior. The same is expected to hold for the former magnetic field variations.