Monitoring of Gamma Radiation Prior to Earthquakes at a Study of Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling in Northern Tien Shan

TL;DR

This study investigates gamma radiation and atmospheric disturbances as potential precursors to earthquakes in Northern Tien Shan, revealing characteristic anomalies days before seismic events and supporting lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling.

Contribution

It provides new observational evidence linking gamma ray flux and ionospheric disturbances to earthquake precursors, advancing understanding of lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere interactions.

Findings

Gamma ray flux shows bay-like drops 2-8 days before earthquakes.

Anomalies in gamma rays, geoacoustic emission, and temperature occur 7-10 days prior to M4.2 earthquakes.

Ionospheric Doppler shifts correlate with near-surface radioactivity changes.

Abstract

Monitoring of radiation background in the near-surface atmosphere and of gamma rays, geoacoustic emission, and temperature in a borehole at 40m depth, as well as Doppler sounding on a low-inclined radio pass proceed at the Tien Shan mountain station (3340m a.s.l.) in Northern Tien Shan with common goal to search for seismogenic effects preceding earthquake. The flux of gamma rays in the borehole varies negligibly between the days, and it is not influenced by precipitations. Characteristic bay-like drops of the gamma ray flux were found (2-8)days before the M5.0-M6.2 earthquakes. In a M4.2 earthquake event with the 5.3km epicenter distance anomalies were detected (7-10)days before the earthquake in variation of the gamma ray flux, geoacoustic emission, and temperature. Simultaneously with gamma rays, a disturbance was detected in the Doppler shift of the ionospheric signal. Similarly, ionosphere disturbances triggered by the growth of radioactivity in the near-surface atmosphere were found at retrospective analysis of the Doppler shift data acquired after underground nuclear explosions at the Semipalatinsk testing site. This effect is considered from the viewpoint of the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling concept.