Anomalous temperature changes in the UTLS region prior to the 2008 Nura Earthquake

Abstract

The paper presents results of retrospective analysis of satellite temperature time series above the epicentral area of the destructive Nura earthquake of M=6.7, occurred in a seismically active Tien-Shan region on October 5, 2008. An algorithm based on the use of a modified STA/LTA criterion has been developed for the purpose of selection and identification of perturbations associated with seismic activity. It has been established that an explicit mesoscale temperature anomaly in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS) was observed during the period from October 1 to 3, 2008. Temporal and spatial distributions of the temperature perturbations consistently appeared at various UTLS levels suggest probable association with seismic event preparation.