Response of Surface and Atmospheric Parameters Associated With the Iran M 7.3 Earthquake

Abstract

Multiparameter observed from satellite, including microwave brightness temperature, skin temperature, air temperature, and carbon monoxide, have been analyzed to identify the anomalous signals associated with the M 7.3 Iran earthquake of November 12, 2017. Besides removing the multiyear variability of parameters as background, the effect of surface and atmosphere of a dust storm event in Middle East region during October 29–November 1 is considered to distinguish the possible anomalies associated with the earthquake. The characteristic behaviors of surface and atmospheric parameters clearly show the signals associated with the M 7.3 earthquake and the dust storm event. The multiple parameters at different pressure levels provide clear evidence to identify the anomalous signals associated with an earthquake, which could help us to minimize the false alarms. Our results show the atmospheric disturbances caused by other natural hazard events could mask the thermal anomalies induced by tectonic activities, which cannot be ignored when detecting the abnormal surface and atmospheric signals associated with earthquake activities.

Keywords

• Atmospheric variation
• earthquake
• microwave brightness temperature
• remote sensing
• satellite observation