Variations of atmospheric aerosol parameters in periods of seismic activity in Tien–Shan

Abstract

Combination of numerical modeling (MERRA) and ground based (AERONET) monitoring of atmospheric aerosol parameters were used to discover a possible connection to seismic activities within the territory of Tien-Shan. The obtained results demonstrated consistent behavior between increase of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) and powerful earthquakes, epicenters of which were located within 200 km from the “Issyk-Kul” station (AERONET). Thereat, the dominant role was played by fine-dispersed particles, which virtually determined the nature of AOT evolution. We also observed well-defined changes of the ratio between mass fraction PM1.0 (particles less than 1.0 μm aerodynamic diameter) and optical thickness of aerosol scattering several days before an earthquake of M > 5.0 magnitude.