• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.137-140
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• 2015

The results of the study of ionospheric variations in the summer months of 1998-2002 at an ionospheric station of vertical sounding "Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky" are presented. Anomalous variations of virtual sporadic-E height (h'Es), Es blanketing frequency (fbEs), and the critical frequency of the ionospheric F2 layer (foF2) (which can be attributed to the possible earthquake precursors) are selected. The high efficiency of the selection of ionospheric earthquake precursors based on the several parameters of Es and F2 layers is shown. The empirical dependence, which reflects the connection between the lead-time of the earthquake moment, the distance to the epicenter from the observation point, and the magnitude of the earthquake are obtained. This empirical dependence is consistent with the results of the detection of earthquake precursors by measuring the physical parameters of the Earth's crust in the same region.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.09a
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• pp.57-64
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• 2001

There are some previous reports that some animals such as rats and birds move in a large group and act abnormally to avoid the large earthquake. This study is to experimentally testify what relations exist between the anomalous animal behavior and electric field effect, which is reported due to the piezoelectric effects in a basement rock before earthquake occurrences. When electric field is applied to the whole bottom of the cage, they show nervous behaviors such as grooming, washing their faces, standing on legs or running around in panic to avoid the electric field. When more strong electric field is applied, they jump with shrieking and mount on the electric line. The rat shows more sensitive anomalous behavior than the bird. Even though the current to the experimental birds and rats is just a few $\mu$A, they react in various ways. The anomalous animal behaviors under the small ground electric field may have some relations to the actual phenomena before great earthquake. This kind of study is quite worthy for the understanding of earthquake precursors.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2020

Recent studies have suggested that detectable ionospheric disturbances precede earthquakes. In the present study, variations in the vertical total electron content (TEC) for eight earthquakes with magnitudes of M ≥ 5.5 in the western United States were investigated during the solar maximum of 2013-2015 using United States total electron content (US-TEC) data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Analyses of 12 earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.0 ≤ M < 5.5 in the same region were also performed. The TEC variations were examined for 40 days, including the times when the earthquakes occurred. The results indicated a correlation between earthquakes with magnitudes of M ≥ 5.0 and ionospheric TEC anomalies. TEC anomalies occurred before 60% of the earthquakes. Additionally, they were more frequently observed for large earthquakes (75%, M ≥ 5.5) than for small earthquakes (50%, 5.5 > M ≥ 5.0). Anomalous increases in the TEC occurred 2-18 days before the earthquakes as an ionospheric precursor, whereas solar and geomagnetic activities were low or moderate.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.112-118
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• 2002

The anomalous behaviour of animals prior to a large earthquake has been frequently reported from many places throughout the world since ancient times. This study is to experimentally testify what relations exist between the anomalous animal behavior and electric field effect, which is reported due to the piezo-electric effects in a basement rock before earthquake occurrences. We investigated the electric field effects on behaviors of two kinds of rats and birds. Rats show more sensitive anomalous behavior than birds. Even though the current applied to the experimental birds and rats is just a few ${\mu}$A, they show various abnormal behaviors. The anomalous animal behaviors under the small ground electric field may have some relations to the actual phenomena before great earthquake.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.393-400
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• 2018

Despite some skeptical views on the possibility of earthquake prediction, observation and evaluation of precursory changes have been continued throughout the world. In Korea, the public concern on the earthquake prediction has been increased after 2016 $M_L5.8$ and 2017 $M_L5.4$ earthquakes occurred in Gyeongju and Pohang, the southeastern part in Korea, respectively. In this study, the abnormal increase of groundwater level was observed before the 2016 $M_L5.8$ Gyeongju earthquake in a borehole located in 52 km away from the epicenter. The well was installed in the Yangsan fault zone, and equipped for the earthquake surveillance. The abnormal change in the well would seem to be a precursor, considering the hydrogeological condition and the observations from previous studies. It is necessary to set up a specialized council to support and evaluate the earthquake prediction and related researches for the preparation of future earthquake hazards.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.30 no.7
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• pp.824-833
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• 2009

We analyzed a total of six months of geomagnetic data obtained at Cheonyang observatory, which is operated by Korean Meteorological Administration, to monitor earthquake precursors. Geomagnetic transfer functions (GTFs) and polarization values, which reflect the time-variations of the resistivity of subsurface, were estimated from 3-component geomagnetic data. The time-variant fluctuations were compared with the earthquake events occurred in the same period. Now that the daily GTFs show fairly irregular variations, we can not identify any correlation with the already occurred earthquakes and Kp index. On the other hand, we detect clear increases of the Ultra-Low-Frequency (ULF) band polarization values before the earthquakes, but the similar features are also observed even though the earthquake did not occur. This result may indicate that these time-variations are not just due to the earthquake precursor. For further understanding about these results, we need to investigate the relationship between the previous earthquake events and the geomagnetic data of other observatories.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.165-175
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• 2022

Earthquakes have occurred owing to movements on a fault since several billion years ago. Research on the relationship between earthquakes and groundwater began in the 1960s in the United States, but related works, including hydrogeochemistry research, only began in the 2010s in South Korea. In this study, domestic studies on the relationship between earthquakes and groundwater until 2021 were collected from the Web of Science and characterized by subject area (groundwater level, hydrogeochemistry, combination of the two, and others). The results showed that the number of published articles per year was positively correlated with the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, 2016 Gyeongju earthquake, and 2017 Pohang earthquake, with the maximum numbers observed in 2011, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Most studies on the relationship between earthquakes and groundwater level addressed groundwater level fluctuations in the duration of the subject earthquake, with little consideration of the precursors. Groundwater level monitoring data, as well as hydrogeochemical information and microbial communities, may contribute to a more detailed understanding of groundwater flow and chemical reactions in bedrock caused by earthquakes. Therefore, the establishment of a national groundwater monitoring network for seismic monitoring and prediction is required.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.313-324
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• 2018

In order to study the earthquake precursor in the Korean peninsula, long-term variations of chemical composition, radon-222, and water level were measured at depths (-60 m, -100 m) in the groundwater monitoring wells of the Daejeon and the Cheongwon area. The pH and electrical conductivity of groundwater in the monitoring wells showed some relationship with the Pohang earthquake. The ${HCO_3}^-$ and $Cl^-$ concentration of groundwater in the Daejeon and $Mg^{2+}$, $Cl^-$ and ${NO_3}^-$ in the Cheongwon showed some relation with the Pohang earthquake. However, it is not distinct to find the relationship between their variation and earthquake. The radon-222 concentration in Daejeon was observed a significant increase from a minimum of 162 Bq/L prior to the earthquake to 573 Bq/L right after the earthquake, that indicating a strong correlation with earthquakes. In the case of groundwater levels, it can not find some correlation between earthquakes and continuous decreasing trend in the monitoring wells of Daejeon and Cheongwon area. However, water level of a national groundwater observation well within 10 kilometers of Pohang epicenter was recorded as an abrupt drop right before the earthquake. Conclusively, although the location of monitoring wells is more than 180 kilometers apart from the epicenter of the Pohang earthquake, the radon gas in groundwater can be considered as a reliable candidate among earthquake precursors. The pH, electrical conductivity, ${HCO_3}^-$ and $Cl^-$ among hydrochemicals showed some correlation with earthquake should be monitored during a longer term to recognize distinctly as a precursor of earthquake.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 2015

This study tests the potential of detecting small-magnitude earthquakes (~M3.0) and their precursors using a long-term groundwater-monitoring database. In groundwater records from April to June 2012, abnormal changes in water level, temperature, and electrical conductivity were identified in the bedrock monitoring wells of the Gimcheon-Jijwa, Gangjin-Seongjeon, and Gongju-Jeongan stations. These anomalies could be attributed to the M3.1 earthquake that occurred in the Youngdeok area on May 30th, although no linear relationship was found between the scale of changes and the distance between each monitoring station and the epicenter, which is attributed in part to the wide screen design of the monitoring wells. Groundwater monitoring networks designed specifically for monitoring earthquake impacts could provide better information on the safety of underground space and on the security of emergency water-resources in earthquake disaster areas.

• Korean Journal of Remote Sensing
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.25-43
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• 2018

The effects of hydro-meteorological and surface variables on the frequency of Asian dust events (FAE) were investigated using ground station and satellite-based data. Present weather codes 7, 8, and 9 derived from surface synoptic observations (SYNOP)were used for counting FAE. Surface wind speed (SWS), air temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH), and precipitation were analyzed as hydro-meteorological variables for FAE. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), land surface temperature (LST), and snow cover fraction (SCF) were used to consider the effects of surface variables on FAE. The relationships between FAE and hydro-meteorological variables were analyzed using Z-score and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. Although all variables expressed the change of FAE, the degrees of expression were different. SWS, LST, and Ta (indices applicable when Z-score was < 0) explained about 63.01, 58.00, and 56.17% of the FAE,respectively. For NDVI, precipitation, and RH, Asian dust events occurred with a frequency of about 55.38, 67.37, and 62.87% when the Z-scores were > 0. EOF analysis for the FAE showed the seasonal cycle, change pattern, and surface influences related to dryness condition for the FAE. The intensity of SWS was the main cause for change of FAE, but surface variables such as LST, SCF, and NDVI also were expressed because wet surface conditions suppress FAE. These results demonstrate that not only SWS and precipitation, but also surface variables, are important and useful precursors for monitoring Asian dust events.