Sub-ionospheric VLF/LF waveguide variations related to magnitude M>5 earthquakes in the eastern Mediterranean area

International audienceIn this study we examine earthquakes with magnitude M>5 in the year 2022 where the epicenters are crossed by sub-ionospheric narrowband VLF/LF radio links. The study regions are Italy, Aegean area, and the Balkan Peninsula. Ideal suited for this task are paths from the transmitters TBB (26.70 kHz, Bafa, Turkey), ITS (45.90 kHz, Niscemi, Sicily, Italy), and ICV (20.27 kHz, Tavolara, Italy) to the seismo-electromagnetic receiver facility GRZ (Graz, Austria). The receiver is part of a wider network, this gives the opportunity to have multiple simultaneous crossings of an earthquake event.We investigate electric field amplitude variations in the time span a few days around the main shock, in particular we apply the so-called night-time amplitude method. All electric field data sets have 1 sec temporal resolution. A crucial point is a certain threshold magnitude to obtain statistically significant results, but to firm up the results additional complementary investigations are necessary.In summary, VLF/LF investigations of strong earthquakes show the complex interplay between the lithospheric events and electric field amplitude waveguide variations, multi-parametric observations in a network could be a tool to derive robust results

Investigation of VLF/LF electric field variations related to magnitude Mw≥5.5 earthquakes in the Mediterranean region for the year 2023

International audienceStrong natural hazards together with their societal impact are usually accompanied by multiple physical phenomena which can be an important information source about the underlying processes. In this study we statistically analyze the lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere couplings of magnitude Mw5.5+ earthquakes (EQs) in the year 2023 with the aid of sub-ionospheric VLF/LF radio links. The electric field amplitude and phase measurements with a temporal resolution of one second are from the seismo-electromagnetic receiver facility in Graz (GRZ), Austria (Galopeau et al., 2023), which is part of the INFREP network. The spatial extend of the study area has the range [-10°E ≤ longitude ≤ 40°E] and [20°N ≤ latitude ≤ 50°N], in total are 17 EQs according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) data base, among them the Turkey–Syria EQs (main shocks Mw7.8 and Mw7.5) and the Morocco Mw6.8 EQ. We apply the night-time amplitude method (Hayakawa et al., 2010) for all available paths, of particular importance are the transmitter links TBB (26.70 kHz, Bafa, Turkey), ITS (45.90 kHz, Niscemi, Sicily, Italy), and ICV (20.27 kHz, Tavolara, Italy). Relevant crossings are determined by the size of the Dobrovolsky-Bowman relationship (Dobrovolsky et al., 1979; Bowman et al., 1998).A major finding is the statistically significant electric field variation of the TBB-GRZ link related to the Turkey–Syria EQ sequence. A physical interpretation is based on atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) which could alter the E-layer in the lower ionosphere during nighttime and modulate the height of the waveguide cavity