Variations of VLF/LF signals observed on the ground and satellite during a seismic activity in Japan region in May–June 2008

Signals of two Japanese transmitters (22.2 kHz and 40 kHz) recorded on the ground VLF/LF station in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and on board the DEMETER French satellite have been analyzed during a seismic activity in Japan in May–June 2008. The period of analysis was from 18 April to 27 June. During this time two rather large earthquakes occurred in the north part of Honshu Island – 7 May (<i>M</i>=6.8) and 13 June (<i>M</i>=6.9). The ground and satellite data were processed by a method based on the difference between the real signal in nighttime and the model one. For ground observations a clear decrease in both signals has been found several days before the first earthquake. For the second earthquake anomalies were detected only in JJI signal. The epicenters of earthquakes were in reliable reception zone of 40 kHz signal on board the DEMETER. Signal enhancement above the seismic active region and significant signal intensity depletion in the magnetically conjugate area has been found for satellite observation before the first earthquake. Anomalies in satellite data coincide in time with those in the ground-based observation

Anomalies in VLF radio signals prior the Abruzzo earthquake (M=6.3) on 6 April 2009

Abstract. The VLF/LF radio signals method for studying preseimic activity is applied to the Abruzzo earthquake (M=6.3, 6 April 2009). The data collected by three receivers located in Moscow (Russia), Graz (Austria) and Bari (Italy) at about 3000 km, 1000 km and 500 km from the epicenter were used. The signals received from the Sardinia (20.27 kHz) and the Sicily (45.9 kHz) transmitters, both located in Italy, were compared with those received from the Iceland (37.5 kHz), the Great Britain (19.58 kHz) and the Germany (23.4 kHz) transmitters. The propagation paths of the two Italian transmitters cross the epicentral area (seismic paths) unlike the paths of the other three signals (control paths). Using two different analyses, that are the study of the night-time signal and the research of shifts in the evening terminator times, clear anomalies were revealed 2–8 days before the occurrence of the Abruzzo earthquake in the seismic paths, while no anomalies have been found in the control paths

The 6 April 2009 earthquake at L'Aquila: a preliminary analysis of magnetic field measurements

Several investigations reported the possible identification of anomalous geomagnetic field signals prior to earthquake occurrence. In the ULF frequency range, candidates for precursory signatures have been proposed in the increase in the noise background and polarization parameter (i.e. the ratio between the amplitude/power of the vertical component and that one of the horizontal component), in the changing characteristics of the slope of the power spectrum and fractal dimension, in the possible occurrence of short duration pulses. We conducted, with conventional techniques of data processing, a preliminary analysis of the magnetic field observations performed at L'Aquila during three months preceding the 6 April 2009 earthquake, focusing attention on the possible occurrence of features similar to those identified in previous events. Within the limits of this analysis, we do not find compelling evidence for any of the features which have been proposed as earthquake precursors: indeed, most of aspects of our observations (which, in some cases, appear consistent with previous findings) might be interpreted in terms of the general magnetospheric conditions and/or of different sources

Is transcranial sonography useful to distinguish scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficit patients from Parkinson's disease?

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of patients clinically diagnosed with early Parkinson's disease (PD) subsequently have normal dopaminergic functional imaging. Transcranial sonography (TCS) has been shown to detect midbrain hyperechogenicity in approximately 90% of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and 10% of the healthy population. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of midbrain hyperechogenicity in patients with suspected parkinsonism and scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficit (SWEDD), in comparison to PD patients. METHODS: TCS was performed in 14 patients with SWEDD and 19 PD patients. RESULTS: There was a significantly increased area of echogenicity in the PD group (0.24 ± 0.06 cm(2) ), compared to the group of patients with SWEDD (0.13 ± 0.06 cm(2) ; P < 0.001). One (9.1%) of these patients, compared to 14 (82.5%) of the PD patients, was found to have hyperechogenicity (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that TCS is useful to distinguish PD patients from patients with suspected parkinsonism and SWEDD

The 6 April 2009 earthquake at L’Aquila: a preliminary analysis of magnetic field measurements

Several investigations reported the possible identification of anomalous geomagnetic field signals prior to earthquake occurrence. In the ULF frequency range, candidates for precursory signatures have been proposed in the increase in the noise background and polarization parameter (i.e. the ratio between the amplitude/power of the vertical component and that one of the horizontal component), in the changing characteristics of the slope of the power spectrum and fractal dimension, in the possible occurrence of short duration pulses. We conducted, with conventional techniques of data processing, a preliminary analysis of the magnetic field observations performed at L’Aquila during three months preceding the 6 April 2009 earthquake, focusing attention on the possible occurrence of features similar to those identified in previous events. Within the limits of this analysis, we do not find compelling evidence for any of the features which have been proposed as earthquake precursors: indeed, most of aspects of our observations (which, in some cases, appear consistent with previous findings) might be interpreted in terms of the general magnetospheric conditions and/or of different sources

Ray paths of VLF/LF transmitter radio signals in the seismic Adriatic regions

We analyze the radio wave propagations of VLF/LF transmitter signals along subionospheric paths using two different reception systems localized in the Graz seismo-electromagnetic facility (15.43E,47.06N). Those systems allow the simultaneous detection of more than fifteen transmitter signals emitting in the northern (i.e. France, Germany and United Kingdom) and southern (i.e. Italy and Turkey) parts of Europe. In this work, we investigate the transmitter radio wave propagations associated with two earthquakes (EQs) which occurred, at two occasions, in nearly the same Croatian regions (Geo. Long.=16°E; Geo. Lat.=45°N). The first and second EQs happened, respectively, on March 22 and December 29, 2020, with magnitudes Mw equal to 5.4 and 6.4. The use of two complementary reception systems, i.e. INFREP (Biagi et al., Open Journal of Earthquake Research, 8, 2019) and UltraMSK (Schwingenschuh et al., Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 2011), and the proximity to the epicenters lead us to characterize the behavior of the transmitter signal amplitudes particularly above the Croatian seismic regions. We analyze the amplitude variation for a given transmitter frequency starting few weeks before the earthquakes occurrences. We discuss the observed anomalies in the transmitter signals which may be considered as precursors due to the ionospheric disturbances of the transmitter ray paths above the earthquakes preparation zones

The Huygens Atmospheric Structure Instrument (HASI): Expected Results at Titan and Performance Verification in Terrestrial Atmosphere

The Huygens ASI is a multi-sensor package resulting from an international cooperation, it has been designed to measure the physical quantities characterizing Titan's atmosphere during the Huygens probe mission. On 14th January, 2005, HASI will measure acceleration, pressure, temperature and electrical properties all along the Huygens probe descent on Titan in order to study Titan s atmospheric structure, dynamics and electric properties. Monitoring axial and normal accelerations and providing direct pressure and temperature measurements during the descent, HASI will mainly contribute to the Huygens probe entry and trajectory reconstruction. In order to simulate the Huygens probe descent and verify HASI sensors performance in terrestrial environment, stratospheric balloon flight experiment campaigns have been performed, in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The results of flight experiments have allowed to determine the atmospheric vertical profiles and to obtain a set of data for the analysis of probe trajectory and attitude reconstruction

The Graz seismo-electromagnetic VLF facility

Abstract. In this paper we describe the Graz seismo-electromagnetic very low frequency (VLF) facility, as part of the European VLF receiver network, together with the scientific objectives and results from two years operation. After a brief technical summary of the present system – with heritage from a predecessor facility – i.e. hardware, software, operational modes and environmental influences, we discuss results from statistical data and scientific events related to terrestrial VLF propagation over Europe