Abstract
THERE have been several reports1–8 of electromagnetic radiation being detected in air and/or underground before large earthquakes or volcanic eruptions. Unfortunately, such measurements are often plagued by contamination from other sources of noise. We have developed an electrode system that is effective at filtering out urban and atmospheric background noise. Here we report the detection of anomalous electromagnetic signals several hours before the occurrence of large earthquakes near Ito city, Japan, about 150 km from the location of the electrodes. We have also detected anomalous signals about one day before an undersea volcanic eruption that constituted part of the same seismic swarm near Ito. Although the mechanism responsible for such signals is still unclear, these results indicate that their monitoring could be valuable for the prediction of seismic activity.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Warwick, J. W. et al. J. geophys. Res. 87, 2851–2859 (1982).
Gokhberg, M. B. et al. J. geophys. Res. 87, 7824–7828 (1982).
Varotsos, P. & Alexopoulos, K. Tectonophysics 110, 73–98 (1984).
Yoshino, T. & Tomizawa, I. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 57, 32–39 (1989).
Oike, K. & Ogawa, T. J. Geomagn. Geoelec., Kyoto 38, 1031–1040 (1986).
Tate, J. & Daily, W. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 57, 1–10 (1989).
Nikiforova, N. N. et al. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 57, 68–75 (1989).
Frazer-Smith, A. C. et al. Abstr. Am. geophys. Un. Meeting Dcember 1989.
Takahashi, H. & Takahashi, K. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 57, 40–44 (1989).
Ikeda, R. Rep. Coord. Comm. Earthquake Prediction 32, 157–158 (1984).
Suzuki, H. et al. Res. Notes Natn. Res. Centre Disaster Prev. No. 48 (1983).
Nature 340, 175 (1989).
Ishida, M. Proc. Earthquake Prediction Res. Symp., 51–60 (1987) (in Japanese).
Shimada, S. et al. Nature 343, 631–632 (1990).
Nitsan, U. Geophys. Res. Lett. 4, 333–336, (1977).
Cress, G. O. et al. Geophys. Res. Lett. 14, 331–334, (1987).
Yamada, I. et al. Phys. Earth planet. Inter. 57, 157–168 (1989).
Ogawa, T. et al. J. geophys. Res. 90, 9245–9249 (1985).
Kramer, J. Acta phys. austriaca 10, 327 (1957).
Aki, K. & Richard, P. G. Quantitative Seismology (Freeman, San Francisco, 1980).
Tse, S. T. & Rice, J. R. J. geophys. Res. 91, 9452–9472 (1986).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fujinawa, Y., Takahashi, K. Emission of electromagnetic radiation preceding the Ito seismic swarm of 1989. Nature 347, 376–378 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/347376a0
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/347376a0
This article is cited by
-
Relationship Between Seismic Electric Signals and Tectonics Derived from Dense Geoelectric Observations in Taiwan
Pure and Applied Geophysics (2020)
-
Characteristics of Seismoelectric Wave Fields Associated with Natural Microcracks
Pure and Applied Geophysics (2016)
-
An attempt to delineate very low frequency electromagnetic signals associated with earthquakes
Earth, Planets and Space (2014)
-
A physical model for the precursory magnetic anomalies of the M5.4 Alum Rock and M6.0 Parkfield earthquakes
International Journal of Earth Sciences (2014)
-
Subspecies of the Central American Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri oerstedii) as Units for Conservation
International Journal of Primatology (2013)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
