Infrared radiation in the atmosphere before earthquakes

In context of the problem of searching for new earthquake precursors, the Frenkel model of generation of unsteady bay-like variations of local electric fields in the atmosphere, observed, in particular, in Kamchatka, with characteristic times of 1-100 min near faults several tens of hours before strong earthquakes, is analyzed. The model assumes the presence of aerosols, ascending air flows and an increased ionization rate caused by an increase in radon concentration in the surface layer of the atmosphere. Bay-shaped variations of the local electric field should lead to corresponding local currents and bursts of nonequilibrium infrared radiation (0.7-20 microns) and local bursts of the magnetic field. Anomalies of equilibrium infrared radiation from above-fault areas in night conditions before earthquakes were multiply observed from satellites. They allowed us to conclude that the temperature of the Earth's surface increased by several degrees in the area of earthquake preparation. However, no one has apparently studied flashes of nonequilibrium night infrared radiation lasting for 1-100 minutes and modifications of infrared spectra in connection with earthquakes. It seems interesting and promising to carry out special complex ground-based observations of the glow of the night atmosphere in the infrared range, magnetic and quasi-constant electric fields in seismically active zones at several points close to faults. To understand the physical picture of the phenomenon, it is necessary to make standard vertical sounding of the ionosphere at the time of the observations.

Liperovskaya E.V., Parro M., Bogdanov V.V., Meister K.V., Rodkin M.V., Liperovsky V.A. On infrared radiation in the atmosphere before earthquakes. //Geophysical research. M. IFZ RAS. 2008. issue 8. pp.51-68.