COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCING EFFECTS OF GEOMAGNETIC SOLAR STORMS ONEARTHQUAKES IN ANATOLIAN PENINSULA

Sadik

Description

ABSTRACT
Earthquakes are tectonic events that take place within the fractures of the earth’s crust, namely faults. Above
certain scale, earthquakes can result in widespread fatalities and substantial financial loss. In addition to the
movement of tectonic plates relative to each other, it is widely discussed that there are other external influences
originate outside earth that can trigger earthquakes. These influences are called “triggering effects”. The purpose of this article is to present a statistical view to elaborate if the solar geomagnetic storms trigger earthquakes. As a model, the research focuses on the Anatolian peninsula, presenting 41 years of historical data on magnetic storms and earthquakes collated from national and international resources. As a result of the comparative assessment of the data, it is concluded that the geomagnetic storms do not trigger earthquakes.
RESUMEN
Los terremotos son eventos tectónicos que tienen lugar dentro de las fracturas de la corteza terrestre, nominalmente las fallas. Por encima de cierta escala los terremotos pueden resultar considerables pérdidas humanas y financieras. Adicionalmente de los movimientos de las placas tectónicas, es ampliamente discutido que hay otras influencias originadas en el exterior de la tierra que pueden desencadenar terremotos. Estas influencias son llamadas “Efectos disparados”. El propósito de este artículo es presentar una observación estadística sobre si las tormentas solares geomagnéticas desencadenan terremotos. Como un modelo, la investigación se centra sobre la península Anatolia, presentando 41 años de datos históricos sobre tormenta magnéticas y terremotos cotejados con datos nacionales e internacionales. Como resultado de la evaluación comparativa de los datos, esto esta concluyendo que las tormentas geomagnéticas no desencadenan terremotos.

Sujets

• Earthquake
• Geomagnetic storm
• Terremoto

Informations

• Publié par: erevistas
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2009
• Nombre de lectures: 11
• Langue: English

Extrait

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EARTH SCIENCES
RESEARCH JOURNAL
Earth Sci. Res. J. Vol. 13, No. 1 (June 2009): 82-89
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCING
EFFECTS OF GEOMAGNETIC SOLAR STORMS ON
EARTHQUAKES IN ANATOLIAN PENINSULA
Sadik Cengiz Yesugey
Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Architecture, Campus of Tinaztepe,
Dogus Str. No.209 Kurucesme, Buca, Ýzmir Turkey.
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Corresponding author Email: [e-mail]
ABSTRACT
Earthquakes are tectonic events that take place within the fractures of the earth’s crust, namely faults. Above
certain scale, earthquakes can result in widespread fatalities and substantial financial loss. In addition to the
movement of tectonic plates relative to each other, it is widely discussed that there are other external influences
originate outside earth that can trigger earthquakes. These influences are called “triggering effects”. The pur-
pose of this article is to present a statistical view to elaborate if the solar geomagnetic storms trigger earth-
quakes. As a model, the research focuses on the Anatolian peninsula, presenting 41 years of historical data on
magnetic storms and earthquakes collated from national and international resources. As a result of the compar-
ative assessment of the data, it is concluded that the geomagnetic storms do not trigger earthquakes.
Keywords: Earthquake, Earthquake triggering, geomagnetic storms.
RESUMEN
Los terremotos son eventos tectónicos que tienen lugar dentro de las fracturas de la corteza terrestre,
nominalmente las fallas. Por encima de cierta escala los terremotos pueden resultar considerables pérdidas
humanas y financieras. Adicionalmente de los movimientos de las placas tectónicas, es ampliamente discutido
que hay otras influencias originadas en el exterior de la tierra que pueden desencadenar terremotos. Estas
influencias son llamadas “Efectos disparados”. El propósito de este artículo es presentar una observación
estadística sobre si las tormentas solares geomagnéticas desencadenan terremotos. Como un modelo, la
investigación se centra sobre la península Anatolia, presentando 41 años de datos históricos sobre tormentas
th
Manuscript receiver: December 12 , 2008.
th
Accepted for publication: July 28 , 2009.
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Composite 133 lpi at 45 degrees
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF THE INFLUENCING EFFECTS OF GEOMAGNETIC SOLAR STORMS ON
EARTHQUAKES IN ANATOLIAN PENINSULA
magnéticas y terremotos cotejados con datos nacionales e internacionales. Como resultado de la evaluación
comparativa de los datos, esto esta concluyendo que las tormentas geomagnéticas no desencadenan terremotos.
Palabras Claves: Terremoto, desencadenar Terremoto, tormentas
2.1 The causes of earthquakes1. Introduction
and measurements methods
Earthquakes are tectonic events that take place within
In 1911, Professor Reid established the elastic-re-the fractures of the earth’s crust, namely faults. In ad-
bound theory, supported with [Reid,H.F, 1911]. Adition to the movement of tectonic plates relative to
mathematical scale was required in order to obtaineach other, it is widely discussed that there are other
the data about the effects of these vibrations on theexternal influences originate outside earth that can
structures and Charles F. Richter and Benotrigger earthquakes. These influences are called “trig-
Gutenberg applied “Magnitude” concept on thisgering effects”. Examples of such external events are
field in 1930 [Gutenberg, B.,et al., 1954]. Amongthe lunar and solar eclipses, planetary alignment
these; Mb is calculated by taking as basis the mag-within the solar system and the influences of geomag-
nitude of P and S waves (Body-wave magnitude),netic storms taking place in the sun. The most influen-
Md is calculated by using the durations of verytial of these events is considered to be the
small and close earthquakes, Ms is calculated byextraordinary solar activities influencing the earth’s
taking as basis the magnitude of surface wavesgeomagnetic field. Anatolian peninsula is a histori-
(Surface-wave magnitude) and Mw takes as basiscally active earthquake region within the borders of
the seismic moment of the released energy (Mo-Turkish Republic. The peninsula, surrounded by
ment magnitude). These are the most used magni-Black Sea in the north, Aegean Sea in the west, Medi-
tude measures. Different magnitude methods canterranean Sea in the south, lies at the intersection of
give different values around 0.2M. This differenceAsia, Europe and Africa continents. Hundreds of
can reach up to 0.5M after saturation. The magni-earthquakes in various scales take place every year in
tude of an earthquake does not change wherever onthis active region. The most recent major earthquake,
th earth it is measured. Giving different magnitudeMarmara Earthquake, took place on 17 August 1999
values of earthquakes must be associated with theand measured 7.3 on Richter scale, causing extensive
method used and the fact that the geology of thedamage and widespread fatalities. The purpose of this
place in which the recorders are located is not ade-article is to present a statistical view to elaborate if the
quately taken into account [Gürbüz, C., 2003].solar geomagnetic storms trigger earthquakes. As a
model, the research focuses on the Anatolian penin-
sula, presenting 41 years of historical data on magnetic 2.2 The reasons for the occurrence
storms and earthquakes collated from national and in- of geomagnetic storms
ternational resources. and measurement systems
The solar material, which accelerates as a result of
the energy discharges occurring in the Sun, “solar2. The causes of earthquakes
flares”, “prominences” and “coronal mass ejec-and geomagnetic storm
tions”, reaches the Earth from the gravitationaland measurement methods
field of the Sun as different radiation forms and
This section outlines the principles behind the occur- particles, and it interacts with the magnetic field of
rence of earthquakes and geomagnetic storms and the the Earth. In cases where these effects are dense,
methods used to measure them. sudden changes occur in the magnetic field and
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SADIK CENGIZ YESUGEY
they create the phenomenon which is called “geo- 3. The method used for the detection
magnetic storm.” Although different systems are of the triggering effects
used, one of the most important scales used in mea-
of the earthquakes in accordance
suring this is the Dst “disturbance storm time” in-
with the earthquake magnitudes
dexes which have been recorded since 1957
and the changes in the dst values[Sugiura, M, 1964]. Dst index’s showing high neg-
ative values means that there is a big magnetic The occurrence of the earthquakes is dependent on
storm [Sugiura, M, 1991]. For the magnetic fields, very different factors. Especially, the structures of
changes in the Dst index are evaluated in five ma- the rocks are the most important features. Due to the
jor groups. Weak storms -30 nTDst >-50 nT, fact that some rocks show more resistant features,
Moderate storms -50 nT>Dst >-100 nT, they may not be broken or may be broken later than
Strongstorms -100 nT>Dst>-200 nT, Intense usual even though they have the same energy accu-
storms -200 nT>Dst >-350 nT, Heavy storms Dst mulations and they are in close regions. However, it
>-350 nT [Loewe, C.A., at al., 1997], [Natural En- is doubtless that they all have limit values. This can
vironment Research Council - British Antarctic be resembled to the discharge of a condenser, which
Survey, 2001 ]. is loaded with current and which reached the limit
value for the discharge, with a very low current; orDst values’ falling to these values in their
overflow of a glass, which is filled with water up tochanges within 24 hours which are measured
its utmost capacity, with a drop of water. In thishourly is regarded as a geomagnetic storm. Within
study, the breakage probabilities of the rocks, whichthe Internet, data centers which provide service to
have energy accumulation that reached up to the limitthe entire world on this subject are also concen-
value, with geomagnetic effects apart from the othertrated in the USA. One of these institutions is the
factors have been examined. The below-mentionedNational Environmental Satellite, Data, and Infor-
methods have been used in order to obtain these sta-mation Service which operates under the USA Na-
tistics.tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center 3.1 Sources for the earthquake data
(SWPC) 2003]. Another institution is the National and shortcomings
Geophysics Data Center where all observations on
In calculating the earthquake triggering effects, theall solar activity conducted in the entire Earth, the
study area is limited to the Anatolian peninsula