Numerical simulation of the variations in the total electron content of the ionosphere observed before the Haiti earthquake of January 12, 2010

• Published in: Geomagnetism and Aeronomy 2013-07, Vol.53 (4), p.522-528
• Main Authors: Namgaladze, A. A., Zolotov, O. V., Prokhorov, B. E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aeronomy; Atmosphere; Boundary conditions; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earthquakes; Electric potential; Electrons; Geophysics/Geodesy; Ionosphere; Magnetic fields; Mathematical models; Seismic activity; Upper atmosphere; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 0016-7932; 1555-645X; 0016-7940
• DOI: 10.1134/S0016793213030122

We present the results of a study of the abnormal variations in the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere observed before the earthquake of January 12, 2010, in Haiti. Global and regional maps of TEC relative (%) deviations from the quite background state are built for January 9–12, 2010. Using the UAM (Upper Atmosphere Model) global numerical model of the upper atmosphere of the Earth, the variations in the electric potential in the ionosphere and TEC are calculated using external seismic current above faults between the Earth and the ionosphere as a lower boundary condition. The numerical simulation results are compared with observations. It is shown that the simulated variations in the TEC at a specified current density of about 1 × 10 −8 A/m 2 on an area of 200 km (latitude) × 4000 km (longitude) above the focus represent all main features of the observations: prevalence of increased TEC values (positive disturbances), neighboring negative disturbances of lower magnitudes, localization, magnetic conjugacy of high-intensity effects in the Southern Hemisphere, and disappearance of disturbances around midday. Methodological recommendations are given to reveal variations in the TEC related to the preparation of seismic events.