Challenge to the short-term prediction of earthquakes by the observation and new theory of electromagnetic plasma waves propagating on the surface of the earth

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K13971
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Electron device/Electronic equipment
• Research Institution: University of Toyama
• Principal Investigator: Fujii Masafumi 富山大学, 大学院理工学研究部(工学), 准教授 (60361945)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): ANDO Akio 富山大学, 大学院理工学研究部, 教授 (00545668) ; TAHARA Minoru 富山大学, 大学院理工学研究部, 助手 (40242482)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 電磁波 / 地震 / 表面プラズマ波

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To explore the possibility of short-term prediction of earthquakes by means of an electromagnetic approach, we have analyzed theoretically the anomalous propagation of electromagnetic waves to out-of-sight distant places before earthquakes. On or before earthquakes, electrical charges are generated by the stress change on the earth’s crust, and appear on the surface of the earth. The surface charges then interact with electromagnetic waves in air, couple strongly with the waves as a surface plasma wave, and further, diffract and scatter the electromagnetic waves, resulting in an electromagnetic wave reaching to a far place. We verified this phenomenon numerically by considering the actual mountainous landform. We have also started observation of electromagnetic waves with the method based on the new theory.

Free Research Field

電気電子工学、電磁波工学、地球物理学