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ISSN 2070-7401 (Print), ISSN 2411-0280 (Online)
Sovremennye problemy distantsionnogo zondirovaniya Zemli iz kosmosa
CURRENT PROBLEMS IN REMOTE SENSING OF THE EARTH FROM SPACE

  

Sovremennye problemy distantsionnogo zondirovaniya Zemli iz kosmosa, 2026, V. 23, No. 5, pp. 244-257

Space-temporal analysis of atmospheric perturbations preceding strong earthquakes in the Peru–Chile subduction zone

L.G. Sverdlik 1, 2 
1 Research Station RAS in Bishkek City, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
2 Kyrgyz–Russian Slavic University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Accepted: 02.07.2026
DOI: 10.21046/2070-7401-2026-23-5-244-257
Distinguishing of short-time atmospheric effects preceding strong earthquakes in subduction zones is a crucial task of seismic hazard reduction. The continuous monitoring of atmospheric parameters required to identify pre-seismic anomalies sources remote sensing information contained in the MERRA-2 (Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2) reanalysis archive. Within the framework of the research, with the use of the ad hoc algorithm IPPLA (Identification of Preseismic Perturbations in the Lower Atmosphere) atmospheric temperature variations have been analyzed and perturbations aligned with processes in the lithosphere have been distinguished. The unique feature of the algorithm is the use of two high altitude ranges in the upper troposphere and the lower stratosphere that are determined on the basis of choice of the most correlated antiphase changes with relatively high intensity of temperature variations. In the present work, atmospheric effects preceding earthquakes of M > 7,0 occurred in 2021-2024 in the Southern Hemisphere, in the south of Peru and in the north of Chile, were considered. Results of thermometry data processing showed a well-pronounced spatial pattern of thermal anomalies in earthquake preparation zones. Mesoscale temperature anomalies characterized by maximum values of the anomalous variations parameter dTC ≥ 2,0 were observed several days before the events. Perturbated temperature areas were situated near earthquake focuses and showed negligible spatial variations while preserving their forms, dimensions and positions over the period of more than 12 hours. As wave processes were considered to be the most probable factor resulting in irregularities of the thermal state in the lower atmosphere potential energy density of gravitational waves was calculated. Overactivity of atmospheric waves probably associated with earthquake preparation was observed near epicenters at heights of 12-17 km. This study may serve as confirmation that the algorithm used was developed not for specific monitoring conditions, but can be applied globally, including analysis of temperature variations both in the seismically active regions of Eurasia and in the subduction zone of South America.
Keywords: satellite measurements, temperature, earthquake, upper troposphere, lower stratosphere, STA/LTA criterion, integral parameter, anomaly, atmospheric gravity wave, potential energy
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