Proceeding of The 5th Annual Basic Science International Conference

Received: Feb 13th, 2015; Accepted: Mar 23rd, 2015; Published online: April 11th, 2015.

Assesment of Electromagnetic and Radon Concentration

as Earthquake Precursors
Angga Setiyo Prayogo1*, Suliyanti Pakpahan1, Bambang Sunardi1
1

Research and Development Center, Agency for Meteorology Climatology and Geophysics,
Angkasa I St, No. 2, Kemayoran, Jakarta
* Corresponding authors: [angga.sprayogo@gmail.com]
Abstract Earthquake (EQ) is natural events that difficult to estimate the strength and impact.
Mitigation efforts like EQ early signs observation needed to minimize impact. Stress that occurred
before EQ cause change of material properties, such as electromagnetic (EM), electron content,
radon emission (radioactive), etc. Change of material properties cause anomaly of EM field and
radon concentration that observed as EQ precursors. EM and radon data obtained from Pelabuhan
Ratu Observatory. EM data processed by spectral density analysis to obtained polarization and
impedance on ultra low frequency spectrum. Radon data processed by statistical techniques on
daily average. Analysis results of EM and radon concentration data show the anomaly pattern are
decrease value of EM impedance, and increase value of radon concentration and magnetic
polarization. In case study, EQ on January 15th M 5 SR, September 24th M 4.8 SR and October 17th
M 5.2 SR, magnetic polarization anomalies appear in 8 to 14 days, impedance anomalies appear in
2 to 12 days, and radon concentration anomalies appear in 2 to 16 days before EQ. From span time
on case study that observed, anomaly of EM and radon concentration relatively short term.

1. INTRODUCTION
Earthquake (EQ) is one of natural phenomenon in lithosphere that difficult to estimate the strength and its impact for
society. Especially to minimize the impact for society, its need necessary mitigation, such as research and observation
about EQ early signs (EQ precursors), because the hypothesis is impossible if EQ occurred without early signs which
can be observed [1,2]. Physically (in lithosphere), if stress given to material (rocks in lithosphere), there are change of
material properties that can be monitored, such as electricity, magnetic, radon emission (radioactive), etc, its cause
microcrack and electrokinetic force in lithosphere and vibration on earth surface. Microcrack and electrokinetic force
cause change of physical value as anomaly of electromagnetic (EM) field and radon concentration that can be observed
as EQ precursors [2,3].
Electromagnetic wave penetrating power from to earth surface was proportional to crustal depth where seismic activity
occurs, so fluctuations of electrical conductivity in lithosphere can directly detected with polarization method and
transfer function, like observation with case study EQ in Aceh (December 2004) and Nias (March 2005) by Saroso et al
2006 [4]. Anomalies of radon concentration as EQ precursors occur when deformation of crustal area (EQ preparation
zone) released radon gas to air before decays. Its energy produce ionize atoms in atmosphere and changes of ions
composition in ionosphere [5,6] that recorded by radon sensor, so radon can be good indicator of tectonic activity.
From that conditions, conducted study to analyze pattern anomaly of EM and radon concentration before EQ occurred
[6,7].

2. METHODS
2.1 Data
EQ data which used as case study were EQ from BMKG with magnitude over than 4.5 and radius less than 300 km
from sensors [3]. Electromagnetic data obtained from Magnetotelluric (MT) sensors, while radon data also obtained by
monitoring equipment DURRIDGE RAD7 that collected continuously by sampling data every one hour [7], both
sensors installed at Observatory in Pelabuhan Ratu. Other data is Disturbance storm time (Dst) index from WDC
Geomagnetic Data Center, Kyoto University.

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Figure 1 Maps of EQ data and Sensor location in Pelabuhan Ratu Observatory

2.2 Procedures
EM data that consists of electric (Ex and Ey) and magnetic (Hx, Hy, and Hz) components processed by spectral density
analysis, so obtained average of daily magnetic polarization and EM impedance as comparison of electric to magnetic
components. Magnetic components processed by polarization ratio for the vertical and horizontal components (Hz/Hh)
as introduced by Hayakawa, et al., (1996) [2,3,4]. Analysis of polarization ratio use spectral analysis to convert signal
from time domain to frequency domain using wavelet transform DB5, then data filtered and analyzed at ULF spectrum
(f = 0.01 Hz). Data selected at 15:00 to 22:00 UTC to reduce noise due to human activities [2,4].
After get the spectral analysis value of each component (h and z), then polarization ratio of vertical to horizontal
(Hz/Hh) and horizontal to annual mean (Hh/Hht) performed, and also calculated the average of EM impedance (E/H).
This method is expected to analyze characteristics of EM signal on ULF spectrum and find anomalies that can used as
EQ precursors [2,3,4]. While the radon and Dst index data processed by statistical techniques (running average) on
daily average [6,8].

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Dst index need to be included at analyze EM parameters as EQ precursor. Its used to confirm global noise, especially
magnetic storms due to solar activity, that expressed by negative values indicate a decrease in the earth magnetic field
[1,8,9]. While, for analyze data related geochemical like radon concentration, very important to consider the
meteorological conditions in observation area, such as rainfall, its use to confirm whether radon anomalies that occurs
associated with change of rainfall or purely due to deformation process as EQ preparation. Ionization of radon becomes
central condensation of water vapor as ion hydration that formed which causes humidity decrease and temperature
increases. After radon reaching maximum concentration, by adjusting EQ time, radon flow will be reduced, back to
normal atmospheric conditions, humidity increases, and temperature decreases before EQ [6,7,9].
Based on previus research by Prayogo (2014) [1], Xuemin and Xuhui (2011), Yumoto (2009) [2,10] about EM and
Pakpahan (2014) [6] about radon, both produced analysis that EM and radon concentration that associated with EQ are
decrease value of EM impedance, and increase value of magnetic polarization and radon concentration. In this case,
increase of electric polarity at hypocenter and resistivity values approximated by square of EM impedance which
describes variation of resistivity at frequency 0.01 Hz. Increase or decrease value limit of each parameter was
determined by deviation standart of daily average of each parameters. In case study EQ on January 15th with magnitude
5 SR, anomaly with impedance method appeared on January 4th to 6th, anomalies Hz/Hh appeared on January 7th to 9th,
anomalies Hh/Hht appeared on January 6th to 7th, and radon anomaly appeared on January 12 th to 13th. EQ on September
24th with magnitude 4.8 SR, anomaly with impedance method appeared on September 4th, 5th, 9th and 10th, anomalies
Hz/Hh wasnt found because very small increase, anomalies Hh/Hht appeared on September 4th, 5th, 9th and 10th, and
radon anomaly that very high appeared on September 17th to 18th. Radon anomaly that very high in middle last of
September means that there more than one seismic activity in lithosphere at the same time. It is evident with larger EQ
on October 17th. Beside that anomaly, EQ at October 17th also preceeded by anomaly that detected by impedance
method on October, 7th to 15th and increase of Hh/Hht at October 7th to 8th.

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(a)

(b)

(c)
Figure 2 Anomaly pattern of EM and Radon as EQ precursors before EQ on January 15 th (a), September 24th(b),
and October 17th (c)
Based on Figure 2, there ara some early physical signs before EQ occured despite the patterns tend to be inconsistent.
Some factor that affecting the anomalies likely epicenter location, length from sesnsor and depth of EQ. The most
clearly visible is radon anomalies befor EQ on January 15th and October 17th, both epicenter are on land. While analysis
for EM parameter show that not all methods produce anomalies, as seen in EQ September 24th and October 17th. The
anomaly only visible on impedance and polarization Hh/Hht.

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4. CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions of assesment for EM and radon concentration data is that both can be used as parameter to observe pattern
of EQ precursors. For 3 EQ as case study, its known that precursors are found on both parameters less than 50 days
before EQ, but tend to be inconsistent. In example, reduction of EM impedance in range of 12-21 days, increase of
magnetic polarization 8-20 days , and increase of radon concentration 7-30 days, all occured before EQ. Both anomalies
relatively short term, but the inconsistency is thought to be caused by position and location of epicenter and hyposenter
depth of EQ.

5. REFERENCES
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2.
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