Investigation of possible causes of ionospheric anomalies pre/post-earthquakes based on space weather conditions (SWC)

Abstract

Earthquakes in the world from past to present have caused many loss of life and property. Earthquake forecasting studies are very important in order to prevent destructive effects of these loss of life and property. Total electron content (TEC) is a component that can be easily used to predict natural disasters such as earthquakes. TEC values can be calculated according to the desired location with the help of dual-frequency GNSS receivers and GPS satellites surrounding the whole world. However, it is impossible to predict a possible earthquake with only TEC values. For this purpose, TEC values should be examined together with indices such as space weather conditions indices, and then a possible forecast scenario should be determined. In this study, GPS-TEC anomalies were investigated with possible causes of ionospheric anomalies based on space weather conditions (SWC) indices such as solar activity (EUV and F10.7), geomagnetic activity (Dst), geomagnetic storm (Kp), magnetic field changes (Bz), proton density (Np) changes in the Sivrice-Elazig earthquake (Mw 6.8) that occurred on January 24, 2020, and the Seferihisar (Izmir) earthquakes (Mw 6.6) that occurred on October 30, 2020, in the Aegean Sea off the coast of Seferihisar-Izmir.