On claimed ULF seismogenic fractal signatures in the geomagnetic field

Abstract

During the last ten years, fractal analysis of ultra low frequency (ULF) geomagnetic field components has been proposed as one of the most promising tools to highlight magnetic precursory signals possibly generated by the preparation processes of earthquakes. Several papers claim seismogenic changes in the fractal features of the geomagnetic field some months before earthquakes occur. The target of the present paper is to put forth a qualitative investigation on the fractal characteristics of ULF magnetic signatures that previous authors have claimed to be related without doubt to strong earthquakes. This analysis takes into account both the temporal evolution of the geomagnetic field fractal parameters reported in previous researches and the temporal evolution of global geomagnetic activity. Running averages of the geomagnetic indices ∑Kp and Ap are plotted into the original figures from the previous publications. This simple analysis shows that the fractal features of the ULF geomagnetic field are closely related to the geomagnetic activity both before and after the earthquake occurs. The correlation between the geomagnetic field fractal parameters and geomagnetic activity is clearly shown over both long and short time scales. In light of this, the present paper shows that fractal behaviors of previously claimed seismogenic ULF magnetic signatures depend mainly on geomagnetic activity due to solar-terrestrial interaction. Therefore, previously reported association with the preparation process of the earthquake is dubious. Copyright 2010 by the American Geophysical Union.