Satellite-Based Detection of Pre-Seismic Atmospheric and Thermal Anomalies: Implications for Fault Zone Monitoring and Earthquake Forecasting

The identification of reliable short-term precursors remains one of the most elusive goals in earthquake seismology. This study investigates the potential of satellite-derived atmospheric and thermal anomalies as diagnostic indicators of impending seismic activity, with a particular focus on the physical mechanisms linking crustal stress changes to observable surface and atmospheric responses. We propose that the formation of stationary "seismic clouds" results from localized degassing and vapor release along active fault zones under conditions of progressive stress accumulation, particularly when favorable atmospheric conditions (e.g., cold ambient temperatures) promote condensation. Using high-resolution panchromatic and thermal infrared satellite imagery, we demonstrate that both seismic cloud formation and land surface temperature (LST) anomalies exhibit spatiotemporal correlations with fault geometry and regional tectonics. Time-series analysis of LST data, combined with wavelet filtering and statistical deviation testing, reveals significant thermal irregularities prior to major seismic events. Furthermore, the spatial alignment of these anomalies with focal mechanism solutions and fault strike directions supports their genetic relationship to pre-earthquake crustal deformation. Our findings suggest that integrated monitoring of atmospheric and thermal precursors, when interpreted within a robust geological and tectonic framework, can enhance the understanding of earthquake preparation processes and contribute to the development of multi-parametric early warning systems for seismically active regions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Earthquake Precursor ، Seismic Cloud ، Thermal Anomaly ، Satellite Remote Sensing ، Fault Zone Monitoring ، LST Anomaly