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Discriminating the tectonic and non‐tectonic contributions in the ionospheric signature of the 2011, M w 7.1, dip‐slip Van earthquake, Eastern Turkey
Author(s) -
Rolland Lucie M.,
Vergnolle Mathilde,
Nocquet JeanMathieu,
Sladen Anthony,
Dessa JeanXavier,
Tavakoli Farokh,
Nankali Hamid Reza,
Cappa Frédéric
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/grl.50544
Subject(s) - geology , ionosphere , seismology , global positioning system , tectonics , geodesy , total electron content , slip (aerodynamics) , earth's magnetic field , geophysics , tec , magnetic field , computer science , telecommunications , physics , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics
It has previously been suggested that ionospheric perturbations triggered by large dip‐slip earthquakes might offer additional source parameter information compared to the information gathered from land observations. Based on 3D modeling of GPS‐ and GLONASS‐derived total electron content signals recorded during the 2011 Van earthquake (thrust, intra‐plate event, M w = 7.1, Turkey), we confirm that coseismic ionospheric signals do contain important information about the earthquake source, namely its slip mode. Moreover, we show that part of the ionospheric signal (initial polarity and amplitude distribution) is not related to the earthquake source, but is instead controlled by the geomagnetic field and the geometry of the Global Navigation Satellite System satellites constellation. Ignoring these non‐tectonic effects would lead to an incorrect description of the earthquake source. Thus, our work emphasizes the added caution that should be used when analyzing ionospheric signals for earthquake source studies.