DISTURBANCES IN THE GEOMAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO THE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI OF MAULE, CHILE (2010)

Abstract

This study analyzes the disturbances in the geomagnetic field related to the earthquake, and the consequent tsunami, which occurred on February 27, 2010, in Maule, Chile. The purpose of this article is to contribute to a better understanding of the physical processes involved in the Tsunami-Atmosphere-Ionosphere (TAI) and Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere (LAI) couplings. To this end, records of fluxgate magnetometers measured on the surface provided by the LISN project (Low Latitude Ionospheric Sensor Network) were used. The methodology of signal filtering by removing the Sq baseline (related to the Solar Quiet variabilities) considering the five geomagnetically quieter days was applied. In both the H and Z components, the results show geomagnetic disturbances in the filtered data that occurred almost instantly or with a delay of up to 100 minutes after the tsunami's arrival. These disturbances are attributed to be of oceanic and ionospheric origin. Studies like this are important to a future prediction condition and early warning of disasters of this nature.