Scientists at Kyoto University have developed a theoretical model examining whether disturbances in the ionosphere could apply electrostatic forces deep within the Earth’s crust. Under certain conditions, these forces might contribute to the start of large earthquakes.
The research is not designed to forecast earthquakes. Instead, it outlines a possible physical mechanism showing how shifts in ionospheric charge levels — triggered by intense solar activity such as solar flares — might interact with already weakened areas of the crust and influence how fractures develop.
How the Ionosphere Could Affect Fault Zones
In this model, cracked regions of the crust are thought to contain water at extremely high temperatures and pressures, possibly in a supercritical state. Electrically, these fractured zones may act like capacitors. They are coupled both to the Earth’s surface and to the lower ionosphere, creating a vast electrostatic system that links the ground to the upper atmosphere.
When solar activity surges, electron density in the ionosphere can rise significantly. This can produce a negatively charged layer in the lower ionosphere. Through capacitive coupling, that charge may generate intense electric fields inside microscopic voids within fractured rock. The resulting electrostatic pressure could approach levels similar to tidal or gravitational stresses that are already known to influence fault stability.
According to the team’s calculations, ionospheric disturbances tied to major solar flares — involving increases in total electron content of several tens of TEC units — might create electrostatic pressures of several megapascals within these crustal voids.
Ionospheric Anomalies Observed Before Major Quakes
Unusual ionospheric behavior has often been detected before powerful earthquakes. Observations have included spikes in electron density, drops in ionospheric altitude, and slower propagation of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances. Traditionally, scientists have interpreted these changes as effects caused by stress building up inside the crust.
This new framework offers an additional perspective. It suggests a two way interaction in which processes inside the Earth can influence the ionosphere, while ionospheric disturbances may also send feedback forces back down into the crust. The model connects space weather and seismic activity without claiming that solar activity directly causes earthquakes.
Solar Activity and the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake
The researchers point to recent major earthquakes in Japan, including the 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake, as events that occurred shortly after periods of intense solar flare activity. They stress that this timing does not prove cause and effect. However, it aligns with the idea that ionospheric disturbances could act as a contributing factor when faults are already close to failure.
Rethinking Earthquakes Beyond Internal Forces
By drawing on plasma physics, atmospheric science, and geophysics, this approach expands the traditional view that earthquakes are driven solely by forces inside the planet. The findings indicate that tracking ionospheric conditions alongside underground measurements could improve understanding of how earthquakes begin and how seismic risk is assessed.
Future work will combine high-resolution GNSS-based ionospheric tomography with detailed space weather data. The goal is to determine when and how ionospheric disturbances might exert meaningful electrostatic effects on the Earth’s crust.
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