Neutron generation and geomagnetic disturbances in connection with the Chilean earthquake of February 27, 2010 and a volcanic eruption in Iceland in March–April 2010

Neutrons of terrestrial origin and the endogenous activity of the Earth

“…This suggests that the 1990s were the beginning of a new centennial cycle, which was to be characterized by a relatively low solar activity level and intensive seismic activity tending to preserve for approximately during the first third of the cycle. A number of experimental observations over the past 20 years have shown that endogenous activity may be a source of neutrons [Kuzhevskii et al, 1993[Kuzhevskii et al, , 1995Shestopalov and Dubovik, 2015;Shestopalov and Kharin, 2014;Shestopalov et al, 2013;Yasunaga, 1993]. These results have allowed one to suppose that there is a thermal neutron field near the Earth's crust, and the parameters of this field are likely to be determined by the Earth's endogenous activity.…”

“…An increase in these fluxes prior to an earthquake is observed even at great distances from the disaster area. To explain the probable mechanisms of neutron generation, the following facts should be taken into consideration [Shestopalov and Kharin, 2014;Shestopalov et al, 2013].…”

“…These results have allowed one to suppose that there is a thermal neutron field near the Earth's crust, and the parameters of this field are likely to be determined by the Earth's endogenous activity. Experiments that were simultaneously carried out in 2010-2012 in Moscow and Kamchatka have verified the recording of earthquake-and volcanic eruptions-related neutrons on the Earth's surface [Shestopalov and Dubovik, 2015;Shestopalov and Kharin, 2014;;Shestopalov et al, 2013]. As a result of ground measurements of a) thermal and fast neutrons, carried out at the Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere, and Radio Wave Propagation, Russian Academy of Sciences (IZMIRAN), Moscow; b) thermal neutrons, carried out at the Karymshina Complex Geophysical Observatory, Kamchatka Branch, Geophysical Survey, Russian Academy of Sciences, near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in 2010-2012, neutron fluxes were registered, related to the = 8.8 Chilean earthquake of February 27; the Eyjafjallajökull volcano's eruption in Iceland in March-April 2010; the = 9 earthquake in Japan of March 11, 2011; the = 8.6 earthquake in Indonesia of April 11, 2012.…”

“…In our investigations, carried out from 1990, we studied the relationship between the endogenous activity of the Earth (earthquakes and volcanism), solar activity and neutron flows, registered on Earth [Shestopalov and Dubovik, 2015;Shestopalov andKharin, 2006, 2014;Shestopalov et al, 2013]. We analyzed data on seismic and volcanic energy released from earthquake foci and volcanic eruptions on the globe for the period from 1680 until 2014 and compared them with solar activity.…”

“…The increase in particle fluxes began to be recorded a few months prior the events. These events are analyzed in [Shestopalov and Dubovik, 2015;Shestopalov and Kharin, 2014;;Shestopalov et al, 2013].…”