Novelty detection in time series of ULF magnetic and electric components obtained from DEMETER satellite experiments above Samoa (29 September 2009) earthquake region

Abstract. Using ULF (ultra low frequency) measurements of magnetometer and ICE (Instrument Champ Electrique) experiments on board the DEMETER satellite, possible irregularities in ULF magnetic and electric components have been surveyed in the vicinity of Samoa (29 September 2009) earthquake region. The data used in this paper cover the period from 1 August 2009 to 11 October 2009. The anomalous variations in magnetic components (B_x, B_y and B_z) were clearly observed on 1 and 3 days before the event. It is seen that the periodic patterns of the magnetic components obviously changed prior to the earthquake. These unusual variations have been also observed in the variations of polarization index obtained from the magnetic components during the whole period at ~10:30 and ~22:30 LT. It is concluded that the polarization exhibits an apparent increase on 1 and 3 days preceding the earthquake. These observed unusual disturbances in ULF magnetic components were acknowledged using the detected perturbations in ULF electric components (E_x, E_y and E_z) in the geomagnetic coordinate system. Finally, the results reported in this paper were compared with previous results for this Samoa earthquake. Hence, the detected anomalies resulting from the magnetometer and ICE ULF waveforms in quiet geomagnetic conditions could be regarded as seismo-ionospheric precursors.