Two-dimensional ionospheric total electron content map (TEC) seismo-ionospheric anomalies through image processing using principal component analysis Original Research Article

This paper examines China’s Wenchuan Earthquake of 12 May 2008 (UTC) (Mw = 7.9) using principal component analysis and image processing of the global ionospheric map (GIM) for the region. Transforms are conducted for 4, 8, and 9 May 2008. The GIMs are subdivided into 100 (36° in Long. and 18° in Lat.) smaller maps. The smaller maps (71 × 71 pixels) form the transform matrices of corresponding dimensions (2 × 1) through image processing. The transform allows for principle eigenvalues to be assigned to TEC anomalies for May 8 and 9. These may represent the seismo-ionospheric signature described by . The May 4 result shows no evidence of TEC anomalies. These results are in keeping with the findings of . It is evident in this research that PCA could have the capacity to detect both the seismo-ionospheric signature and determine the approximate location of an earthquake’s epicenter prior to nucleation.