Pre-Earthquakes: Processing Russian and European Earth observations for earthquake precursors studies

The scientific objective of Pre-Earthquakes is to demonstrate how far the systematic integration of measures of different physical and chemical parameters may improve our present ability to forecast strong earthquakes in the short term. Observations are collected from 18 different satellite systems and more than 100 ground stations will be used to study the anomalous variations of surface and atmospheric parameters (up to the ionosphere) that have long been proposed as possible precursors of strong earthquakes. The Sakhalin peninsula in eastern Russia, Turkey and Italy have been selected as initial testing areas where observation integration will be particularly intensified up to a period of real-time monitoring at the end of the project, expected for December 2012. After only 1 year of activity, automatic data-product generation chains were fully implemented for seven monitored parameters, using 20 independent observing technologies (including both satellite systems and ground stations), 11 different data analysis algorithms for (more than) three testing areas and 24 different testing periods. A Pre-Earthquakes Geoportal (PEG), is now ready to operate, serving product integration, cross-validation and scientific interpretation not only for project partners but also for networking members (presently more than 20) asking to join the project in the framework of the EQuOS (Earthquake Observation System) initiative. In this paper project rationale, scientific approach and achieved results to date are briefly presented.