Thermal satellite data for earthquake research

There have been numerous observations of surface and near surface temperature changes prior to crustal earthquakes. Thermal changes due to stress fields also have been determined in laboratory studies of materials. The advanced space-borne equipment for remote sensing in the IR spectrum allows monitoring of the Earth's thermal field with a spatial resolution of 0.5-5 km and with a temperature resolution of 0.12-0.5 C/spl deg/. These facts stimulated the analysis of a long time series of IR images in relation to seismic activity. Historically, the first application of thermal images in seismology was carried out in Russia and started in 1985. Analog NOAA satellite data were analyzed. The area of study was the seismically active region of Central Asia -Tien-Shan, Kizilkum and Karakum deserts, South Kazakhstan. Qiang et al. (1999) carried out later similar studies in China. To develop this research further a "Satellite Prediction Research Center for Natural Disasters" was established in China. Thermal anomalies in China and Japan are discussed.