Thermal Infrared Anomalies Associated with Recent Crustal

Earthquakes in Gorj County in Romania

MARIA A. ZORAN*, ROXANA S. SAVASTRU, DAN M. SAVASTRU, MARINA N. TAUTAN,

DANIEL V. TENCIU

National Institute of R&D for Optoelectronics,

Bucharest- Magurele,

ROMANIA

*Corresponding Author

Abstract: - Cumulative stress-energy in tectonic active regions associated with ongoing deformation (co-

seismic stress) along the main active geologic faults manifests various earthquakes’ precursors. Macro-

fracturing processes are preceded by micro-fracturing phenomena which amplify strain field, and geophysical

fields’ disturbances like space-time anomalies of Earth’s fracto-emission signals (Thermal; Ionospheric;

Electric Field; Acoustic; Radon in air, underground water, and soil; Neutron, etc.) registered months to days

before the occurrence of earthquakes. Multispectral and multisensor time series satellite data and space-based

geodetic (GPS and GNSS) measurements in synergy with ground-based geophysical/geochemical

measurements bring a significant contribution to survey pre-earthquake signals in the tectonic active areas. This

study aims to assess the role of seismo-induced thermal infrared (TIR) anomalies characterized by the ground-

level air-AT and land surface temperature-LST changes as significant precursors of crustal moderate and strong

earthquakes recorded in Gorj County, Oltenia region in Romania. North-West Targu Jiu area is an active

tectonic area characterized by two strike-slip faults systems of North-West- South West and East-West

orientation, where on 13 February 2023 was recorded a shallow strong earthquake of moment magnitude Mw=

5.2 and 17 km focal depth, followed by 14 February 2023 stronger earthquake of Mw = 5.7 and 6 km focal

depth. Several months beyond have been recorded more than 1000 aftershocks of Mw ≤ 4.9. Based on MODIS

Terra/Aqua and NOAA AVHRR time series data, some days to weeks before the seismic sequence has detected

LST and AT anomalies.

Key-Words: - seismic sequence, Land Surface Temperature, Air temperature, MODIS and NOAA AVHRR

satellite data, Gorj County area, Romania

Received: March 27, 2023. Revised: June 27, 2023. Accepted: August 28, 2023. Published: September 20, 2023.

1 Introduction

With the increase in economic development of

Romania, unexpected earthquake disasters in active

geotectonic regions can cause more serious

economic and societal damage than ever before. In

frame of the rapid urbanization, the seismic

risk/hazard assessment of Romania due to ground

motion variability is of high importance for

monitoring and implementing early warning

systems. The continuous surveillance, satellite, and

in-situ monitoring and analysis of current seismicity

present a significant scientific challenge. Also, the

all-weather, high-spatial, and temporal resolution

and high dynamic range of satellite remote sensing

sensors provide a new investigation tool for

earthquake events.

As natural hazards in Romania, earthquakes

resulting from crustal-scale fault-related

deformation (co-seismic stress) turn moderate

hazards into severe risks in densely populated areas

and high-value infrastructures. The earthquake

risk/hazard in Romania is one of the highest in

Europe, being determined for almost half of its

territory by the increased seismic activity of the

Vrancea seismogenic region characterized by a high

rate of occurrence of large earthquakes in a narrow

focal volume at depth from 70 to 160 km, which is

located beneath the Southern Carpathian Arc, [1],

[2]. Presently moderate seismic activity in Romania

is concentrated at the still seismically active

contacts between the major tectonic units: the

orogens and platforms, [3], [4]. Is well recognized

that crustal seismicity in Romania is distributed

within some belts located along the Carpathian

Mountains and the Pannonian Depression with

significant concentration in the Vrancea crustal area

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.83

Maria A. Zoran, Roxana S. Savastru,

Dan M. Savastru, Marina N. Tautan,

Daniel V. Tenciu

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

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Volume 19, 2023

and the front of Eastern Carpathians bend, in the

Fagaras Mountains area, in the Danubian area,

Banat, Crisana, Maramures and North Dobrogea

regions, [5]. An unusual crustal doublet earthquake

sequence started on 13 February 2023 with an

earthquake of moment magnitude Mw = 5.2 at 17

km depth, close to Targu Jiu city, in Gorj County in

Romania. The strongest event, of moment

magnitude Mw= 5.7 and 6 km focal depth, occurred

on 14 February 2023. Also, the earthquake sequence

triggered more small and moderate earthquakes,

which have been recorded during several phases of

seismic activity, of which on 20 March 2023 was

recorded an aftershock of Mw = 4.9. The

accompanied specific seismicity bursts continued

after several months, and more than 1000

aftershocks have been recorded, of which more than

250 events of Mw ≥ 2.0 have been registered till the

end of July 2023, corresponding to our investigation

period in this study. Like in many regions of the

world, seismic sequence phenomena are rather

common, being also recorded in Romania (Sinaia

zone in Carpathian foredeep, Galati, Banat, and

Arad-Crisana zones), [6]. For active seismic areas,

the temperature response of co-seismic stress

expressed by land surface temperature -LST and air

temperature-AT parameters spatiotemporal

variability is a significant information source that

can be used to verify that the change of bedrock

temperature contains the dynamic change of crustal

stress before and after moderate and strong

earthquakes, [7]. The novelty of this study consists

in monitoring and analysis of time series MODIS

Terra/Aqua and NOAA AVHRR thermal infrared

satellite data for detection of land surface

temperature-LST and air surface temperature-AT

anomalies before and after seismic sequence doublet

occurrence of 13/14 February 2023 recorded in Gorj

Country. This study attempts to provide a basis for

creating crustal earthquake warning systems in

seismogenic areas by using the capabilities of in-situ

and satellite remote sensing platforms for studying

various types of possible pre-earthquake anomalies.

2 Regional Seismotectonic Setting

In Romania, however, from the instrumental data,

the seismic cluster in the Gorj area placed in the

Northern- Western part of the Oltenia region (CSC

in Figure1) is significantly higher, both in duration

and number of events compared to similar seismic

sequences in other areas. Strike slip-type

deformations have played an important role in the

tectonic development of the region. At the contact

between the Moesian Platform and the Carpathians

orogen generated small-to-moderate crustal

earthquakes as a consequence of large-scale

transcurrent deformation recorded during the

Tertiary drift of the tectonic units in Transylvania

into the Carpathians embayment through the rapid

roll-back of the slab attached to the European

continent in the Vrancea region, [8].

Fig. 1: Seismogenic zones for crustal earthquakes in

Romania are defined as polygons: DOB—

Dobrogea, ND—North Dobrogea orogeny, BD—

Bârlad Depression, MO—Moesian Platform, FC—

Făgăraş-Câmpulung, CSC—Central South

Carpathians, DA—Danubian, BA—Banat, TRA—

Transylvania

Experimental work observed that the seismicity

along the Southern Carpathians is enhanced in the

Eastern sector, known as the Făgăraş-Câmpulung

zone (FC), and in the Western sector, in the

Danubian zone (DA). Also, more recent data

suggest that the segment between them has a high

earthquake-generating potential, [9], being

considered as a new seismogenic area (central part

of the Southern Carpathians—CSC which shows

similar features to that in the FC zone. The

seismogenic region of the crustal earthquake

sequence is located between the Intramoesian Fault

to the East and the Camena-Jiu Fault to the West, at

the contact of the Getic Depression and Carpathians

Orogen. This region is characterized by the two

normal fault systems, one of strike-slip oriented

NW-SE intersected with the second fault system E-

W oriented. The interplay of geotectonic, land

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DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.83

Maria A. Zoran, Roxana S. Savastru,

Dan M. Savastru, Marina N. Tautan,

Daniel V. Tenciu

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

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Volume 19, 2023

surface, and climatic processes at local and regional

scales is responsible for the variety of the

mountain’s orogenic belts and the surrounding

basins' spatiotemporal changes, [10], [11], [12]. The

crustal seismicity in Romania is mainly

concentrated along the external side of the

Carpathian orogen and Pannonian depression. Is

well demonstrated that most of the hypocentres are

located in the upper crust (in the first 20 km depth),

[6]. The Gorj seismogenic area, where these

earthquakes occurred is known for weak to

moderate seismic activity, according to the updated

version of the ROMPLUS Catalog, [13], the last

estimated earthquake with a moment magnitude of

5.2 was recorded on 20 June 1943 at a depth of 9.9

km, 45.0/23.0 Lat/Long, and very few small

earthquakes of Mw ≤ 3.5 occurred till 13 February

2023.

3 Data and Methods

Reliable earthquake forecasting, very important for

preventing and mitigating earthquake disasters, is

still elusive. However, the key to reliable prediction

is identifying physical earthquake presignals, [1],

[14], [15]. In spite of being reported seismological,

geophysical, geochemical, geodetic, and

hydrological precursors to earthquakes, most of

these precursors are physically irrelevant or

statistically insignificant. Macro-fracturing

processes are preceded by micro-fracturing

phenomena that amplify the strain field, with a

resulting rock deformation (co-seismic stress) and

associated geophysical fields’ disturbances. Space-

time anomalies of Earth’s emitted radiation (thermal

infrared satellite data provided months to weeks

before the occurrence of earthquakes), ionospheric,

space weather, radon and thoron in underground

water and soil, etc.), and electromagnetic anomalies

are considered as pre-seismic signals, [16], [17],

[18]. As Southern Carpathian Mountains ranges and

adjacent sedimentary basins may record signals and

proxies that may provide knowledge on the

geophysical state of the region, a major challenge is

to extract all available information contained in the

system and to interpret it in terms of involved

processes. Seismological and geodetic observation

networks that record ground displacements,

velocities, and accelerations of the Earth’s surface

are crucial for understanding earthquakes.

Earthquakes can produce significant surface sphere,

atmosphere, and lithosphere precursory anomalies

effects due to earthquake preparation phases, [19].

Thermal Infrared (TIR) satellite imagery provided

by different TIR sensors (Moderate Resolution

Imaging Spectroradiometer -MODIS Terra/Aqua,

Geostationary Meteorological Satellite 5/Visible and

Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer -GMS-

5/VISSR, NOAA Advanced Very High-Resolution

Radiometer -AVHRR, Meteosat Second Generation

Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infra-Red Imager -

MSG/SEVIRI and so on), [20], [21], [22], [23],

[24], [25]. Among these effects, we consider

variations in Land Surface Temperature (LST) and

Air Temperature (AT) that reflect associated

disturbances, [26], [27], [28], [29], [30]. The effect

scales are connected with the earthquake

magnitudes and focal mechanisms. The

characteristics of TIR anomalies exhibit spatial

variations due to the different geological and

meteorological (air relative humidity, pressure, wind

intensity and directions, surface solar irradiance,

cloud cover) backgrounds. Also, time series satellite

data in different spectral wavelengths together with

innovative analytical techniques, improved

methodologies, and innovative conceptual and

quantitative modeling, are required to resolve these

problems. As TIR anomalies are supposed to be

caused by the direct or indirect influence of the

increasing crustal stress in Gorj Country, Oltenia

region in Romania we used time series analysis to

detect the anomalous behavior of the TIR signal,

[31]. To explore earthquake seismic sequence

characteristics related to cluster seismicity during

tremorgenic slow-slip events and thermally

activated processes in Gorj County, time series of

AT and LST have been investigated. ENVI 5.7, e-

cognition, and ORIGIN 11 software have been used.

4 Results and Discussion

4.1 Temporal Pattern of Gorj Sequence

The temporal pattern of the Gorj crustal earthquakes

function of the focal depth distribution during the

investigated time period is presented in Figure 2,

which evidences a decreasing trend of aftershocks

appearance with the initial time of the seismic

sequence. During the 13 February 2023 to 25 July

investigated time period, the permanent and

temporary stations operated by the Romanian

Seismic Network have recorded more than 255

crustal earthquakes of moment magnitude of 2 ≤

Mw ≤ 5.7, the majority seismic events being located

in a narrow hypocentral volume region in the range

of Latitude 45.09 °N - 45.2 °N, Longitude 23.02 o E

– 23.22 o E, and 2.0 km-19 km depth range as can be

seen in Figure 3. Also, during the study period in the

Gorj County have been registered more than 700

earthquakes of moment magnitude 1 ≤ Mw ≤ 2.0,

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.83

Maria A. Zoran, Roxana S. Savastru,

Dan M. Savastru, Marina N. Tautan,

Daniel V. Tenciu

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

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Volume 19, 2023

that means a continuous seismic activity attributed

to physical mechanisms of earthquake-to-earthquake

triggering.

020 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

5.0

5.5

6.0

Day during 13 February 2023-25 July 2023

D (km)

Fig. 2: Temporal distribution of Gorj seismic crustal

doublet sequence after 13 -14 February 2023

earthquakes

Fig. 3: Epicentral map of the Gorj County seismic

sequence during 13 February -25 July 2023 function

of moment magnitude and spatial location

The dominant tectonic stress in the Gorj

seismogenic active area and faulted area results in

accumulation and rise in the strain energy in the

subsurface rocks, which may be released through

rupturing of rocks and in the form of foreshocks,

mainshocks, and aftershocks. Thus, the analysis of

the phenomena occurring in the pre and post-

sequence of the investigated seismic event will

provide useful information on the future Gorj area

seismicity. Is well-recognized that earthquakes are

associated with ongoing deformation along the main

active geologic faults. According to the

Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere coupling

model seismic events are complex fields, that

include several channels for energy transfer as well

as mechanisms of chemical composition change,

[22], [23].

4.2 Land Surface Temperature Anomalies

This study used time series Moderate Resolution

Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra satellite

thermal imagery data over the Gorj- Targu Jiu

epicentre region to analyze thermal anomalies

associated with earthquake prediction. The daily

land surface temperature (LST) products provided

by MODIS MOD11A2/LST_Day and _Night_1km

evidenced a strong temperature anomaly consisting

of a sudden drop with more than 5 oK some days

before the seismic sequence (Figure 4).

Fig. 4: Temporal distribution of MODIS Terra LST

recorded in the Gorj- Targu Jiu area during the

2000-2023 period

The results in this study are in good accordance

with the findings in the field that based on various

methods and datasets, reported LST anomalous

enhancement or drop detected from TIR satellite

time series imagery before or after earthquakes,

[32]. Due to the properties of the local fault, the

(oK)

Time Series MODIS Terra for GORJ seismogenic area

Earthquake 14 February 2023

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Maria A. Zoran, Roxana S. Savastru,

Dan M. Savastru, Marina N. Tautan,

Daniel V. Tenciu

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

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temperature sensitivity of the cracks of the

underground rocks, and nucleation and propagation

of slow-slip events can explain and may contribute

to the natural complexity of the seismic

phenomenon, potentially explaining a much wider

spectrum of rupture behaviors and recurrence

patterns of the earthquakes, [33], [34]. As the Gorj

seismic sequence occurred at the intersection of the

two normal fault systems, one of strike-slip oriented

NW-SE and the second fault system E-W oriented,

is considered of slow-slip event, that always is

associated with bursts of low-frequency earthquakes

or tremors that may be responsible for the recorded

thermal anomalies, [35], [36].

4.3 Air Surface Temperature Anomalies

As Figure 5 shows, based on NOAA AVHRR

satellite data from 1 January 2023 till 10 February

2023 Air Temperature at 2 m height AT recorded a

thermal anomaly of almost 5.5 oK above the Targu-

Jiu Gorj County, as possible to be associated with

the preparation phase of the earthquakes.

Fig. 5: Air Temperature anomaly recorded by

NOAA AVHRR satellites before Gorj crustal

seismic sequence on February 2023

Only a few days before seismic events daily AT and

air relative humidity RH recorded a sudden drop

(Figure 6), followed by increasing trends.

020 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220

-10

-5

Air Temperature

Air Relative Humidity

Day during 1 January 2023- 25 July 2023

Mean Air Temperature (oC)

100

Mean Air Relative Humidity (%)

GORJ

Earthquakes

Fig. 6: Temporal pattern of Air Temperature and

Relative Humidity during 1 January 2023 -25 July

2023 in Gorj County.

5 Conclusion

This study examined the spatial and temporal

distribution of crustal seismicity recorded in Gorj

County, Oltenia in Romania in relation to possible

presignals. According to our investigation, the time

series analysis of crustal seismicity in Gorj County

between 13 February 2023 and 25 July 2023 shows

that the most crustal seismicity is clustered in a

narrow focal volume region in the range of Latitude

45.09 °N - 45.2 °N, Longitude 23.02 oE – 23.22 oE

and 2.0 km- 19 km depth. Based on time series

MODIS Terra/Aqua and NOAA AVHRR satellite

data have been recorded land surface temperature-

LST and air surface temperature-AT anomalies

before and after seismic sequence doublet

occurrence of 13/14 February 2023 of moment

magnitudes Mw 5.2/5.7 recorded in Gorj Country.

The depths of the moderate crustal earthquakes in

Gorj County in Romania mainly distributed within

the upper 20 km, suggest that thermal infrared

anomalies can represent better the radiation

characteristics of shallow earthquakes. This research

discovers some characteristics of thermal infrared

radiation associated with crustal earthquakes in Gorj

County in Romania and looks at the relationship

ROMANIA

GORJ

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Maria A. Zoran, Roxana S. Savastru,

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between thermal anomalies and faults. However,

reported thermal infrared anomaly patterns

associated with moderate–strong earthquakes in

Gorj can provide important reference values and for

the first time can significantly aid earthquake

research in this region. However till now, despite

extensive investigations worldwide, and reported

seismological, geodetic, geophysical, geochemical,

and hydrological precursors to earthquakes, no

precursor patterns for reliably predicting major

earthquakes have been identified.

Acknowledgment:

This work was supported by the Romanian Ministry

of Research, Innovation and Digitalization: through

Program 1- Contract no. 18PFE/30.12.2021;

National Research Development and Innovation

Plan 2022-2027, project no. PN 23 05; Grant

CNCS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P4-PCE-

2021-0585; Romanian Ministry of European

Investment and Projects & Romanian Ministry of

Research, Innovation and Digitalization, Contract

no.8/1.2.1 PTI ap.2/17.02.2023.

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Maria A. Zoran, Roxana S. Savastru,

Dan M. Savastru, Marina N. Tautan,

Daniel V. Tenciu

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

879

Volume 19, 2023

Contribution of Individual Authors to the

Creation of a Scientific Article (Ghostwriting

Policy)

Maria Zoran: Conceptualization; Methodology,

Supervision, Writing - review & editing. Roxana

Savastru: Methodology, Validation, Review. Dan

Savastru: Methodology, Validation, Review. Marina

Tautan: Methodology, Validation. Daniel Tenciu:

Software.

Sources of Funding for Research Presented in a

Scientific Article or Scientific Article Itself

This work was supported by the Romanian Ministry

of Research, Innovation and Digitalization: through

Program 1- Contract no. 18PFE/30.12.2021;

National Research Development and Innovation

Plan 2022-2027, project no. PN 23 05; Grant

CNCS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P4-PCE-

2021-0585; Romanian Ministry of European

Investment and Projects & Romanian Ministry of

Research, Innovation and Digitalization, Contract

no.8/1.2.1 PTI ap.2/17.02.2023.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

(Attribution 4.0 International , CC BY 4.0)

This article is published under the terms of the

Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en

_US

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.83

Maria A. Zoran, Roxana S. Savastru,

Dan M. Savastru, Marina N. Tautan,

Daniel V. Tenciu

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

880

Volume 19, 2023