OBSERVATION OF ULF ELECTROMAGNETIC EMISSIONS BEFORE THE M 7.8 NEW ZEALAND EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 13, 2016

We analyzed the ground geomagnetic data obtained from a 3-component fluxgate magnetometer at the Eyrewell Geomagnetic Observatory (New Zealand) (43.474 °S, 172.393 °E) from October 1 to December 31, 2016. The study aimed to investigate electromagnetic precursors associated with the M 7.8 New Zealand earthquake of November 13, 2016. This earthquake occurred 54 km northeast of Amberley (New Zealand). Its epicenter was located 158 km from the Eyrewell Observatory. We used three methods focused on the polarization ratio, fractal dimension and principal component analysis to identify anomalies in the geomagnetic data. The time series showed an enhanced polarization ratio at two times, October 20 and October 30, 2016, i.e. before the occurrence of the New Zealand earthquake, and a value ~1 or more during these instances. Since the global geomagnetic indices Kp and Dst were normal in these cases, the enhanced polarization ratio may be related to the preparation phase of the New Zealand earthquake. To further classify them, we applied the principal component analysis to the magnetic data on component H. The first three principal components showed more than 90 % of the variance of the original ultra-low frequency (ULF) magnetic field time series. The first principal component was found to be well correlated with the storm index (Dst) recorded during this period. Again, the second principal component was dominated by daily variations, which were the periodic component of the recorded ULF magnetic field. The temporal variation of the third principal component was analyzed to verify a possible correlation between the ULF emissions and the occurrence of the earthquake. The fractal dimension of components D and Z of the magnetic data decreased initially and sharply increased three days before the New Zealand earthquake.