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<article language="en">
	<journal>
		<journal_title>Natural Hazards and Earth System Science</journal_title>
		<journal_url>www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net</journal_url>
		<issn>1561-8633</issn>
		<eissn>1684-9981</eissn>
		<volume_number>10</volume_number>
		<issue_number>3</issue_number>
		<publication_year>2010</publication_year>
	</journal>
	<doi>10.5194/nhess-10-459-2010</doi>
	<article_url>http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/10/459/2010/</article_url>
	<abstract_html>http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/10/459/2010/nhess-10-459-2010.html</abstract_html>
	<fulltext_pdf>http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/10/459/2010/nhess-10-459-2010.pdf</fulltext_pdf>
	<start_page>459</start_page>
	<end_page>464</end_page>
	<publication_date>2010-03-15</publication_date>
	<article_title content_type="html">Possible soil thermal response to seismic activities in Alborz region (Iran)</article_title>
	<authors>
		<author numeration="1" affiliations="1">
			<name>N. Rezapour</name>
			<email>rezapour@irimo.ir</email>
		</author>
		<author numeration="2" affiliations="1,2">
			<name>M. Fattahi</name>
		</author>
		<author numeration="3" affiliations="1">
			<name>A. A. Bidokhti</name>
		</author>
	</authors>
	<affiliations>
		<affiliation numeration="1" content_type="html">The Institute of Geophysics, The University of Tehran, North karegar St., Tehran, Iran</affiliation>
		<affiliation numeration="2" content_type="html">Oxford University Center of Environment South Parks Road,Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK</affiliation>
	</affiliations>
	<abstract content_type="html">In this investigation, relations between the ground&apos;s thermal properties and
70 earthquakes with a magnitude &amp;gt;4 Richter in the Alborz region during a
period of 12 years (1992 to 2004) were studied. Typical changes of ground
temperature, 0.4 &amp;deg;C; thermal diffusivity, 0.028 m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; s&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;1&lt;/sup&gt;&amp;times;10&lt;sup&gt;&amp;minus;6&lt;/sup&gt;
and ground heat flux take place a few hours prior to the earthquakes. The
values of thermal diffusivity depend on the ground moisture content, which
may change during seismic activities. The analysis of ground heat flux from
the epicentre and it&apos;s surrounding regions show some anomalous behavior
before the earthquakes but with different signs in the areas close to the
sea and far away from the sea.

&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;

The changes of the ground&apos;s thermal properties prior to the earthquakes in
the Alborz region are attributed to the increase in seismic activities in
the epicentre and it&apos;s surrounding regions. The anomalous behavior in the
ground thermal properties shows great potential in providing early warning
of imminent earthquake.</abstract>
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</article>
