Possible Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling effects prior to the 2018 Mw = 7.5 Indonesia earthquake from seismic, atmospheric and ionospheric data

In this study, we analyse Lithosphere Atmosphere Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) effects to identify some phenomena
that could, possibly, be linked to the preparation phase of the MW=7.5 earthquake occurred in
Indonesia on September 28th, 2018, by investigating the eight months preceding the seismic event.
First, we find a seismic acceleration that started two months before the mainshock. Then, studying some
physical properties of the atmosphere (skin temperature, total column water vapor and aerosol optical thickness),
we find two increases of atmospheric anomalies about 6 and 3.7 months before the mainshock, and the
latter one is very promising as a candidate for seismic-related phenomena. Furthermore, we investigate ionospheric
disturbances, by analysing the Swarm and, for the first time, China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite
(CSES), magnetic and electron density data during quiet geomagnetic time. From different techniques, we find
interesting anomalies concentrated around 2.7 months before the mainshock.
On August 19th, 2018, Swarm and CSES showed an enhancement of the electron density during night time.
We critically discuss the possibility that such phenomenon can be a possible pre-seismic-induced ionospheric
effect.
Finally, we performed a cumulative analysis using all detected anomalies, as a test case for a possible chain of
physical phenomena that could happen before the earthquake occurrence. With this study, we support the
usefulness to collect and store large Earth ground and satellite observational dataset that in the future could be
useful to monitor in real time the seismic zones to anticipate earthquakes, although nowadays, there is no
evidence about useful prediction capabilities.