Atmospheric Pressure Anomalies over Earthquakes Epicenters

Abstract

This article is an analysis of the anomalies in atmospheric pressure days before and during the occurrence of earthquakes. The research started from the review of scientific articles in which it has been proposed that atmospheric events generate or trigger seismicity, and that earthquakes alter the atmosphere. Therefore, the atmospheric pressure pattern in Costa Rica during earthquakes with a magnitude greater than or equal to 6.5 Mw, for the period 1950 – 2020, was studied in order to investigate a possible link between atmospheric events and underground processes of the planet. For this, atmospheric pressure anomaly maps were drawn in which the epicenter of the earthquakes was located. Among the results, it stands out that 64% of the epicenters occurred in areas where the pressure anomaly had a value close to or equal to zero. This could indicate, as other authors have suggested, that atmospheric pressure alters the cortical stress pattern, thus contributing to the triggering of earthquakes.