ABNORMAL ANIMAL BEHAVIOR AND THE PREDICTION OF EARTHQUAKES
Introduction
The prediction of earthquakes is a relatively new branch of seismology. Just
two decades ago, earthquake prediction was not even considered to be serious science;
rather, it was left to astrologers, mystics, and religious zealots (Press & Siever,
1978). The emergence of earthquake prediction as a truly scientific discipline has taken
place as a result of a program of fundamental observations begun in the late 1960's
and supplemented in 1973 and 1976. The research effort has from its inception in
the United States consisted both of attempts to develop a systematic catalog of precursory
phenomena through field measurements and a program of fundamental studies of the
physical basis for the occurrence and nature of earthquakes and of the pre-earthquake
failure process (Raleigh, 1980).
Earthquake premonition by animals, while having a long history and persistence
in literature, does not seem to fit into the rational world of science, and as a
phenomenon, it has the added disadvantage in that it cannot be examined at will.
Skepticism of anomalous animal behavior before earthquakes by many scientists in the Western
world is largely based upon this unfavorable image, as any scientist interested in
studying this problem risks not only his professional reputation, but also any chance
of getting research funds (Tributsch, 1982). Beginning
in the mid-1970's, however, the perspective of the possible connection between animals
and earthquakes began to change, when it was revealed that in 1975, China successfully
predicted a major earthquake, using observations of abnormal animal behavior, as
well as geophysical and geochemical precursors. The entire population of Haicheng,
a large city, was evacuated before a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck, saving thousands
of lives. This imminent prediction was the first prediction of a major earthquake
in recorded history. U.S. seismological teams visiting China were impressed by China's
methods and accomplishments in earthquake prediction, although the Chinese admitted
some failures among their successes, and much more study still needs to be done.
In 1976, the U.S. Geological Survey sponsored a conference on "Abnormal Animal Behavior
Prior to Earthquakes", held in Menlo Park, California. This conference discussed
and reviewed accounts of unusual animal behavior and the various geophysical precursors
which might stimulate the animals. In 1979, a second U.S.G.S. conference was held at
the University of Texas in Galveston. This conference introduced experimental data
on the effects of earthquake-related geophysical and geochemical phenomena on animals,
under controlled conditions. A survey, summary, and analysis of the literature concerning
abnormal animal behavior before earthquakes, and its possible usefulness in predicting
future earthquakes, is the focus of this paper.
CHAPTER 1
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE
Sources of Data
The oldest recorded observations of abnormal animal behavior connected with earthquakes
date back some 3000 years, a continuous record containing an estimated 50 millions
words in the official dynasty records of China. However, their usefulness to modern scientists is somewhat limited by the sheer volume of material, and by the style
of ancient classical Chinese writing - it is not certain whether the observed unusual
behavior took place before or after the earthquakes (Lee et al., 1976).
Although many examples of unusual animal behavior have been reported from nearly
all parts of the world, many scientists have regarded them as anecdotal folklore
concocted by untrained observers, and not to be taken seriously (Lee et al., 1976).
Nearly all reported accounts of abnormal animal behavior are second-hand, that is, told
by laymen observers to scientists after the earthquake occurred (termed "retrospective
recollections"), and thus are subjective interpretations which may be inaccurate
or exaggerated. Attempts have been made by Lott et al. (1977, 1979, 1980) to introduce
more rigorous controls on data collection methodology; behavioral specialists collected
eyewitness accounts of several earthquakes with carefully worded questions (the respondents were not pressured to answer).
A different direction of investigation was started by biologists, biophysicists,
and animal behaviorists. Their laboratory studies of the effects of geophysical
and geochemical phenomena known to be present prior to earthquakes provided new experimental data of animal sensitivities to these stimuli under controlled conditions. (Many
of these studies were initially concerned with isolated phenomena not necessarily
related to earthquakes, such as the effect of sound waves on fish.)
A major difficulty of relating abnormal animal behavior to earthquakes is that
unlike mechanical measuring devices, the behavior of animals is not well understood.
Also, the behavior of the many types of animals in the data is not uniform, either
between individuals of one species or between groups of different species. Finally,
abnormal animal behavior may also be caused by non-seismic "noise" factors such as
weather, magnetic storms, disease, insects, or other conditions causing stress in
animals (McClellan, 1980).
Therefore, any meaningful analysis of the literature must consider these questions:
1. How reliable is the data?
2. Can non-seismic noise factors be eliminated from the data set of a particular
earthquake?
3. What is the "normal" behavior of animals under non-earthquake conditions?
4. Can a particular geophysical stimulus be shown to cause the observed behavior?
5. What are the sensory thresholds (limits of detection by the senses) of the animals
under study to different stimuli?
6. How many individual animals within a population tend to be more sensitive to
the earthquake phenomena?
Anecdotal Accounts
By far, the largest volume of data concerning abnormal animal behavior before
earthquakes consists of innumerable anecdotal observations made by laymen, classified
as folklore or legends (Lee et al., 1976). The earliest accounts date back several
thousand years to the time of Pliny the Elder in Rome, and to the Chou Dynasty (circa
1000 B.C.) in China. However, folklore accounts have long been ignored as irrelevant
by scientists, as expressed by Richter (1958) in Elementary Seismology
:
"...The legendary material of seismology includes many stories of horses and
other domestic animals being uneasy during the hours preceding a large earthquake.
It is impossible to judge such evidence scientifically. If there is any explanation
beyond coincidence and incomplete reporting, it probably rests on the occurrence of small
foreshocks, not noticed by humans, but disturbing to sensitive animals. During earthquakes,
animals are seen to react as they do to almost any sudden and unexpected event." (Foreshocks are defined as small tremors that commonly precede a larger earthquake
by an interval ranging from seconds to weeks, and that originates at or near the
focus of the larger earthquake.)
Rikitake (1976) believes that while not all of these legends may be true, it
is nevertheless important for scientists to look into things which might contain
some truth, without being biased. Lee et al. (1976) compiled a summary of literature
on this subject, (some of which was translated from foreign journals not readily available
in the Western world), which they organized into three geographical sections: China,
Japan, and Western countries, as the history and approach towards studying the problem
is somewhat different in each of these three regions.
Chinese Data on Animal Behavior Anomalies
Modern records suggest that China endures the most severe seismic activity on
earth. Because the majority of major tremors strike densely populated areas, their
impact has been more lethal than in most other countries. China averages six quakes
of at least 6.0 on the Richter scale each year, whereas the United States averages two
or three per year, most of them in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. Thus, the philosophy
of China's government is to include as much information as can be gathered to aid
in prediction, including the abnormal behavior of animals (Mead, 1976).
Earthquakes have played an important role in China's political history. The
emperors of the ancient dynasties were said to have a "mandate from Heaven" to rule,
on the condition that the emperor was benevolent to his subjects. The regimes of
many a corrupt emperor were toppled by the civil unrest caused by the destruction of a great
earthquake, as the suffering peasants symbolically interpreted the earthquake as
a sign from Heaven that "the emperor had lost his mandate," and revolted. The belief
that great earthquakes herald a change in the nation's leadership is still widely held
in China even during modern times, as the 1976 Tangshan earthquake happened to occur
just months before the death of Chairman Mao Tse-tung. The Tangshan earthquake killed
more than half a million people; unfortunately, a short-term prediction could not
be made, although a long-range earthquake forecast had been made for that area of
China. For political as well as practical reasons, the Chinese have been using animal
anomalies as one of the key indicators to predict earthquakes. With over 80% of the population
living in farming areas in close association with animals, this approach has great
public appeal (Lee et al., 1976). In 1966, spurred by two severe earthquakes which struck Hsingtai, the government of China mobilized its citizenry and declared
a "People's War" on earthquakes, by way of a program of scientific research, education
of the general population, and the construction of a nationwide seismic monitoring
network (employing 10,000 professional seismologists and 20,000 technicians and amateur
observers) overseen by a National Bureau of Seismology, with the goal of successfully
predicting future earthquakes. The effort has been described as the "Chinese equivalent of the American Apollo space program (Mead, 1976)."
The following accounts of abnormal animal behavior before earthquakes in China,
Japan, and the Western world will concentrate mostly upon descriptions, and not on
their possible causes, which will be discussed in a later chapter:
Historical records said that farmers in China could tell that something was vastly
wrong in the earth beneath them when normally placid horses reared up and ran away.
Dogs howled continuously for no apparent reason. Fish leaped from the water into
the air. Animals which normally hid from humans, such as snakes and rats, suddenly
appeared in droves (Mead, 1976). Cattle, sheep, mules, and pigs refused to enter
their corrals. Frightened pigeons flew continuously and refused to nest. Rabbits
raised and twitched their ears spasmodically, jumped aimlessly and bumped into things. Most
dramatically, hibernating snakes left their burrows early, sometimes in the dead
of winter, only to freeze to death on the icy ground (Lee et al., 1976).
From Lee et al., (1976) the following observations of abnormal animal behavior
before an earthquake were recorded at the Tientsin Zoo by the Chinese government:
A giant panda refused to play and was observed holding its head with its forearms,
crying strangely. A tiger became depressed and sluggish. Loaches (a type of bottom-dwelling
fish), leeches, and turtles suddenly swam up and down and rolled over continuously. A Tibetan yak refused to eat, and rolled over continuously on the ground.
Water-loving birds such as ducks and swans stayed on land far away from the shore,
avoided the water, and pointed their feet towards the sky. Among large zoo animals,
those with young were observed to be more sensitive to earthquake precursors than those
without young.
More observations were recorded in historical Chinese documents (Lee et al.,
1976): sudden calls of pheasants, abundant catch of fish, disappearance of rats,
fish jumping from the water onto the shore, bees building their nests in low places,
cocks crowing at night, disappearance of cats, dogs barking loudly and continuously, birds
singing at night, normally placid catfish swimming actively, and snakes and rabbits
moving their homes.
In addition, the Geological Bureau of China in 1975 reported that these animals
also behaved anomalously before earthquakes (Lee et al., 1976): tigers, wolves,
deer, eels, frogs, donkeys, geese, monkeys, sparrows, eagles, and insects. People
living in areas near the earthquake epicenter observed that burrowing animals such as rats
and snakes, etc. were more sensitive than animals living above the ground, and small
animals appeared to be more sensitive than large animals. According to the survey
of four major regions of China by the combined team from the Biophysics and Zoology Institutes
of the Academia Sinica, preliminary results (dated 1975) show that 58 species of
wild and domestic animals have relatively reliable anomalous reactions before earthquakes.
About one and a half months before the February 4, 1975 Haicheng earthquake (magnitude
7.3 on the Richter scale), hibernating snakes came out of their underground burrows
and froze to death. One or two days before the earthquake, pigs refused to eat, climbed up the walls of their stalls, and butted the doors. Small pigs bit each
other, and a dozen or so small pigs chewed off their tails and ate them. Cows became
restless, pawed the ground, fought with each other and butted horns. Deer at a deer
farm suddenly ran madly, trying to escape from their pens. One deer reportedly broke
two of its legs while running away in a panic (Lee et al., 1976). Birds at a municipal
aviary attempted to relocate their nests; while carrying their eggs, many of them
fell to the ground and broke. Many caged birds, such as sparrows, attempted to fly inside
their cages, as if trying to escape; many died from injuries suffered from striking
the sides of their cages (Deng and Jiang, 1981).
To summarize the above accounts, the Group of Earthquake Research of the Institute
of Biophysics, Academia Sinica (1979) made the following analysis of the data:
Table 1A, Table 1B
Figure 1
Figure 2
1. Most animals in the seismic area become increasingly restless, and a number
of them fall into a state of anxiety.
2. These features may appear from a few minutes to as long as ten days before
the earthquake, but usually the precursor time is within 24 hours of the quake.
3. These phenomena appear to have a non-random and non-uniform regional distribution,
occurring mostly in particular belts of the seismic area and in certain regions.
These places correlate to some degree with the strike of active faults, as well
as with the bends, branches or terminal points of faults. It appears that they tend
to be in the epicentral area or high- intensity zones of the impending earthquake
(Fig. 1).
4. These remarkable changes in animal behavior generally precede a destructive
earthquake of magnitude 5 or greater.
5. Although there is great variety in the cases of unusual behavior, generally
speaking, this behavior falls in to the category of increased restlessness - being
startled, extremely nervous, and panicky, as if the animals were on the brink of
meeting their natural enemies. A small number of animals may become depressed or apathetic.
6. Macroscopic (detectable without instrumentation) changes in animal behavior
constitute only one of many precursors of earthquakes. Some characteristics, such
as precursor time, regional distribution, animal species, total number of events
per day, etc. are linked with origin-time, the epicentral location and the magnitude of
the coming quake. So far as the time of occurrence is concerned, it can be used as
a means of extremely short-term forecasting. Combined with data from other disciplines,
animal observations may be of some value in making an overall judgment.
7. Anomalous animal behavior has also been noticed during the earthquake, as
well as before.
8. The number of animals of any given species that behave abnormally prior
to earthquakes is not necessarily a high proportion of the total population (usually,
only a fraction of a given species shows unusual behavior). Some show no anomalous
behavior; on the other hand, some anomalous animal behavior may not be followed by an
earthquake. Furthermore, it must be noted that much of the data were collected after
the earthquakes had occurred.
9. The unusual behavior is not necessarily related only to earthquakes. Non-seismological
factors can sometimes cause similar behavior. Although such interfering factors
have been investigated, it is almost impossible to eliminate them completely.
Japanese Data on Animal Behavior Anomalies
Ancient Japanese legends attributed earthquakes to giant catfish moving underground
(Fig. 3), a tradition said to have started sometime in the eighteenth century. After
that time, some examples of catfish associated with earthquakes were reported in
historic documents. In particular, many colored wood-block prints with catfish legends
appeared after the 1855 Edo earthquake. During the late 1800's, J. Milne described
some examples of unusual behavior of fish before earthquakes, but no remarkable scientific work was done until the 1920's (Lee et al., 1976).
The Kanto earthquake of 1923, which destroyed much of Tokyo, led several seismologists
to pay attention to the problem of animal anomalies. For example, in 1932, Hatai
and Abe investigated the responses of the catfish, Parasilurus
asotus
to earthquakes. During that same year, Hatai, Kokubo and Abe studied earth currents
in relation to the response of catfish. Terada in 1932 demonstrated an apparently
good correlation between the number of fish caught and the number of earthquakes
felt near the time of the 1930 Ito earthquake swarm. More than 20 examples of unusual behavior
of fish and sea life were reported by people on the coast of Japan, as well as several
Figure 3
examples of unusual behavior of rats and birds. Musha in 1935 summarized a great
deal of data on unusual animal behavior and earthquakes (Lee et al., 1976).
After the 1930's, however, research on animal behavior in Japan gradually diminished.
Possible reasons are: (1) World War II intervened, (2) no large destructive earthquake
has occurred in Japan since 1949, and (3) no scientific progress in the mechanism of animal anomalies has been advanced. More recently, Japanese scientists renewed
their interest in unusual animal behavior and earthquakes, especially after the Chinese
success in predicting the Haicheng earthquake of February 4, 1975 (Lee et al., 1976).
Most of the animal anomalies reported in Japan are concerned with fish. This
is not surprising, because 80% of Japanese earthquakes occur in the oceanic areas
surrounding Japan, and fish are a staple food for the Japanese. Some of the more
dramatic accounts regarding fish and marine life describe sudden changes of habitat: crabs
and catfish crawling out of the water onto land, deep sea fish swimming upwards to
surface waters and being caught by fisherman, dolphins appearing offshore, and the
discovery of benthic (bottom-dwelling) diatoms and mud in the stomachs of sardines, which
normally ingest planktonic diatoms (Lee et al., 1976).
During the period 1913 to 1916, Omori conducted experiments to determine the
ability of pheasants to detect earth tremors. Working in a quiet house where he
could hear pheasants crowing in a neighboring garden, he took note of the time of
every perceptible earthquake and comparing it with the crowing of the pheasants and also later
checking the tromometer, an instrument for recording minute earth tremors. In 11
out of 23 cases, the pheasants were actually more sensitive than Omori; they either
crowed before the scientist felt the quake, or crowed when he felt no quake but found that
one had been registered by the instruments. Passing vehicles which shook the ground
did not cause the pheasants to crow (Anderson, 1973).
Since most animal anomalies observed in Japan are based on second-hand reports,
their accuracies vary greatly. Japanese reviewers of this subject tend to collect
all available information regardless of accuracy (Lee et al., 1976).
Western Data on Animal Behavior Anomalies
The semi-scientific literature of the Western world contains many anecdotal reports
of supposed animal responses to forthcoming earthquakes. Most of the reports on
record were made during the nineteenth century; they are so far separated culturally
and in time from the more objective present-day reports that little credence can be
given to them (Lee et al., 1976). Perhaps the best known of all animal-earthquake
stories dates back to the early twentieth century; the dogs of San Francisco were
reported to have barked the night before the great earthquake struck the city in the early
morning of April 18, 1906 (Anderson, 1973). Cats also became very excited during
the San Francisco earthquake. Some ran around wildly with their fur standing on
end; others hid in dark corners or behaved abnormally in other ways. In some cases, they disappeared
for several days after the quake. During the aftershocks, cats seemed to register
the tremors before people did. They cowered in fear and ran. Cows were reported fleeing in a panic before the earthquake; some were seen lowing and mooing during
the earthquake. Horses snorted, trembled, and galloped in a frightened panic (Tributsch,
1982).
Von Hentig (1923) summarized the following observations which were reported without
reference to particular earthquakes in the older literature:
1. Dogs bark frantically, howl, growl, or whine. Dogs and foxes are restless,
whine and howl, and rush into the open; or they are lethargic, somnolent, and either
hide or stay by their masters. Cats draw back ears, bristle fur, and mew pitifully.
2. Pigs and other animals show signs of suffering for 10 days prior to an earthquake;
pigs bite each other like dogs.
3. Swallows abandon nests and seek refuge under roofs on the eve of an earthquake.
4. Fish flee from the banks toward the center of rivers; fish migrate strangely.
5. Mice, rats, moles, lizards and snakes leave burrows and wander restlessly.
6. Alligators vocalize loudly, leave the water and seek refuge in the woods.
Werner (1974) mentions these observations in one of the few Russian reports available
on abnormal animal behavior before earthquakes: ants pick up their eggs and move
out of anthills in a mass migration, pheasants crow, goats and antelopes refuse to
go into indoor pens for months before earthquakes, while tigers and other big cats
do the same several weeks before earthquakes. Additionally, it was reported that
a dog saved its master's life by dragging her out of the house before a large 1966
earthquake struck, and the natives of Kamchatka were said to observe the behavior of bears
to predict volcanic eruptions. There were also reports of a dramatic surge in complaints
of heart patients prior to a 1948 earthquake. To Russian scientists, this suggested that human hearts can somehow detect small variations in geophysical factors such
as static and magnetic fields caused by the buildup toward an earth tremor, and implied
that the same natural device may also warn animals.
In April and May of 1976, there were earthquakes of magnitude 7 in the Uzbek
Soviet Republic. One day before the catastrophe, great swarms of bats were observed
flying around the day. (Bats are normally nocturnal.) Such observations have also
been made in Turkey (Tributsch, 1982).
Tributsch (1978) reported the following unusual animal behavior which occurred
before the May 6, 1976 earthquake epicentered in Friuli, Italy:
(1) Deer formed flocks, (2) cats left houses in the village, (3) mice and
rats left their hiding places, (4) fowl refused to roost, (5) cattle panicked in
their barns, (6) dogs barked without apparent reason, (7) birds uttered calls at
unusual times, (8) caged birds attempted to fly, and (9) a caged bird kept wetting its plumage.
According to Tributsch (1978), this type of behavior was essentially identical to
that reported from China.
Tributsch (1982) summarized the essential information from the following folk
legends, which, if valid, would indicate an imminent earthquake:
(1) when four-legged animals show great nervousness without apparent reason
(Peru, Venezuela),
(2) when birds become excited and give forth unusual calls (Peru),
(3) when dogs howl in unison (Chile),
(4) when roosters crow persistently at night (Italy, Chile),
(5) when roosting chickens leave theirs roost and cackle excitedly (Chile),
(6) when wild animals appear to be tame and intimidated (Chile),
(7) when normally abundant flies suddenly disappear (Venezuela),
(8) when snakes leave their lairs and flee outdoors (Cuba),
(9) when birds flock together, fly high, and circle conspicuously (Greece),
(10) when bears leave their winter lairs prematurely (Kamchatka, U.S.S.R.),
(11) when cats cry nervously, run around houses excitedly, and then flee outdoors
(Italy, Chile).
In many respects, the above list resembles accounts reported in China (Tributsch,
1982). Tributsch (1982) believes that folk wisdom about earthquake prediction by
animals deserves respect. Many of the popular sayings are, after all, not just the
fruits of individual observations, but have been repeatedly submitted to tests through
generations. It would be senseless and pointless for people who depend so much on
nature to observe the animals for no apparent purpose or benefit. It seems unlikely
that China's thousands of years of tradition, and the earnest efforts and observations
of hundreds of millions of people would be devoted to the apparition of a phantom.
Yet to Western scientists, the lack of explanation of the mechanisms behind these
phenomena seems sufficient enough reason to reject the folklore altogether, despite evidence
that some of these observations can be understood and used to predict earthquakes
(Tributsch, 1982).
CHAPTER 2
PATTERNS IN THE ANIMAL BEHAVIOR PHENOMENA
Context of Abnormal Animal Behavior
From the voluminous historical catalog of anecdotal observations of animal behavior,
certain essential patterns may be found. Most unusual animal behavior is not totally
abnormal for the animal's repertoire, but has been observed in the species under other circumstances (Table 2); in other words, the behavior is only "abnormal" when
it occurs out of its normal context. Since earthquakes are relatively rare events,
it is unlikely that animals have evolved a specific instinctual response to pre-earthquake signals; thus, it is speculated that animals may misinterpret various geophysical
changes and respond in a confused, but frightened manner. The behavior sometimes
resembles startle movements in response to a sudden stimulus; in other cases, it
resembles the orientation movements that animals use to investigate or avoid a stimulus
(Buskirk et al., 1981). The behavior reported in post-earthquake interviews resembles
fear or escape reactions and ranges from mild response to bizarre behavior (Lott
et al., 1980). Investigators familiar with the full range of behavior for a species will
often recognize that reported "abnormal" behavior is actually species-typical behavior
which may be triggered by a variety of stimuli not necessarily related to earthquakes. For example, behavior such as cats
Table 2
hiding and pigs biting their tails also appears during times of stress unrelated to
geophysical changes (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Much of the behavior resembles that reported for animals before geophysical events
other than earthquakes, such as thunderstorms or sudden volcanic eruptions. For
instance, dogs sniffed and pawed at the earth two to four days prior to the eruption
in 1955 of Mt. Kilauea, Hawaii (Buskirk et al., 1981). Cows abandoned their pastures
two weeks before Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica erupted in 1968, and dogs barked incessantly
for minutes to hours prior to the 1965 eruption at Tall, Philippines (Anderson, 1973).
Time Patterns of Abnormal Animal Behavior
For a few major earthquakes, reports of unusual animal behavior have been widespread
enough that it was possible to study the timing of the behavior (Fig. 4). For the
Tangshan, China, earthquake (M = 7.8, July 28, 1976), reports of fish, rodents, and wolves were cited as early as a month or two before the event. In the epicentral
area of Tangshan, over 70% of the reported incidents took place within 1 day before
the earthquake. Most incidents (70%) also occurred in areas which were to experience
the great Mercalli intensities (Buskirk et al., 1981). Although in other earthquakes,
unusual behavior of cows and horse has been noted in the seconds or minutes prior
to the shock (Lee et al., 1976; Tributsch, 1978), at Tangshan only 10% of the reported
incidents for horse, donkeys, and cows occurred
Figure 4
immediately before the earthquake. At Tangshan there were reports of earthquake lightning
and changes in telluric currents the days before the earthquake, but there were no
reported foreshocks (Buskirk et al., 1981).
As early as a month prior to the 1975 earthquake in Haicheng, China, unusual
behavior in fish, rodents, and snakes was observed. However, most of the unusual
behavior took place within two days of the main shock. Numerous foreshocks and obvious
groundwater changes also occurred 1 or 2 days before this event (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Rikitake (1978) considered the temporal relationship between geophysical and
behavioral precursors for the Izu, Japan, earthquake (M = 7.0, January 14, 1978),
shown in Fig. 5. Nearly all physical precursors measured for this and other earthquakes
occurred at least 2 days prior to the main shock, while most of the 129 behavior incidents
happened within 24 hours of the earthquake (Fig. 6). Most behavioral precursors
coincided with a swarm of foreshocks a few hours prior to the main shock (Rikitake,
1978).
Rikitake's statistical analysis (1978) attempted to compare the nature of animal
precursors to those obtained by geophysical and geochemical methods. He classified
these precursors within three time frames: long-range (measured in years), moderately
short-range (measured in days), and extremely short-range (measured in hours). The
conclusions of the statistical analysis are outlined as follows:
Figure 5, Figure 6
1. No long range animal precursors having times on the order of years (long-range)
have been reported.
2. Most of unusual animal behavior seems to belong to moderately short-range
precursors which have a mean precursor time amount to 0.4 day, if they are indeed
precursors at all. If this conclusion is true, it can be said that animal precursors
are complementary to geophysical ones, that is, the distribution of animal precursors
exhibits a maximum around 0.4 days. Meanwhile, the frequency distribution of geophysical
precursors indicates a minimum around that value. Although it is not certain whether or not the above conclusion is a mere coincidence, it seems worthwhile to pay attention
to abnormal animal behavior which might have a spectrum of precursor times different
from that of geophysical precursors (Fig. 7, 8, and 9).
3. It seems likely, as far as the existing data are concerned, that animals
sometimes present extremely short-range premonitory signals on the order of a few
hours, just like some geophysical disciplines such as land deformation, resistivity,
underground water, and so on (Fig. 10 and 11). No significant difference in precursor time
distribution between geophysical and animal precursors is found as far as the extremely
short-range precursors are concerned.
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10, Figure 11
4. The existing data on unusual behavior prior to an earthquake indicate that
animal precursors cannot be ruled out although most data are based on non-scientific
observations. Although no firm proof that animal behavior reflects signals forerunning an earthquake has been established, it is not fair to rule it out in the search
for earthquake precursors (Rikitake, 1978).
The great variability of animal behavior before earthquakes is apparent from
post-earthquake interviews such as the standardized studies of Lott et al., (1979).
Individual animals of the same species, even when located in the epicentral area,
did not respond in the same way before the 1977 Willits, California, earthquake (M = 4.7)
(Lott et al., 1979).
This variability has two sources: behavioral differences among individual animals,
even within the same species, and geophysical differences between earthquakes (Buskirk
et al., 1981). Earthquakes have individual characteristics: modifications occur
in acoustic waves, air pressure levels, tilt of the land, electrical conductivity,
electromagnetic fields, electrostatic discharges, gas emissions, groundwater level,
and temperature, for example, but these events do not always appear in identical
patterns. The time of onset, frequency, duration, and magnitude of each may vary, as well
as which particular physical events are present. Often, the physical changes are
so small that they fall within the range of normal fluctuations regularly experienced
by the animal (Shaw, 1977). In addition, it is clear from comparative studies (Lott et
al., 1980) that unusual behavior is observed before some earthquakes but not others.
The same type of interview study was conducted after four California area earthquakes
which occurred during the late 1970's: Willits, November 22, 1977 (M = 4.7); Landers,
March 15, 1979 (M = 5.5); Coyote Lake, August 6, 1979 (M = 5.4); and Mexicali, October
19, 1979 (M = 6.9). All four had strike-slip faults with rather shallow epicenters
located in rural areas. Only the Willits earthquake had a significant number of behavior
precursors (Lott et al., 1980).
Figure 12 (Buskirk et al., 1981) displays available data for 36 earthquakes on
four continents. The following generalizations may be made about the reported unusual
animal behavior:
1. Most, but not all, of the animal behavior precursors occur close to the
epicenter within 1 or 2 days of the earthquake. The species primarily reported are
domestic mammals, such as dogs, probably because of their close association with
humans, and animals of commercial importance, such as horses and chickens (Buskirk et al.,
1981).
2. Some, but not all, of the behavior precursors occur within a few minutes
before the earthquake (Tributsch, 1978, 1982). For these precursors, it is difficult
to dismiss the hypothesis that the animals are sensing the vibrations of the P waves
arriving from the earthquake,
Figure 12
while humans sense only the latter and stronger S waves or surface waves
(Buskirk et al., 1981). (Animals such as horses and pheasants responded about 5
to 10 seconds before humans felt the earthquake in an aftershock sequence in Chile.)
However, phenomena that may coincide with the P wave arrival are placed in a separate category
from earlier behavior precursors by some researchers (Rikitake, 1976; Lott et al.,
1979).
3. A few of the behavioral precursors actually are reported days to weeks before
the earthquakes, and some of these occur at a considerable distance from the epicenter
(Buskirk et al., 1981). The animal species most often mentioned in these reports are fish (Rikitake, 1976) and rodents (Lee et al., 1976).
CHAPTER 3
OVERVIEW OF POSSIBLE SENSORY MECHANISMS IN ANIMALS
Several problems complicate an analysis of reports concerning anomalous animal
behavior prior to earthquakes: the variability of animal behavior, the unreliability
of human observations, and the existence of uncontrolled physical factors such as
weather (McClellan, 1980). These problems are so significant that scientists have taken
a serious look at the phenomena only recently. During the late 1970's and early
1980's, several types of investigations were undertaken to document the nature of
animal behavior responses (Buskirk et al., 1981). These investigations include systematic
post-earthquake interviews (Lott et al., 1979), a network of observers reporting
by telephone (Otis and Krautz, 1980), and biological activity monitors on individual
animals under controlled conditions in a field laboratory (Kenagy and Enright, 1980; Lindberg
et al., 1981).
Because anecdotal observations are unable to explain the mechanisms of what the
animals might be sensing prior to an earthquake, Frey (1980) advocates the use of
psychophysical and psychophysiological tests on the animals in the laboratory, where
geophysical events and stimuli might be recreated. In the final analysis, the animal
is simply a measuring device. The measuring devices used by humans, such as tilt
meters, are nothing more than extensions of our own sensory systems which are acting
as measuring devices. From the anecdotal reports, it would appear that the animals are measuring
something that we are either not measuring or, are interpreting the stimuli differently
than we are (Frey, 1980).
Buskirk et al. (1981) compared available data on geophysical precursors to the
sensory thresholds of humans and other animals (obtained from laboratory studies),
particularly those mentioned in the anecdotes. Much of the published biological
research relevant to this area of study is unfamiliar to most geophysicists, and the gap between
the biological and geological disciplines was bridged somewhat by the U.S.G.S. Conferences
on Abnormal Animal Behavior Prior to Earthquakes, held in 1976 and in 1979. For example, the second U.S.G.S. conference reviewed biological and biophysical research
on: detection of sound and vibration by birds (Kreithen, 1980); vibrotactile responses
in animals and man (Verrillo, 1980); low frequency vibration detection in fishes (Fay and Patricoski, 1980); seismic wave detection by fishes (Frohlich and Buskirk,
1980); electric and magnetic field detection by animals (Kalmijin, 1980; Medici,
1980; Frey, 1980); changes in air ions on animals before earthquakes (Yost, 1980);
and earthquake odor detection by animals (Moulton, 1980).
Buskirk et al. (1981) cited a number of geophysical phenomena that have been
observed prior to earthquakes might also stimulate unusual animal behavior, including:
(1) sound with an intensity and frequency outside the range of human perception,
(2) variations in local magnetic or electric fields,
(3) ground vibrations or foreshocks,
(4) changes in groundwater level,
(5) electromagnetic waves, and
(6) the release of gases usually trapped beneath the surface.
Animals probably do not sense some types of reported geophysical precursors,
including ground tilt, variations in the velocities of P and S waves, changes in
electrical resistivity, and gravity anomalies (Buskirk et al., 1981).
CHAPTER 4
ANIMAL SENSITIVITIES TO GEOPHYSICAL STIMULI
Buskirk et al. (1981) attempted to correlate the biological literature on animal
sensitivities to geophysical stimuli commonly reported prior to earthquakes. To
strengthen their correlations, they considered (1) the background level of the stimulus, (2) data from the geophysical literature suggesting that the stimulus may occur occasionally
as an earthquake precursor, and (3) biological research (in summary form) on the
sensitivity of animals to that type of stimulus.
Sounds and Vibrations (Foreshocks)
Before discussing these studies, it is pertinent to mention some basic background
information regarding acoustics and human hearing:
Sound is created by the movement of energy through a medium, such as a gas (air),
liquid (water), or solid (rock), which causes it to vibrate as a pressure wave.
The speed of vibration (usually measured in cycles per second, or Hertz, abbreviated
as "Hz") is called the frequency. The size of a wave cycle, or wavelength, has an inverse
relationship with the frequency. The measurement unit of sound pressure level (loudness)
is usually the decibel, abbreviated "dB." Because the perception of sound is not linear, but logarithmic, a 10 decibel increase in sound roughly corresponds to
double the loudness. It has been demonstrated that human hearing is not linear in
its perception of the frequency spectrum. While the range of human hearing extends
from 20 - 20,000 Hz, the ear is more sensitive to the mid-range frequencies (from above
100 Hz to about 10,000 Hz), and weak at the lower and upper frequencies. Very low
frequency sounds (below 20 Hz) are usually not heard, but felt, while sensitivity
to high frequencies drops off sharply past 15,000 Hz; with age, this loss of sensitivity is
more pronounced. Also, there exists a relationship between the frequency range of
sound, the energy required to produce it, and its ability to travel through a medium.
High frequency sounds have shorter wavelengths, and thus require less energy to produce
them. Because they tend to travel in a straight line, their relatively low energy
is easily absorbed by obstacles (high frequency seismic sound waves would be attenuated by surrounding rock). Low frequency sounds are more energetic, travel in a radiating
pattern (rather than a straight line), are less prone to attenuation, and can travel
great distances. Seismic waves commonly have a frequencies between 0.01 and 10 Hz
(Buskirk et al., 1981).
Biologists have shown that many species of animals possess a greater frequency
range of hearing (down to as low as 1 Hz, or as high as 100,000 Hz), and a greater
sensitivity in the ranges where human hearing is poor. If sounds are indeed generated
before earthquakes, animals which are sensitive to either very low or very high frequencies
may be hearing something that humans cannot detect (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Background levels
Animals that can sense low-amplitude sounds or vibrations are exposed to many
types of earth noise below 100 Hz in frequency. If unusual animal behavior is caused
by foreshocks, then the seismic signals must somehow differ from background noise
because of its frequency, amplitude, or pattern. Several kinds of earth noise have been
measured. Microquakes have a predominant frequency lower than 1 Hz. Infrasound
(ultra-low frequency sound below 50 Hz) generated by thunderstorms has the highest
sound pressure levels at frequencies below 100 Hz. Microearthquakes in active seismic areas
create a low-level background noise at frequencies below 50 Hz. Man-made noises
by machines also have been shown to contribute to background noise in many locations;
many of these sounds reach as low as 5 Hz (which can be detected by pigeons). However,
most of these man-made sounds are extremely regular in amplitude and frequency content,
quite unlike earthquake-related sounds (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Acoustic Precursors and Coseismic Signals
Sounds that precede or accompany the shaking of the ground have been reported
for a number of earthquakes in the literature (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Because more than 4000 seismograph stations are currently operating throughout
the world, foreshocks are probably the most commonly observed precursors of large
earthquakes. Although not all earthquakes have detectable foreshocks, their existence
provides a reasonable explanation for much of the observed unusual animal behavior.
According to Buskirk et al., (1981) at least 60% of major earthquakes (M > 7.0) had
foreshocks large enough (M > 4.0) to be located by the International Seismological
Centre (Fig. 13).
Buskirk et al. (1981) addressed an important misconception concerning foreshocks
and precursory animal behavior. It is often incorrectly assumed that sound waves
below the human hearing threshold (i.e. below about 50 Hz) cannot explain the animal
behavior because these signals would be detected by seismographs. In fact, for two reasons
it is quite possible that foreshocks which stimulate unusual animal behavior often
are not detected by seismographs. First, conventional seismographs are most sensitive to frequencies around 0.01 - 10 Hz, and most of the energy radiated by microearthquakes
and especially by microfractures is at much higher frequencies. Second, in well-instrumented
areas, conventional seismographs routinely detect earthquakes with magnitudes as small as 1.5, but as is shown in Figure 13 and Table 3, over most of the
earth's surface, earthquakes as large as M = 4 routinely go undetected. Thus, many
foreshocks detectable by animals may go undetected by existing seismic networks (Buskirk
et al., 1981).
Sound is produced in all major earthquakes (Fig. 14); the seismic waves themselves
(0.1 - 10 Hz), the microquakes (up to several hundred Hz), and the sounds produced
by breaking rock (up to 3000 Hz). The latter source of sound was confirmed by laboratory experiments on rock fracturing; before rocks break, fine hairline cracks appear.
In this process, ultrasound signals are emitted at frequencies that can reach 100,000
- 1,000,000 Hz. The frequency varies with the size of the tears that are being produced and thus with the kind of rock in which the cracks appear. However, most of
this high frequency sound is selectively muffled by the surrounding rock, leaving
mostly the lower frequency earthquake sounds to escape to the earth's surface (Tributsch,
1982).
Audible earthquake sounds with frequencies of 40 to 70 Hz were fortuitously tape
recorded in 1975 in the Imperial Valley of California (Hill et al., 1976). These
authors calculated that P waves could account for audible sounds a few seconds before
the perceptible S waves for small earthquakes. While earthquakes can generate low-frequency
pressure waves (infrasound) which can travel great distances, higher frequency sound
waves (audible to humans and animals) are attenuated by the rock overlying the
Table 3
Figure 13
Figure 14
earthquake focus. Instruments sensitive to very low frequency infrasound (0.1 - 5
Hz) recorded such sounds from the 1964 Alaska earthquake as far away as Washington,
D.C. In addition, loud noises resembling thunder have been reported days to months
before earthquakes, even in the absence of foreshocks (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Sound Detection By Animals
In reviewing animal sensitivity data, Buskirk et al. (1981) divided the sound
spectrum into three ranges: below 100 Hz, 100 - 10,000 Hz (the range of best human
sensitivity), and above 10,000 Hz. Most of the data reviewed are from tests performed
by biologists involving behavior responses of animals to a sound stimulus.
According to Buskirk et al. (1981), it is unlikely that sounds in the frequency
range 100 - 5000 Hz are responsible for the anecdotes about unusual animal behavior,
because in this frequency range, most animals are no more sensitive than humans
(Fig. 15). Within this range, common animals such as cats and dogs are generally more
sensitive than humans above 5000 Hz. The most sensitive mammals are no more than
an order of magnitude more sensitive than humans in this frequency range (Buskirk
et al, 1981). Some birds, such as owls, have more sensitive hearing than man in the mid-frequency
range of 1000 - 10,000 Hz, a threshold of 10 decibels below the normal 0 dB reference
for human hearing (Kreithen, 1980).
Figure 15
Above 10,000 Hz, human hearing is clearly inferior to that of many small mammalian
species. Behavioral as well as neurophysiological data show that laboratory mice
and rats are extremely sensitive to sounds in the range 30,000 - 80,000 Hz. These
rodents "speak" to each other within this frequency range, probably at close range, since
ultrasound over 20,000 Hz tends to attenuate very quickly with distance. In anecdotal
observations, some of the rats in a nearby cage displayed frightened behavior before rock failure during laboratory tests (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Although many mammals are more sensitive than humans in this high-frequency range,
sounds of this frequency are probably not the cause of the unusual animal behavior
observed before earthquakes. Only rather small cracks (with lengths of a few centimeters or less) would produce sounds with most of their energy at frequencies above
10,000 Hz. If the cracks are small, the amount of energy they radiate is also small.
In addition, it has been calculated that these high-frequency sounds would attenuate
too quickly to explain abnormal animal behavior before earthquakes (Buskirk et al.,
1981). Similarly, Hill (1976) showed that attenuation would prevent animals from
sensing most foreshocks that produce ultrasounds. Animals could perceive such high-frequency signals only from earthquakes with depths shallower than 0.01 km (Hill, 1976).
One of the best candidates for explaining observations of unusual animal behavior
before earthquakes is infrasound (sounds below 50 Hz in frequency). A number of
studies of birds and mammals show that many animals respond to extremely low sound
pressure levels at frequencies far below 50 Hz (Buskirk et al., 1981). Kreithen (1980)
showed that birds are highly sensitive to low frequency sounds and vibrations, and
their ability to analyze complex signals far exceeds the ability of humans (Fig.
16). The general capacity of birds to filter signals buried in noise may exceed the abilities
of our best instruments. Pigeons have low frequency auditory responses down as low
as 3 cycles per minute (0.05 Hz). Their infrasonic sensitivity is 40 - 50 dB better
than most other animals, including man (Kreithen, 1980). Furthermore, pigeons are
able to discriminate between very small frequency differences (as low as 3%) in the
range 1 - 20 Hz; for example, pigeons can tell the difference between a 2.00 Hz and
a 2.06 Hz signal. This means that a flying bird can determine the direction of a very long
wavelength sound merely by performing a slight detour in its flight path. The ability
to use doppler shifts may not be crucial for earthquake detection, but it does point out that pigeons have a precise ability to process low frequency signals (Kreithen,
1980).
Birds possess three types of vibration receptors: (1) skin receptors in the legs
and elsewhere, which decode surface vibrations and are most sensitive between 400
- 800 Hz, (2) inner ear receptors, which include organs which provide a horizontal
reference plane for the bird's head, and (3) semicircular canals, with a fluid-filled
chamber which is very
Figure 16
Figure 17
sensitive to angular accelerations and are responsible for the bird's balance (Kreithen,
1980). In laboratory experiments, pigeons who had parts of their inner ears surgically
removed were unresponsive to infrasound, while unaltered pigeons were visibly frightened (Buskirk et al., 1981). Birds have a very different pattern of sound and
vibration sensitivity than do humans. Birds can "hear" ground vibrations as low
as 2 Hz (whereas humans can only hear down to 20 Hz); below 2 Hz, birds feel rather
than hear the vibrations. For frequencies between 0.5 and 20 Hz, birds are from one to two
orders of magnitude more sensitive than man, as shown in Figures 16 and 17 (Kreithen,
1980).
Buskirk et al. (1981) also cited kangaroo rats as being more sensitive than humans
to infrasound. Whereas pigeons may use infrasound as homing signals, kangaroo rats
may detect this sound to escape from predators.
Most earlier investigations of animal perception of earthquake-generated sounds
concentrated on mammals, and did not consider aquatic species, or discuss low frequency
sounds. However, Frohlich and Buskirk (1980) extended the analysis of Hill (1976)
and considered data collected from fish. They concluded that fish could sense earthquake-generated
pressure waves at least 2 Richter magnitudes smaller than those detectable by humans.
In addition, an extrapolation of these hearing curves indicates that fish sensitivity to seismic sounds becomes increasingly better than human sensitivity
as the frequency gets lower (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Fish are apparently more sensitive than most mammals to infrasound (50 Hz and
below). They possess different sensory organs for perceiving sound: (1) the lateral
line system, which is an array of hair cells extending along the side of the fish,
apparently most sensitive to frequencies 200 Hz and below; (2) the inner ear otolith,
located in the fish's skull; and (3) the air-filled swim bladder. Besides the greater
hearing and vibration sensitivity of fish, their aquatic environment efficiently
propagates sound and seismic waves, with relatively little attenuation. Seismic waves
travelling through water are several orders of magnitude more intense than similar
waves travelling through air, because water is a denser medium. Experiments have
shown that fish can also discriminate low-level seismic signals from background noise (Frohlich
and Buskirk, 1980).
Vibration Reception By Animals
A number of animals possess various sensitive external organs which detect ground
vibrations directly, independent of their sense of hearing. The vibration detection
capability of humans has been more carefully studied than those of any other animal, so they provide a good comparison with animal studies (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Humans are able to detect mechanical vibrations, using skin receptors occurring
on the body, covering a range from below 1 Hz to over 100,000 Hz, which far exceeds
the range of human hearing. The most sensitive receptors are located in the fingertips or the eardrum; their sensitivity is comparable to most other mammals. However,
because humans seldom have their fingertips or their eardrums in contact with the
ground, they cannot detect earthquake vibrations felt by terrestrial and burrowing
animals of comparable sensitivity (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Recalling the anecdotal reports from China of snakes leaving their burrows more
than a month before a major earthquake (Lee et al., 1976), these phenomena may be
explained by evidence that snakes are physiologically more sensitive to low frequency
vibrations below 100 Hz, even more so in the range below 10 Hz (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Chinese investigators have also reported tests in which the skin mechanoreceptors
of 50 pigeons were severed, while the same number in a control group were left intact.
Prior to a small earthquake, the normal pigeons panicked and flew around, while
the altered birds behaved as usual (Lee et al., 1976).
Buskirk et al. (1981) cited a number of studies on insects, in which they reported
much greater sensitivities to vibrations relative to humans.
In summary, the biological literature indicates that many animals are more sensitive
to sounds and vibrations than man, in terms of frequency range, threshold response,
and noise-filtering capacity. In view of the tests in different frequency ranges, low-frequency infrasound seems to be the best candidate among acoustical precursors
detectable by animals before earthquakes, because it is less likely to be attenuated
by the surrounding rock. However, as pointed out by Tributsch (1982), since dogs,
cats, rats and mice are no more sensitive to infrasound than are humans, their panic
reactions preceding earthquakes cannot be accounted for by infrasound.
Electromagnetic Phenomena
Electromagnetic phenomena which occur prior to an earthquake
include: electric fields (changes in the earth's background level), changes in the
geomagnetic field, electromagnetic radiation caused by electrical phenomena in rock,
and the creation of air ions (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Any electric and magnetic precursor within the animal's sensitivity and frequency
range is a potential agent in evoking anomalous behavior in advance of earthquakes.
Since there is no evidence of adaptive behavior in response to precursor phenomena,
the animals that do respond seem either to misinterpret the stimuli or exhibit an
inappropriate normal behavior. As animals are likely to detect precursor phenomena,
the study of anomalous behavior may very well contribute, if only indirectly, to
the geophysicist's ability to forecast earthquakes (Kalmijin, 1980).
Electric Field Changes
The earth's level of background electric fields varies considerably in time and
in space. Local electrical storms, rainfall, and magnetic storms can cause large
fluctuations. Measurements of electric field changes prior to earthquakes stand
above background variations. The mechanisms behind these electrical changes have been attributed
to: increased ionization due to the release of radioactive radon gas, or by the movement
of groundwater (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Aquatic animals show extraordinary sensitivity to weak direct current electric
fields, with thresholds well below electric fields reported before some major earthquakes
(Fig. 18). Electric fish such as the elephant fish (freshwater Gymnarchidae
) and electric catfish have specialized organs which can detect minute electrical
changes in the water (Buskirk et al., 1981). Sharks can home in on prey in the absence
of any odor cues, using their well-developed electrical sensitivity. Catfish, rays,
and eels also possess this ability (Tributsch, 1982).
A correlation between catfish activity and electrical earthquake precursors has
been reported by Japanese researchers. During the 1930's, Hatai and Abe observed
the catfish Parasilurus
asotus
in an aquarium filled with water flowing in from a freshwater creek. Several hours
before a small earthquake, the fish became unusually sensitive to tapping on the
table on which their aquarium rested. Fluctuations in the electric field were measured
in the creek corresponding to the time of the catfishes' reactions. When the water
flow (and the electric field fluctuations) from the creek was cut off, the catfish
were no longer able to "predict" earthquakes (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Among terrestrial animals, mice, monkeys, and hamsters have been exposed to artificially
manipulated electric fields (Fig. 18). Hamsters have been shown to be very sensitive
to electric field changes. In laboratory experiments, hamsters were allowed to comfortably establish their nests in glass terrariums; then, an external electric
field was alternated at irregular intervals, simulating the changes in a thunderstorm.
The behavioral changes were remarkable; the hamsters wandered aimlessly from nest
to nest (Tributsch, 1982). Changing electric fields are believed to affect nerve
membranes, hormones, enzymes, and electrical activity in the brains of animals (Buskirk
et al., 1981).
In general, terrestrial animals are much less sensitive (by about 4 or more orders
of magnitude) than aquatic animals to electric field changes. It thus seems unlikely
that terrestrial animals would respond to the levels of electric fields reported
prior to earthquakes (Buskirk et al., 1981). Rapidly alternating electrical fields
seem to have the most effect on land animals, whereas slowly changing electric fields
would be significant only if they departed greatly from the background level (Tributsch, 1982).
Magnetic Field Changes
A major problem in interpreting the significance of animal response to magnetic
changes is the great spatial and temporal variation in the earth's magnetic field.
The normal geomagnetic field strength is 0.5 gauss, or 50,000 gammas. Typical temporal
Figure 18
Figure 19
variations in the field are about 30 gammas. Most geomagnetic changes associated
with most recent earthquakes have been no greater than about 20 gammas (Rikitake,
1976).
Some animals respond to extremely small changes in the magnetic field, including
some changes of the order of those observed before some earthquakes (about 10 gammas).
However, Buskirk et al. (1981) have concluded that it is unlikely that magnetic
field variations cause unusual animal behavior before earthquakes. The documentation
of animal response to changes in magnetic field is of three types: the impairment
of normal orientation movements of moving animals during short-term magnetic fluctuations, the response of stationary animals to the reversal or cancellation of the geomagnetic
field, and changes in animal behavior occurring during exposure to larger artificial
fields. The greatest sensitivities to magnetic changes has been demonstrated in
experiments concerning animal orientation or homing. As indicated in Fig. 19, several
species, including migrating birds, homing birds, and honeybees, have been shown
to respond to magnetic changes as small as 10 gammas. However, as the chart shows,
documented geomagnetic changes fall below the range of sensitivity of most animals (Buskirk
et al., 1981).
In summary, magnetic field changes are probably not detected by animals before
earthquakes because of the following:
1. Magnetic precursors are extremely small, about 20 gammas or less. Biological
evidence indicates that such small changes are either undetectable or just barely
detectable by animals.
2. Normal cyclical variations in the geomagnetic field, along with changes due to
storms, are in the range of 20 gammas or so. This makes it difficult to tell whether
the magnetic changes are due to an impending earthquake.
3. Magnetic precursory changes tend to occur over a period of days or weeks, while
animals are more likely to respond to changes over minutes or hours. Therefore,
there is little synchronicity of magnetic changes and abnormal animal behavior (Buskirk
et al., 1981).
Microwave And Other Electromagnetic Radiation
Although microwave radiation has been mentioned as a possible cause of unusual
animal behavior before earthquakes (Frey, 1980), no mechanism that produces microwaves
during an earthquake has been proposed, and there are no published field data on
microwave precursors. In addition, even if microwaves were produced in the hypocentral
region of an earthquake, it is difficult to see how they could be transmitted to
the surface, since the earth is opaque to microwaves (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Soviet scientists during the early 1980's reported that broadband electromagnetic
radiation signals occurred prior to 12 shallow focus earthquakes located at distances
of up to 1000 km away from the detecting devices. These precursors occurred from
a few hours to a week before the earthquake (usually 1 to 2 days before), and were
not detected prior to any earthquakes with a focus deeper than 30 km. Some Soviet
scientists believe that this is a type of ionization phenomena which originates in
the atmosphere above the epicentral region of shallow earthquakes, caused by some electromechanical
or electrostatic mechanisms in the earth's crust, and may also explain "earthquake
lights" (Buskirk et al., 1981).
The body of information about the biological effects of long-wave electromagnetic
radiation is still full of gaps. Nevertheless, it can be assumed with some certainty
that the long waves can have effects on living creatures that are at least as great as those caused by the much weaker rapid alternating electric fields (Tributsch,
1982). Symptoms of depression, insomnia, and general malaise have been reported
by workers after being exposed for several hours daily in the radiation field. Migratory
birds were reported to have flown off course because of the effect of a powerful transmitting
antenna set up by the U.S. Navy; this antenna used extremely low frequency radio
waves to communicate with submerged submarines. Therefore, long-wave electromagnetic radiation from the ground should not be completely eliminated as a possible earthquake
precursor detectable by animals (Tributsch, 1982).
Phenomena Related To Air Ions
For terrestrial animals mentioned in the anecdotal reports, changes in the density
of air ions (electrically-charged particles) may cause strange behavior. Tributsch
(1982) believes that these charged aerosol particles are more abundant prior to earthquakes, and may explain other phenomena as well, such as earthquake lightning and
earthquake fog.
Electrostatic phenomena are observed during earthquakes and may be implicated
in precursory animal behavior (Yost, 1980). The release of charged particles into
the atmosphere prior to an earthquake could cause significant changes in the ambient
levels of small air ions (Table 4), which many organisms may be capable of detecting.
(Large air ions are believed to be biologically inactive.) Biological literature
contains many reports of air ions influencing animal behavior under laboratory conditions,
but caution must be exercised when extrapolating these results to the field. Ambient
ion levels are strongly influenced by weather, which could modify or mask any ion
changes due to earthquakes (Yost, 1980).
Several mechanisms which may produce air ions before earthquakes have been postulated,
although few have been tested in the field (Table 5). Radon outgassing of the soil
near earthquake faults is believed to be responsible for a 50 - 100% increase in the background level of ions present. Such outgassing may begin several weeks before
an earthquake, and the rate of outgassing may reach two or three times the normal
background level. This could be caused by movement of the water-mineral interface
in the soil, which creates an electrostatic release of positive charge into the air.
Another mechanism proposed is a piezoelectric effect due to rocks placed
Table 4, Table 5
under stress in the fault zones, which can create a large release of charge (a result
confirmed in laboratory stress tests of granite and ceramics). However, the high
conductivity of the soil would probably absorb this charge (Yost, 1980).
Some of the anecdotal reports of abnormal animal behavior (Lee et al., 1976)
resembles similar reactions reported by biologists who studied the effects of excessive
levels of positive ions. Positive ions seem to inhibit test performance of laboratory rats (Yost, 1980), increase susceptibility to disease in mice, and retard growth
in microbes (Buskirk et al., 1981). Long-term depletion of ions and an excess of
positive ions can cause physiological changes and a heightened emotional state in
animals. In mammals, an excess of positive air ions is known to increase the level of the neurohormone
serotonin, which causes irritable behavior, changed habits, and physiological deterioration.
Weather-sensitive humans possess high serotonin levels during periods of hot, dry winds, when high levels of positive ions are measured. Their symptoms
include headaches, tension, and swelling. These symptoms disappear when humans are
exposed to antistatic treatments, or high levels of negative air ions (Buskirk et
al., 1981). Commercial negative-ion generators have been sold during the past few years,
claiming to produce physiological and psychological well-being by removing the deleterious
positive air ions from the living and working environment. The "good smell" of air after a rainstorm is due to the presence of large amounts of negative ions, which
has a soothing effect (Tributsch, 1982).
Under certain geological and atmospheric conditions, positive airborne ions (charged
aerosols) seem to appear in abundance before an earthquake. Some typical individual
behavior patterns can simply be interpreted as the animals' flight responses before charged clouds of particles streaming out of the ground. If such clouds appeared
before earthquakes and penetrated the burrows of snakes, mice, and other small animals,
it would explain their flight from underground. The agitation and flight of birds
could also be explained by airborne clouds of positive ions. It also explains why
so many different animals are reported to have fled any enclosed buildings - enclosed
spaces possess much higher charge densities than open areas, and the animals seek
to escape the electrostatic effects which must cause them great discomfort (Tributsch,
1982).
In summary, air ions are still a possible candidate to explain unusual animal
behavior prior to earthquakes. However, with the geophysical and biological data
available at present, it is not yet possible to make a quantitative interpretation
of these phenomena (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Phenomena Related to the Opening or Closing of Small Cracks
Changing stress conditions near the hypocentral region can open or close tiny
cracks prior to the occurrence of an earthquake, changing the permeability of nearby
aquifers, affecting groundwater levels, and affecting measures of electrical resistivity. In addition, the opening of cracks can influence the rate of release of gases contained
within the earth (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Precursory Changes in Groundwater Level
Irregular water levels, artesian flow, and muddy wells have been correlated with
many historic earthquakes, and reportedly were used extensively in predicting the
1975 Haicheng, China, earthquake (Group of Earthquake Research, 1979). In the epicentral area of Haicheng, wells became artesian 12 hours before the earthquake, and had
been muddy and oily the previous day. Waterspouts, muddy wells, floods, and interruptions
in the flow of hot springs had been reported within 50 km of the epicenter within
the previous month (Buskirk et al., 1981). In a study of water table changes in the
area of San Andreas, California, small but significant water level minima were followed
by earthquakes on the fault, while no significant water level changes were associated with two more distant earthquakes. Striking changes in well levels are most commonly
observed one or two days before earthquakes (Rikitake, 1978). Unfortunately, a great
many water level variations result from seasonal changes and short-term changes caused by rains. Rains also affect measurement of tilt, electrical resistivity, and
radon concentration (Rikitake, 1976).
The presence of groundwater changes seems to correlate with anomalous animal
behavior during the 3 months before the 1975 Haicheng, China, earthquake in an analysis
by Deng and Jiang (1981). From the geographical spacing and timing of the data within 150 km of the epicenter, there appears to be a clustering of the two types of anomalies,
with perhaps a slight lag in the animal behavior observations. Both the number of
groundwater changes and the reports of abnormal animal behavior began to increase
dramatically on the day of the first recorded foreshock, 3 days before the magnitude
7.3 earthquake (Deng and Jiang, 1981).
It is possible that groundwater changes of seismic origin could explain a few
observations of unusual behavior in animals with burrows or nests underground; for
example, snakes emerging from hibernation in midwinter and rats moving their dens
(Lee et al., 1976). However, these groundwater changes are often small, and it is therefore
difficult to predict how they could affect animal behavior. In addition, many of
the behavioral anomalies could also be caused by other stimuli, such as the presence
of odorous gases. Furthermore, changes in water level of non-seismic origin occur commonly
without affecting animal behavior. For these reasons, it seems unlikely that groundwater
changes could explain unusual animal behavior before earthquakes (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Earth Gases
Changing stress conditions which open tiny cracks in rocks before an earthquake
may change the release rate for gases trapped beneath the ground. Measurements of
radon concentration in soil gases and in groundwater provide the strongest evidence
that gases are released before earthquakes (Buskirk et al., 1981).
There are several difficulties with using radon anomalies to predict earthquakes.
Radon changes which accompany earthquakes cannot always be attributed solely to
changes in tectonic stress, because rainfall and seasonal climate changes also affect
radon levels, as shown in Fig. 20 (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Although radon is easily measured because of its radioactivity, other gases are
also released, such as hydrogen sulfide, ozone, and phosphorus. In Japan, the levels
of elements such as helium, argon, nitrogen, fluorine, iodine, mercury, and uranium
in groundwater were observed to change prior to earthquakes. Prior to the earthquake
in Haicheng, China, the precursory changes in the levels of dissolved nitrates, sulfates,
chloride, and fluoride in groundwater were reported (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Figure 20
Gaseous Odorants
Historical accounts from different parts of the world reported unusual smells
before earthquakes. Many of these events coincided with unusual animal behavior
(Moulton, 1980), often resembling animal responses to strange smells, such as dogs
barking and sniffing the air (Buskirk et al., 1981). Before the 1975 earthquake in Haicheng,
China, citizens in the epicentral area reported smelling unusual odors such as sulfides,
phosphorus, and ozone about a month or two before the earthquake. Just before the earthquake, there was a dense, stratified fog with a strange odor, and dogs were
seen sniffing and digging in the snow (Tributsch, 1982). These sulfurous odors are
most likely to include one or more of the following: hydrogen sulfide, carbon disulfide,
cobalt sulfide, sulfur dioxide, and dimethyl sulfide (Moulton, 1980). Tributsch (1982)
speculates that electrical phenomena before earthquakes may electrolyze groundwater
and create new chemical compounds which animals smell, but do not recognize, and
cause reactions of fear. This hypothesis may explain why non-seismic emissions of gases
from the earth (such as swamp methane) do not cause the same reactions from animals
who encounter the gases (Tributsch, 1982).
If we wish to examine the question of whether animals smell gases that leak out
of the ground before earthquakes and are alarmed by them, we must take note that
all living things except apes and most birds have a keener sense of smell than man,
as
Figure 21
shown in Fig. 21. Compared to humans, dogs have a sense of smell roughly one million
times more sensitive. Male silk moths are able to detect a single air-borne molecule
of pheromone (a sexual attractant) secreted by female moths over a range of 7 miles
(Tributsch, 1982). However, the measurement of olfactory thresholds is complex, and
it is difficult to compare different species quantitatively. Laboratory tests of
olfactory sensitivity on dogs were inconclusive, because naturally-occurring odorants
could not be used, as they made decontamination of the test chambers difficult (Buskirk
et al., 1981).
The behavior of fish prior to earthquakes is also consistent with known behavior
responses to olfactory stimuli observed in other circumstances. Eels, minnows, catfish,
and trout seem to have a sense of smell equal to or better than humans. Homing and orientation movements of salmon, eels, and bullhead catfish apparently require
chemical cues. Alarm behavior is triggered by chemicals released from the injured
skin of other fish, especially those of the same species. This fright behavior is
prevalent only in the Ostariophysini
species of fish which are mentioned most often in the anecdotes (Buskirk et al.,
1981). Deep sea fishes and bottom-dwelling fishes have been reported to behave strangely
before earthquakes (Moulton, 1980). Moulton (1980) believes that sulfides or other
odorants may be released into the seawater prior to earthquakes, especially if there
is a
fault zone or hydrothermal vent nearby. In quantitative terms, however, it is difficult
to compare the sense of smell in fish to that in land animals (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Given that most animals possess better olfactory sensitivities than humans, the
release of odorous gases before earthquakes seems to be a good candidate for some
behavioral anomalies in animals (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Table 6 (Buskirk et al., 1981) summarizes the data for geophysical precursors
and biological sensitivities of animals.
Table 6
CHAPTER 5
EARTHQUAKE PRECURSORS BEST DETECTED BY ANIMALS
Humans usually report animal behavior before earthquakes as being unusual only
if they themselves sense no precursory stimuli. In order to isolate the causes of
the animal behavior, it is therefore necessary to identify those precursory stimuli
which are detectable by animals, but not by humans. Among the geophysical precursors discussed
in the previous chapter, the most promising candidates include: (1) infrasound (audible
low-frequency sound of about 10 - 40 Hz) and ground vibrations, (2) electric field changes, (3) positively-charged aerosol particles, and (4) earthquake gases
smelled by animals. It must be noted that none of these stimuli alone can explain
all of the observed behavioral anomalies in animals (Buskirk et al., 1981; Tributsch,
1982). Also, Tributsch (1982) notes that not all geophysical stimuli cause the reaction
of fear in animals. Each of the four geophysical factors listed above will be discussed
and compared in an attempt to find which one(s) best explain abnormal animal behavior before earthquakes.
Audible Low-Frequency Sound/Ground Vibrations
Several quite diverse species, including birds, rodents, and fish, are known
to respond to sounds with frequencies of about 40 Hz and below that are 2 to more
orders of magnitude weaker than those detectable by humans. Animals can also detect
foreshocks about 2 Richter magnitudes smaller or correspondingly more distant than those
detectable by man (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Stierman (1980) and a team of seismologists from the California Institute of
Technology recorded two moderate (M = 4.9 and 5.2) earthquakes, followed by an earthquake
swarm, in the Mojave Desert in March of 1979. Their field observations noted that
many small earthquakes generated audible booming noises, which was accompanied by the
barking of dogs. Stierman noted that the dogs responded to virtually every booming
noise by a brief but vigorous sequence of barking about 4 to 10 seconds after the
shock (the dogs did not bark before the noise). In several cases, the dogs responded to
a seismic aftershock not felt or heard by the human observers, but was recorded by
their seismograph. Stierman speculated that the vibrations generated by small foreshocks would be misidentified as thunder by animals dwelling underground. If thunderstorms
typically signal spring rains in a region, for hibernating animals (snakes, frogs,
worms, etc.), seismic vibrations which mimic thunder could cause their untimely awakening (Stierman, 1980). Foreshocks are the most probable explanation for reports of
unusual animal behavior that occurs very far from the epicenter (Buskirk et al.,
1981). Many of the distant behavior reports concern fish, particularly in Japan
(Lee et al., 1976). The relatively low attenuation of sound waves propagating in water may allow
seismic waves from foreshocks to travel greater distances through water than through
air (Frohlich and Buskirk, 1980).
It has been shown in laboratory studies that sounds in the 100- to 5000- Hz range
are detected nearly as well by humans as by animals; therefore, it is unlikely that
seismic sounds caused by foreshocks in the mid-range frequencies can explain their
unusual behavior. Although many animals are much more sensitive than humans to high-frequency
sound above 5000 Hz, it is also known that higher frequency seismic sounds are easily
attenuated within a short distance from the earthquake hypocenter (Hill, 1976).
Depending upon the species, below a certain threshold frequency, low frequency
vibrations are no longer heard, but felt. For this reason, ground vibrations may
be overlapped with audible low frequency sounds and treated as more or less a single
geophysical precursor. Frequencies from about 50 Hz and below may collectively be called
infrasound. A number of animal species, including fish, snakes, birds, rodents,
and insects, are much more sensitive than humans to vibrations in the 10 - 100 Hz
frequency range. It is important to note that seismographs are most sensitive in the 0.1
- 10 Hz range, meaning that animals may respond to earthquake shocks having frequencies
from 10 - 100 Hz which are not recorded by seismographs. Although humans possess
the capability to feel seismic vibrations through the palms of their hands and the soles
of their feet, this requires close contact to the ground, which is an unnatural situation.
Also, humans rely mostly on eyesight, and tend to ignore vibrations sensed by animals, who use vibrations to find food or avoid predators (Buskirk et al., 1981).
The advantages of citing infrasound for explaining anomalous pre-quake animal
behavior are:
1. Infrasound is capable to travelling great distances without appreciable attenuation,
which explains abnormal animal behavior which occurs far from the earthquake epicenter.
2. It accounts for the anomalous behavior of underground and burrowing animals,
such as snakes and rats, who flee their hiding places often months before the earthquake
occurs.
3. It accounts for the anomalous behavior of fish and other sea creatures, who generally
are much more sensitive to low frequency vibrations, which propagate with greater
speed and intensity under water than in air (Frohlich and Buskirk, 1980).
Infrasound does not explain, however, the panic reactions of dogs, cats, and
other mammals that are not appreciably more sensitive than humans to low frequency
vibrations . Also, birds in the branches of trees are unlikely to feel the intensity
of seismic vibrations felt in the ground (Tributsch, 1982).
Electric Field Changes
Although many animals have been found to be quite sensitive to small changes
in electric fields, there is laboratory data on only a few species. What is currently
known about this area is that aquatic animals, such as sharks and some other fish,
are much more sensitive than land animals to electric field changes. However, electric
field changes before earthquakes have seldom been documented, and those were measured
only on land (Buskirk et al., 1981). According to Buskirk et al. (1981) it seems
unlikely from available data that animals can sense changes in electric fields before
earthquakes.
Positively-Charged Ions
The effects of positively-charged ions on animal physiology and behavior have
been well documented. An excess of airborne cations (positively-charged aerosols)
can cause general irritation and excitability in animals, evidenced by a measurable
increase in the body levels of serotonin (a powerful neurohormone affecting sleep, moods,
and the transmission of nerve impulses), which is known to cause such reactions (Tributsch,
1982). Tributsch (1982) favors this hypothesis for explaining abnormal animal behavior before earthquakes. The following observations and circumstantial evidence
are in favor of citing charged aerosols as the culprit for pre-quake animal behavior:
1. The unusual behavior of flying birds (who would not feel seismic vibrations as
intensely as ground-dwellers), and the abandonment of enclosed shelters (which hold
distressful concentrations of static charges) by animals such as cats may be explained
by electrostatic charging of the air.
2. Shortly before the 1976 earthquake epicentered in Friuli, Italy, Tributsch observed
an anomalous electrostatic phenomenon in a watchmaker's shop - the watchmaker was
unable to repair a watch because the small stainless steel parts kept jumping apart
from each other, implying that they had somehow acquired the same electrical charge
(like charges repel each other). The metal objects could only have acquired this
charge by charged aerosol particles expelled by the earth, as there was no sign of
inclement weather that day.
3. The frequent anecdotal reports of earthquake fog and earthquake lights (dating
back to the time of Aristotle) occurring under cloudless skies may be explained by
the electrostatic charging of aerosol particles. In China, earthquake fog and/or
earthquake lights are frequently reported along with abnormal animal behavior (Lee et al.,
1976).
4. Many qualitative similarities are found between animal behavior before earthquakes
and before storms; this suggests that there are common geophysical stimuli sensed
by animals. It is possible that animals could misinterpret charged aerosols of seismic origin for electrical changes prior to an impending storm. Although animals probably
have not evolved an actual "earthquake sense" because of the rarity of earthquakes,
their "storm sense" may sometimes serve the same purpose prior to earthquakes (Buskirk et al., 1981).
The major disadvantage with the charged aerosol hypothesis is the lack of hard
evidence. There are apparently no reliable observations proving that the level of
air ions change prior to an earthquake (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Earthquake Gases Smelled By Animals
It is quite possible that some unusual animal behavior occurs as a response to
the odor of gases released prior to the occurrence of an earthquake. The evidence
that gases are released before some earthquakes is convincing, although few quantitative
data are available for gases other than radon. If current studies suggesting the
presence of both long-term and short-term radon anomalies are correct, the release
of deep-earth gases could explain behavior anomalies of several weeks before the
event was well as several days before. Because of technical problems, it is quite difficult
to determine quantitatively the comparative threshold of sensitivity of animals to
various odorants. Nevertheless, the available information seems to confirm that
many species of animals are remarkably sensitive to particular odorants and that a few species,
such as dogs, seem to be more sensitive than humans for almost any olfactory stimulus.
Humans may also be culturally insensitive to strong odors (they tend to ignore smells which they are physically capable of detecting). In contrast, animals use their
keen sense of smell to find food, to avoid predators, and to communicate (Buskirk
et al., 1981).
CHAPTER 6
CONCLUSIONS REACHED BY RESEARCHERS
By far, the most important unanswered scientific question about unusual animal
behavior before earthquakes is, "Does it exist at all?" A typical report is made
after the event by an inexperienced, biased, and excited observer, and no attempt
is made to quantify what constitutes "normal" or baseline level animal behavior (Buskirk et
al., 1981). Other significant factors, such as the techniques of measurement or
interview (Lott et al., 1979) and weather changes (McClellan, 1980) are usually ignored.
Otis and Kautz (1980) designed a research program that continuously collects reports
of unusual animal behavior behavior, via a telephone hotline. Lindberg et al. (1981)
designed an outdoor animal monitoring facility that continuously collected data indicating the level of activity by the test animals (kangaroo rats and pocket mice). To
date, these studies have shown animal response to only small earthquakes, and there
seemed to be only slight differences in animal behavior before and after the earthquakes.
Another important question concerning the evaluation of unusual animal behavior
in laboratory studies is, "Why would animals react to a geophysical signal by exhibiting
unusual animal behavior, and how can they distinguish the signal from the enormous amount of background noise?" One possible explanation is provided by a number of
physiological studies of animals suggesting that an "alerting" stimulus makes the
central nervous system more responsive to a second stimulus. In other words, the
presence of one precursory change, such as the level of air ions, may make animals uneasy or
irritable, so that they are more likely to sense an alarm response to the sound or
vibration of a subsequent foreshock (Buskirk et al., 1981).
The variability in animal behavior reported from earthquake to earthquake and
from animal to animal has been considered an obstacle to explaining the biological
precursors. Instead, it should remind us that different geophysical mechanisms are
responsible for the phenomena. It is not possible to generalize about abnormal animal behavior
prior to earthquakes based upon the studies of a single animal species, nor from
geophysical data from a single geographical area (Frohlich and Buskirk, 1980).
Animals may behave "abnormally" as a result of misleading or insufficient sensory
information, misinterpretation of the available stimuli, or a combination thereof
(Kalmijin, 1980). Animals have evolved sensory systems, from very simple to very
complex, for detecting environmental energies, and it may be assumed that this evolution
is linked to their capacity to survive. It seems unlikely that animals have evolved
sensory systems for the purpose of detecting impending earthquakes, because it has
no evolutionary survival value. Earthquakes are simply too infrequent relative to the
life span of most animals and seldom catastrophic in terms of population sizes (Lindberg
et al., 1981). Animals do not "predict" earthquakes; they respond to sensory input. Humans may be able to predict earthquakes on the basis of animal responses (Verrillo,
1980). From the conclusions reached at the U.S.G.S. Conference on Abnormal Animal
Behavior Prior to Earthquakes in 1979, it is now clear that some animals are significantly better equipped than humans to sense almost any geophysical stimulus which may
precede an earthquake. There are many avenues for further research, including:
1. Acoustic waves and vibrations in the frequency range 10 - 50 Hz
: More measurements of animal behavior to sound both in air and under water are needed.
2. Electric field changes and air ion monitoring
: More measurements of electric fields are needed to compare terrestrial and aquatic
environments. Monitoring equipment for changes in air ion levels should also be
set up.
3. Earthquake gases other than radon
: Radon is the most often measured gas before earthquakes; however, radon is chemically
inert, and animals probably are insensitive to it. Methane, ozone, and sulfur compounds
are likely candidates for further monitoring of gases released prior to earthquakes.
4. Olfactory thresholds for odors
: Most of the data on animal sensitivities to natural odorants are not quantitative.
Quantitative data are necessary to test the effects of gaseous geochemical precursors
on animals.
5. Responses of common domestic animals
: Dogs, cows, horses, and chickens are the animals most commonly mentioned in the
anecdotes. Surprisingly, there have been few or no controlled studies of the sensitivities
of these animals to low-frequency sound, vibrations, electric fields (with the exception of dogs), and odorous gases (Buskirk et al., 1981).
The consensus of most Western researchers is that there is, as yet, no conclusive
scientific evidence for believing that abnormal animal behavior is in any way related
to the occurrence of earthquakes. There is, however, general agreement among scientists that a great many of the anecdotal accounts are entirely plausible in light
of what is known about animal sensory capabilities and the level of many seismic
precursors. The correlations between animal sensitivities and the measured levels
of geophysical precursors have provided geophysicists clues about what signals they should measure
to predict earthquakes (Buskirk et al., 1981).
Although the mechanisms behind the animals' responses to seismic precursors may
not be worked out for years to come, it is possible to use the existing information
towards aiding the efforts to predict earthquakes. For cultural and practical reasons, the Chinese have heeded observations of abnormal animal behavior for hundreds of
years, even though they now have a nationwide seismic monitoring network using the
latest measuring instruments. China has chosen to take anecdotal observations seriously,
even if they cannot be explained, because earthquakes have killed millions throughout
her history; false alarms are a small price and inconvenience to suffer if many lives
can be saved by warning people that an earthquake is imminent.
It is important for scientists to cast aside prejudices held by many skeptics
against using controversial but potentially useful information; abnormal animal behavior
constitutes the largest collection of earthquake information in existence (Tributsch, 1982). Since the Western world relies almost exclusively on instrumental measurements,
Stewart (1977) cited the advantages of using observations of abnormal animal behavior
as a complementary part of an interdisciplinary effort to successfully predict earthquakes. Existing Western techniques have the following limitations: (1) earthquakes
cannot be predicted where there are no instruments; (2) instrumental surveillance
of all possible seismic areas is too expensive; and (3) instruments cannot tell or
estimate when an earthquake will occur. Rikitake (1978) has concluded from his statistical
analysis of abnormal animal behavior that such behavior may sometimes be used as
an extremely short-term seismic precursor.
Ongoing research may reveal additional details about sensory capabilities and
geophysical parameters, but short of controlled observations of animals before a
major earthquake, there may never be a conclusive breakthrough that will be satisfactory
to the Western scientific establishment. The major advantage of the interdisciplinary
(biology, biophysics, geophysics, and even psychology) approach is that the weaknesses
of one discipline may be covered by the strengths of another. There is no reason
to believe that a combined approach toward predicting earthquakes, including the use
of data on abnormal animal behavior, would be impractical. The surge in interest
in abnormal animal behavior prior to earthquakes in the Western world was spurred
by the world's first successful short-term earthquake prediction (Haicheng, China) in 1975.
Perhaps successful results can best dictate which methods are practical or impractical.
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