Solar Activity, Space Weather, and Earthquakes

As long ago as 1853 Rudolf Wolf, a world-known astronomer suggested that enhanced solar activity might have an impact upon Earth seismicity. Wider studies of the effects, which the processes on the Sun and in the near-Earth space have upon the terrestrial crust and seismicity, began about 50–60 years ago. It was then, when the development of instruments made it possible to obtain a great volume of data that is essential for such a research. In last years many studies appeared, both in Russia (the USSR) and other countries. This surge of interest may be explained by the fact that the new results may help us to make better forecast of rising seismicity, to study the impact of various factors upon it, to understand solar-terrestrial relations better. But the published results are often discrepant. The problem of the initial cause and physical mechanism, underlying the influence of solar activity on the Earth’s seismicity, is still a matter for discussion. Here we present some new results obtained during the studies of the effect of magnetic storms and other factors, connected with enhanced solar activity, upon Earth’s seismicity.

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