The identification of a seismo-ionospheric phenomenon based on Swarm satellite data

In order to explore the identification of the seismo-ionospheric phenomena based on the data from several satellites, the electron density data and magnetic field data observed by three satellites in the Swarm constellation were used to analyse the ionospheric disturbances 9 days before the Iran M_W7.3 earthquake occurred on November 12, 2017. The spatial range of the abnormal disturbance was judged by analysis of the adjacent orbits data. The possible spatial propagation characteristics of the disturbances were calculated through the time and space difference of three satellites orbits of Swarm constellation. The electromagnetic radiation characteristics are determined by using synchronous magnetic field observation data. Finally, according to the current knowledge of seismo-ionospheric coupling and combining with the analysis results, we can come to this conclusion that the ionospheric disturbance was neither acoustic gravity wave （AGW） caused by seismic activity, nor the traveling ionospheric disturbance （TID） of the ionosphere, nor the disturbance caused by electromagnetic radiation, but a disturbance caused by strong high latitude ionospheric activity which is unrelated to the seismic activity.