In the last decade, the real time ground–based geomagnetic observations realized in correlation with the Vrancea seismicity in Romania, together with supplementary studies related to some earthquakes (Mw9.0 Tohoku, Japan on 11 March 2011 and Mw8.3 Coquimbo, Chile on 16 September 2015), enlarged our knowledge about the relationship between the pre-seismic anomalous phenomena and the final stage of the earthquake nucleation. To identify possible ultra-low-frequency (ULF) geomagnetic signals prior to the onset of an Mw8.1 earthquake, we retroactively analyzed the data collected on the interval 1 August–16 September 2017 at the Geomagnetic Observatories in Teoloyucan (TEO), Mexico and Tucson (TUC) USA, with the last taken as a reference. Daily mean distributions of the polarization parameter BPOL (geomagnetic polarization parameter) and standard deviation are obtained for both observatories using a fast Fourier transform (FFT) band-pass filtering in the ULF range (0.001–0.083 Hz). Further on, we investigated the singularity of the pre-seismic signal associated with an Mw8.1 earthquake and applied a statistical analysis based on a standardized random variable equation; results are presented as BPOL* time series on the interval 1–26 September. Finally, the hourly mean distribution, obtained as difference BPOL (TUC-TEO) on the interval 7–9 September emphasizes an anomalous signal with five hours before the onset of the Mw8.1 earthquake.

To emphasize the relationship between the pre-seismic geomagnetic signals and Vrancea seismicity, in this work it is hypothesized that before an earthquake initiation, the high stress reached into seismogenic volume generates dehydration of the rocks and fracturing processes followed by release of electric charges along the faulting systems, which lead to resistivity changes. These changes were explored on September 2016 by the normalized function Bzn obtained from the geomagnetic data recorded in ULF range (0.001–0.0083 Hz). A statistical analysis was also performed to discriminate on the new Bzn* time series a pre-seismic signature related to the Mw5.7 earthquake. Significant anomalous behavior of Bzn* was identified on September 21, with 3 days prior to the onset of the seismic event. Similar information is provided by registrations of the magnetic and electron concentration variations in the ionosphere over the Vrancea zone, by Swarm satellites, 4 days and 1 day before the earthquake.

A very strong earthquake of magnitude Mw8.2 struck the coastal zone of Alaska (USA), on 29 July 2021. This earthquake was felt around the Gulf of Alaska, on a wide offshore area belonging to USA and Canada. In order to identify an anomalous geomagnetic signal before the onset of this earthquake, we retrospectively analyze the data collected on the interval 17 June–31 July 2021, via internet, at the two geomagnetic observatories, College (CMO)—Alaska and Newport (NEW)—USA, by using the polarization parameter (BPOL) and the strain effect related to geomagnetic signal identification. Thus, for both observation sites (CMO and NEW), the daily mean distribution of the BPOL and its standard deviation (STDEV) are carried out using an FFT band-pass filtering in the ULF range (0.001–0.0083 Hz). Further on, a statistical analysis based on a standardized random variable equation is applied to emphasize the following: (a) the anomalous signature related to Mw8.2 earthquake on the both time series BPOL*(CMO) and BPOL*(NEW); (b) the differentiation of the transient local anomalies associated with Mw8.2 earthquake from the internal and external parts of the geomagnetic field, taking the NEW observatory as reference. Finally, on the BPOL*(NEW-CMO) time series, carried out on the interval 7–31 July 2021, a very clear anomaly of maximum, greater than 1.2 STDEV, was detected on 22 July, with 7 days before the onset of the Mw8.2 earthquake.

An earthquake of Mw6.4 hit the coastal zone of Albania on 26 November 2019, at 02:54:11 UTC. It was intensively felt at about 34 km away, in Tirana City, where damages and lives lost occurred. To emphasize a pre-seismic geomagnetic signature before the onset of this earthquake, the data collected on the interval 15 October–30 November 2019, at the Panagjurishte (PAG)-Bulgaria and Surlari (SUA)-Romania observatories were analyzed. Further on, for geomagnetic signal identification we used the polarization parameter (BPOL) which is time invariant in non-seismic conditions and it becomes unstable due to the strain effect related to the Mw6.4earthquake. Consequently, BPOL time series and its standard deviations are performed for the both sites using ultra low frequency (ULF)-fast Fourier transform (FFT) band-pass filtering. A statistical analysis, based on a standardized random variable equation, was applied to emphasize on the BPOL* (PAG) and ABS BPOL* (PAG) time series the anomalous signal’s singularity and, to differentiate the transient local anomalies due to the Mw6.4 earthquake, from the internal and external parts of the geomagnetic field, taken PAG observatory as reference. Finally, the ABS BPOL* (PAG-SUA) time series were obtained on the interval 1–30 November 2019, where a geomagnetic signature greater than 2.0, was detected on 23 November and the lead time was 3 days before the onset of the Mw6.4earthquake.

In this paper we used the geomagnetic data, collected in real time on the intervals August- September and November-December, 2016, to emphasize possible relationships between the anomalous behavior of the normalized function Bzn and the both M5.7 and M5.6 earthquakes, generated at 72 km and, respectively 71 km depth, in the seismic active Vrancea zone on September 24 and December 28, 2016. Daily mean distributions of the Bzn and its standard deviation (SD) are obtained for the both time-intervals, in the ULF frequency range 0.001Hz - 0.0083Hz, by using the FFT band-pass filtering. We investigate the singularities of the pre-seismic anomalous signals related to the M5.7 and M5.6 earthquakes applying a statistical analysis based on a standardized random variable equation, and the results are presented as Bz* time series performed on the new time intervals 1-30 September and 1-31 December, 2016. Finally, two pre-seismic anomalous signals are observed: first one on September 21, with values greater than 5 SD, what means a lead time of 3 days before the onset of M5.7 earthquake; the second one, with values larger than 4 SD, which was identified on December 21 with 7 days prior to M5.6earhquake. In conclusion, as the work-station has specific programs for data processing, analyses and real time (daily) data display on the institute website, it may be used as an early warning system able to provide useful information for resilience improvement against the Vrancea intermediate depth seismicity.

A catastrophic earthquake of magnitude Mw6.4 generated at 10km depth hit coastal zone of Albania on November 26-th 2019, at 2h54min UTC. The earthquake was intensively felt at about 34km far, in Tirana City, where a lot of damages have occurred. Consequently, in order to identify the anomalous geomagnetic signature before the onset of this earthquake, we retrospectively analyzed the data collected on the interval October 15–November 30, 2019 at the two geomagnetic observatories: Panagjurishte (PAG)-Bulgaria and Surlari (SUA)-Romania, the last one taken as reference. The pre-seismic geomagnetic anomalous signal is postulated to be due to the electrical conductivity changes, most probably associated with the earthquake-induced tectonic stress, followed by rupture and electrochemical processes deployed along the Adria plate subduction zone. To identify a pre-seismic geomagnetic signal related to this earthquake we used: (i) polarization parameter BPOL which should be time invariant in non-seismic condition and it becomes unstable before the onset a seismic event; (ii) Strain effect-related to the anomalous geomagnetic signals identification. Thus, the daily mean distributions of the BPOL and its standard deviations (SD) are performed for the both observation site (PAG and SUA) by using the FFT band-pass filter analysis in the ULF range (0.001Hz - 0.0083Hz). Further on, a statistical analysis based on a standardized random variable equation was applied for the two particular cases: a) the assessment of the singularity for anomalous signal, related to the Mw6.4earthquake, observed on the daily mean distributions of the BPOL*(PAG) and BPOL*(SUA); b) the differentiation of the transient local anomalies associated with Mw6.4earthquake from the internal and external parts of the geomagnetic field, taking Geomagnetic Observatory (SUA) as reference, and the result is presented as daily mean distribution of the BPOL*(PAG-SUA). Finally, on the BPOL*(PAG-SUA) time series, carried out on the interval 1-30 November 2019, a very clear anomaly of maximum greater than 2.5 SD was detected on November 22, what means a lead time of 4 days before the onset of Mw6.4earthquake. In consequence, all mentioned results could offer opportunities to develop new tools for early detection of geomagnetic anomalies related to major seismic events.