Studies of the electromagnetic field variations in ELF frequency range registered by DEMETER over the Sichuan region prior to the 12 May 2008 earthquake

International audienceAnalysis of the low frequency fluctuations of the magnetic and electric fields prior to a strong earthquake of magnitude 8.0 on 12 May 2008 in Sichuan Province is given. We analyse the disturbances of the ionospheric electromagnetic field prior to the earthquake starting 2 weeks before this event, but detailed analysis is given for 6 and 9 May, 6 and 3 days prior to the earthquake, when the observed effects were strongest. Special attention is given to the characteristics of the spectra of these variations and the search for nonlinear effects. This analysis is possible in the time intervals when the extra low frequency (ELF) waveform was transmitted. Although the mechanism of energy transmission from the earthquake preparation zone to the ionosphere is not determined, it can be said that the ionospheric plasma is an unstable medium and that even a small perturbation can lead to variations in the electromagnetic field and plasma parameters. Some attempts at this discussion are given in the paper. The observations by Detection of Electro-Magnetic Emissions Transmitted from Earthquake Regions (DEMETER) and discussed in this paper suggest the presence of plasma turbulence over the area above the Wenchuan Earthquake on 12 May 2008. The characteristics of the observed disturbances are studied with wavelet and bispectral analysis, tools which are more relevant for analysing plasma turbulence