# Atmospheric Charge Separation Mechanism Due to Gas Release from the Crust before an Earthquake
## 5 Conclusions  
Based on some fundamental assumptions and physical formulas, we have simulated the process involving the generation of a large number of positive and negative ions by radioactive gases before an earthquake. The simulation results suggest that, under ideal conditions, positive and negative ions can be separated due to the combined influence of gravity, atmospheric electrostatic force, thermal driving force and air resistance. This separation could lead to the formation of a negative anomaly in the near-surface atmospheric electric field. However, it is important to note that these are merely idealized simulation results, indicating only a possibility. Further in-depth research is required to validate these findings.  
Our simulation results could be used to better understand the ionization of crustal matter into the atmosphere, the vertical migration of charged particles and ultimately the formation of vertical electrical separation in air, resulting in an additional vertical polarization electric field. This could lay the foundation for the analysis of mechanics. Finally, it was observed that under the combined action of atmospheric static electricity, gravity, air resistance and upward thermal pressure, seed ions are provided by ionizing radiation of radioactive substances before an EQ. In addition to the different types and weights of positively and negatively charged particles, it is entirely possible for new positive and negative ions to undergo electrical separation in several minutes.  
Figure 6: A reverse electrostatic field appears after atmospheric charges are separated due to gases stemming from the crust before an earthquake [25]. (“+”, ”—” indicate positive and negative charges).  
Based on the assumption that horizontal direction movement is neglected, the rapid separation mechanism of a pair of differently charged particles with different masses in the air depends on four forces: atmospheric formal vertical downward quasi-stable electrostatic force, vertical downward gravity force, air drag force (reverse to the direction of ion movement) and thermal convection (vertical upward thermal pressure) force F. It could be logically concluded that after charges are separated, a corresponding macroscopic polarized electrostatic field is rapidly established in the atmosphere. The resultant polarized electrostatic field is oriented toward the sky and exhibits the opposite direction to that of the daily atmospheric electrostatic field (vertical downward, as shown in Figure 4). This phenomenon is particularly obvious under fair weather conditions. Therefore, the charge separation mechanism could facilitate future EQ prediction.  
[PERSON] conceptualized this study. [PERSON] and [PERSON] processed and analyzed the model and prepared the original draft, with contributions from all authors. [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON], [PERSON] and [PERSON] contributed to the discussion. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research was funded by the Scientific Instrument Developing Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. YJKYYQ20190008), the National Key R&D Programme of China under grants 2018 YFA0404201 and 2018 YFA0404202, the Strategic Pioneer Program on Space Science, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos. XDA15016300, XDA15350201, and XDA17010303), the Pandeng Program of the National Space Science Center, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ground-Based Space Environment Monitoring Network (Meridian Project II).  
Not applicable.  
The source code used in the model can be found on the github site: [[https://github.com/leibupang123/particlemove](https://github.com/leibupang123/particlemove)]([https://github.com/leibupang123/particlemove](https://github.com/leibupang123/particlemove)) (accessed on 27 December 2023).  
The authors have no financial interest to disclose.