Ionospheric and Meteorological Anomalies Associated with the Earthquake in Central Asia on 22 January 2024  
[PERSON]  
1 National Scientific Center for Seismological Observations and Research, Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan; guiba,[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (G.D.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)1  
[PERSON]  
1 National Scientific Center for Seismological Observations and Research, Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan; guiba,[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (G.D.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)1  
[PERSON]  
1 National Scientific Center for Seismological Observations and Research, Almaty 050060, Kazakhstan; guiba,[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (G.D.); [EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)1  
Footnote 1: email: {[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)1  
Footnote 2: email: {[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)1  
Footnote 3: email: {mdaurb  
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[EMAIL_ADDRESS] (A.S.)1  
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earthquake identified a common pattern in magnetic anomalies and seismicity [18]. The timeframe during which these anomalies typically occur is variable, manifesting anywhere from a few minutes to 30 days before a significant EQ. In particular, in [19], anomalies in ionospheric TEC observed approximately 40 min before the earthquake in North-East Japan were reported; Ref. [20] documented anomalies two days prior to the Cucapah event; Ref. [21] identified anomalies six to seven days before the Morocco EQ in September 2023; Ref. [22] statistically determined that more than 90% of earthquake-related TEC anomalies occur approximately seven days before the event; and Ref. [23] specified a 25-80 min anomaly window prior to EQs, depending on their magnitude. Statistically, ionospheric anomalies were found before some strong earthquakes, but no anomalies occurred before the others [24]. It still remains unclear why the precursor may disappear long before the event. The statistical analysis of the measurements of the European Space Agency's (ESA's) Swarm satellite constellation demonstrated that the ionosphere is indeed affected by EQs, and the rapid disturbance in electron density (Ne) is a form of seismic ionospheric response [6; 25; 26]. At the same time, it was noted that these disturbances are weak and often hidden among the background of general disturbances of the magnetospheric or thermospheric origin, such as atmospheric gravity waves and associated traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) [27], plasma bubbles [28], sporadic E-layers [29], ionospheric perturbations due to prompt penetration electric field at the middle latitudes [30], or large-scale irregularities originated in the high latitudes [31] and dependent on the solar wind-magnetosphere interaction. The severity of ionospheric variability, including the horizontal and vertical displacements of the plasma, increases with growing geomagnetic activity. The modeling results showed that to ensure the penetration of a sufficient part of the E-field to ionospheric heights, increased air conductivity is required [32; 33; 34]. With the appearance of free charges, a vertical electric current arises in the atmosphere. This is a general approach within the Global Electric Circuit (GEC) theory that can be applied to the coseismic E-field and its ionospheric and atmospheric effects [35]. Pre- and coseismic ionospheric effects are considered to be a result of the intensification of natural radioactivity near the Earth surface [36; 37]. Radioactive gases such as radon emanating from the crust provide additional charges accumulating on aerosols in the low troposphere. In the presence of large, heavy molecules, such as soil gases, dust, ash, metal particles, and other aerosols, free electrons quickly attach to them. Due to the slow recombination rate of the newly formed large charged particles, an increase in charge concentrations occurs. Charged aerosols lead to increased ionization of the air boundary layer, changes in the air's electrical conductivity, the generation of electric field perturbations, and their effective penetration into the ionosphere. The half-life time of Rn-222 is 3.8 days.