The Total Ozone Field Over The Seismically Active Zones In The Middle East Region In Late 2017

The total ozone anomalies in the lower stratosphere over the seismically active zones of Iraq and Iran at the end of 2017 were studied during the earthquake preparation, the main shock, and the aftershocks. The ozone anomalies are elongated and oriented approximately from west to east. Ozone contour lines were found to be considerably distorted over the peak zone on the day of the seismic event. The unstable TO field is likely to be caused by the disturbed geophysical environment in the seismically active regions of the Middle East, reflecting its response to emissions of gases through Earth's crust fractures in the lowest atmospheric layer.