Analyzing Aerosol Lidar Signal Variation as a Possible Local Seismic Activity Indicator

We report the results of an almost year-long lidar monitoring of crustal aerosol emanation in a tunnel of the Baksan Neutrino Observatory of the Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences (BNO INR) located in the Neutrino village in Kabardino-Balkaria. Cross-spectra analysis has demonstrated that at least 40% of the lidar signal energy is defined by meteorological parameter variations, namely, atmospheric pressure (represented in the barometric pumping effect) and air humidity. We demonstrate that lunar components of lunar-solar tides are present in the lidar signal (M2 and O1 waves) and these components do not coincide with meteorological parameter variation periods. This fact signifies that there is a tectonic component in the lidar-measured crustal aerosol variation signal. The totality of data shows the prospects of using lidar crustal aerosol monitoring for assessing local seismic activity level.