It has been documented for many centuries that earthquakes and other tectonic processes have hydrological effects. The magnitude and the spatial and temporal patterns of such signals recorded by scientific instruments in modern times have not always been straightforward to explain, and hence remain the subject of active research, especially those that might be precursors to earthquakes. This volume contains 9 papers that present new observations on earthquake-related hydrological, geochemical, and geophysical changes in Japan, Taiwan, Baja California in Mexico, and mostly China, one paper on laboratory rock-mechanics study, and a brief overview of Chinese research on earthquake prediction during the past 5 decades. Some of the observed changes occurred several days before earthquakes, and are explained with the consideration of heterogeneity of the earth's crust and earthquake-related slow-slip events, with earthquake forecasting as a possible application.

presents new observations on earthquake-related hydrological, geochemical, and geophysical changes includes a brief overview of Chinese research on earthquake prediction during the past 5 decades

Inhalt
Introduction.- Characteristics of a Sensitive Well Showing Pre-Earthquake Water-Level Changes.- Streamflow Changes in the Vicinity of Seismogenic Fault After the 1999 ChiChi Earthquake.- Anomalous Streamflow and Groundwater-Level Changes Before the 1999 M7.6 ChiChi Earthquake in Taiwan: Possible Mechanisms.- Preseismic Changes of Water Temperature in the Yushu Well, Western China.- Hydrological Changes Induced by Distant Earthquakes at the Lujiang Well in Anhui, China.- Quantitative Assessment of the Mechanisms of Earthquake-Induced Groundwater-Level Change in the MP Well, Three Gorges Area.- Analysis and interpretation of earthquake-related groundwater response and ground deformation: a case study of May 2006 seismic sequence in the Mexicali Valley, Baja California, Mexico.- Background Stress State Before the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake and the Dynamics of the Longmen Shan Thrust Belt.- Tectonically Induced Anomalies Without Large EarthquakeOccurrences.- Experimental Study of Thermal Field Evolution in the Short-Impending Stage Before Earthquakes.- Hydrogeological and Geochemical Observations for Earthquake Prediction Research in China: A Brief Overview.