Abstract: By using the meteorological satellite NOAA/AV HRR thermal infrared remote sensing data from the northern China (37~42°N, 113~119°E) one month before the Zhangbei earthquake, the authors extracted the thermal infrared temperature anomaly, studied the process and features of its temporal and spatial variation, and made a preliminary discussion on the relationship between the earthquake and the thermal infrared temperature anomaly. The results show that distinguishable thermal infrared temperature anomaly occurred along the Zhangjiakou-Bohai Sea fault zone 13 days before the earthquake. The anomaly is strip in shape and accords with the NW-striking geological tectonics; the process of its variation can be approximately divided into three stages: initialization, stable increase and acceleration. The thermal infrared temperature anomaly is used as a n impending precursor and implies the probability of the occurrence of a strong earthquake.

Key words: Remote sensing, Impending precursor, Thermal infrared temperature anomaly, Zhangbei earthquake