At https://phys.org/news/2026-02-ionospheric-disturbances-earthquakes.html … researchers in Japan, at Kyoto University, are exploring the idea that disturbances in the ionosphere, associated with CMEs, may exert electrostatic forces within Earth’s rocky crust. Potentially, they may contribute to the initialisation of large earthquakes under specific conditions. Earthquakes are quite common in the vicinity of Japan so it is natural that all avenues be explored. The study involves a theoretical idea on how charge separation in the ionosphere caused by intense solar activity, such as solar flares, could interact with fragile structures in Earth’s crust. Fault lines, for example. Further, fracture zones in the crust seem to behave like capacitors – in an electrical sense.
At https://phys.org/news/2026-02-tibet-tectonic-clash-satellite-view.html … in this story, it seems, fault lines are far weaker than scientists thought.