Seismology
Why study this topic? The challenges
Humans and Earthquakes have coexisted since Man conceived himself. In the course of time, Earthquakes, this remarkable natural phenomenon, produced Myths and Deities, resulted in cessation of wars, overturned realms… This ‘fatal’ coexistence generated the need in Humans to better understand the characteristics of earthquakes, in order to better predict their behavior.
And while important steps have undoubtedly been made, the precise timing of earthquakes is still impossible to predict. During this effort, however, scientists have learned a lot and have now a better understanding on which main structures future earthquakes may be hosted, how big they may be and which are the physical conditions (and material properties) of the Earth’s interior that favor generation of earthquakes. Also, by instrumentally monitoring the earthquakes (in real time), we are now in a position to know whether an area experiences a period of elevated seismicity or seismic quiescence. By combining this information with data from historic and prehistoric earthquakes from Greece, we aim towards a more holistic approach that may allow us to better understand the recurrence of strong earthquakes in Greece.
Our key research activities
Seismicity
- Foreshock, mainshock and aftershock earthquake sequences
- Tracing microseismicity along selected seismic zones
- Seismic potential of active faults
- Seismic quiescence of Greece and the surrounding areas
- Triggered seismicity
- Earthquake rupture characterisation
- Moment tensors – characterisation of earthquake /seismic source parameters
- Spectral characteristics of foreshock, mainshock and aftershock activity
- Dynamic rupture analysis
Geophysical-seismological parameters
- Recognition of seismicity patterns
- Statistical analysis
- lgorithms for unifying different earthquake parameters/characteristics
- Assignment of microseismicity and/or historic earthquakes to known active faults
Research towards earthquake forecasting
- Seismic quiescence in Greece and surrounding areas
- Characterisation of seismic activity
- Magnetotellurics – Electromagnetic emissions
Our operational activities and services
- 24-hour monitoring of the seismic activity in Greece and real-time warning in case of a large earthquake
- Open access for the National Seismograph Network data
- Compilation and update of instrumental and historic seismicity maps
- Development of a portable seismic network to improve the monitoring of the seismic and volcanic activities in selected regions
- Seismic hazard analysis
- Record and analysis of strong motion data on behalf of Greek organizations (i.e. Attiko Metro, Public Electricity Company, etc)
- Staff training
- Advisory role (e.g., our team serves as the emergency control center of the Public Natural Gas Company in case of earthquake activity proximal to National Gas Pipeline infrastructure).