The SWATH‐D Seismological Network in the Eastern Alps

Abstract

The SWATH‐D experiment involved the deployment of a dense temporary broadband seismic network in the Eastern Alps. Its primary purpose was enhanced seismic imaging of the crust and crust–mantle transition, as well as improved constraints on local event locations and focal mechanisms in a complex part of the Alpine orogen. The study region is a key area of the Alps, where European crust in the north is juxtaposed and partially interwoven with Adriatic crust in the south, and a significant jump in the Moho depth was observed by the 2002 TRANSALP north–south profile. Here, a flip in subduction polarity has been suggested to occur. This dense network encompasses 163 stations and complements the larger‐scale sparser AlpArray seismic network. The nominal station spacing in SWATH‐D is 15 km in a high alpine, yet densely populated and industrialized region. We present here the challenges resulting from operating a large broadband network under these conditions and summarize how we addressed them, including the way we planned, deployed, maintained, and operated the stations in the field. Finally, we present some recommendations based on our experiences.

Further Information
https://doi.org/10.1785/0220200377
BibTeX
@article{id2695,
  author = {Heit, Benjamin and Cristiano, Luigia and Haberland, Christian and Tilmann, Frederik and Pesaresi, Damiano and Jia, Yan and Hausmann, Helmut and Hemmleb, Susanne and Haxter, Martin and Zieke, Thomas and Jaeckl, Karl-Heinz and Schloemer, Antje and Weber, Michael},
  doi = {10.1785/0220200377},
  journal = {Seismological Research Letters},
  language = {en},
  title = {The SWATH-D Seismological Network in the Eastern Alps},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1785/0220200377},
  year = {2021},
}
EndNote
%O Journal Article
%A Heit, Benjamin
%A Cristiano, Luigia
%A Haberland, Christian
%A Tilmann, Frederik
%A Pesaresi, Damiano
%A Jia, Yan
%A Hausmann, Helmut
%A Hemmleb, Susanne
%A Haxter, Martin
%A Zieke, Thomas
%A Jaeckl, Karl‐Heinz
%A Schloemer, Antje
%A Weber, Michael
%R 10.1785/0220200377
%J Seismological Research Letters
%G en
%T The SWATH‐D Seismological Network in the Eastern Alps
%U https://doi.org/10.1785/0220200377
%D 2021