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Department of geophysics

Research workers
  • Prof. RNDr. Zdenek Kalab, CSc.
    head of the department
  • Ing. Hana Dolezalova, Ph.D.
    deputy head of the department
  • RNDr. Karel Holub, DrSc.
  • Ing. Jaromir Knejzlik, CSc.
  • Ing. Radovan Kukutsch, Ph.D.
  • Prof. Ing. Karel Muller, DrSc.
  • Ing. Zdenek Rambousky
  • Ing. Martin Stolarik
Technical staff
  • Anna Dombkova
  • Jaroslav Makovsky
  • Jana Rusajova
  • Vendula Stasova
PhD students
  • Ing. Marketa Lednicka

Main research topics

Study of select physical fields and their manifestations in rock massif and observatory activity.

  • Interpretation and modeling of seismicity in Karviná region

    Main aim is to explore by experiments and calculations the dynamic behavior of technological struc-tures and buildings that are under nonstationary dynamic loads by technical seismicity, especially by seismicity induced by mining activities in the Karvina region. Measurements at solitaire permanent stations are performed and also some short-term measurements were realized. Surface geodetic measurements for study of sinking effects during initial periods of underground mining are realized and new methods for joint interpretation of geodetic and geophysical data are developed. Two PhD thesis have this topic.

  • Study of seismic regime in northern part of the Moravo-Silesian Region

    First studies of given region were initiated in 1997. Monitoring of regional seismic activity, establishment of solitaire stations, identification of records and detailed interpretation of seismic events are basic activities. Obtained data is used also for study of velocity field of seismic waves on region under study and for determination of character of surface waves. Interpretation of data are performed in cooperation with Institute of Physics of the Earth (IPE), Masaryk University Brno, operation of station Ostrava-Krasne Pole (part of national network) in co-operation with Geophysical Institute of ASCR, Prague and VSB – Technical University of Ostrava.

  • Development of measurement methods and interpretation methodologies

    This topic results from joint theme with prof. Lyubushin from Institute of Physics of the Earth, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (e.g. using of wavelet transform for seismological studies) and also exploitation of historical mine as natural laboratory for research of new methodology for geomechanical measurements.

Other activities of the department are development of special instrumentation for geophysical measurements, measurements and interpretation of technical seismicity, and operation and interpretation of the geodetic and geophysical measurement for shallow depths.

Important scientific achievements

  • Wavelet decomposition of wave patterns of seismic events

    Partial aims are using of wavelet transform for signal filtrations, determination of optimal wavelet base (according minimum of optimum entropy) and optimal levels for packet decomposition. Spatial mapping to plan of the absolute values of wavelet coefficients is used for concise presentation of the decomposed signal in time-frequency domain. This analysis is used for frequency and time interval of significant peaks. Obtained results are tested for type analysis of data set.

  • Seismicity of northern part of the Moravo-Silesian Region

    Natural seismicity is since 1993 very low; in year 2006 only five weak earthquakes were recorded. In region under discussion, seismic manifestations generated by mining induced seismicity in Upper Silesian Coal Basin (both Karviná and Polish parts), Legnica-Głogow Copper District and Lubin Copper Basin are detected. For example, rockbursts from Karvina basin originated in September and October 2006 had local magnitude 2.2 and 1.6 respectively. About 1000 microearthquakes with maximum local magnitude up to 1.9 are recorded in cooperation with the Institute of Physics of the Earth (IPE), Masaryk University Brno are during last decade.

    Using refracted measurements, 1-D shallow velocity model of was firstly elaborated for this region; typical characteristic is low velocities in shallow depths (vP < 4.5 km/s) and significant increasing of velocity up to depth 1 km (vP ~ 5.8 km/s).

  • Stability study of medieval Mine Jeroným

    Distributed control and measurement system for measurement of seismic load, changes of level of mine water, developing of failures in rock massif, changes of underground spaces (deformation of spaces) and changes of stress tensor in rock massif is gradually built in medieval tin mine. Single-board PC of seismic apparatus is used as base of control system. Transmission via GSM network enables to control system and also to transfer measured data to operative system at the Institute of Geonics. This system provides data for study of stability of mine spaces, in which new museum is planed.

Activities in 2007

New Knowledge and Measurements in Seismology, Engineering Geophysics and Geotechnics OVA'07, 16th regional conference of seismologists, engineering geophysicist and geotechnical engineers with international participation.

Solution of partial topic of Research Programme of the AS CR, projects of Czech Grant Foundation, research task of Czech Mining Bureau and partial tasks for field (2007).

Joint scientific laboratory with Department of geotechnics and underground engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, topic Measurement and analysis of technical seismicity.

Solution of joint theme (consequential third themes) in frame of cooperation of Russian and Czech Academies named Analysis of geophysical data using modern mathematic methods (2006-2008).

Selected publications
  • D. Capova, Z. Kalab: GIS Project to Monitor Induced Seismic Activity in Areas of Abandoned Underground Mines. Publs. Inst. Geophys. Pol. Acad. Sc., M-24(340), 2002, 121-129.
  • N. Castova, D. Horak, Z. Kalab: Description of Seismic Events using Wavelet Transform. International Journal of Wavelets, Multiresolution and Information Processing, Vol. 4, No. 3(2006), ©World Scientific Publishing Company, 405-414.
  • H. Dolezalova, K. Muller, P. Blaha: Analysis of Geodetic Surveying on the Margin of Subsidence Depression. Zeszyty naukove Politechniki Ślaskiej, Ser. Gornictwo z.273, Nr 1736, 2006, Gliwice, 103-112.
  • K. Holub, Z. Kalab, J. Knejzlik, J. Rusajova: Frenstat Seismic Network and Its Contribution to Observations of the Natural and Induced Seismicity on the Territory of Northern Moravia and Silesia, Acta Geodyn. Geomater., Vol. 1 (133), Prague, 2004, 59-71.
  • K. Holub: Rock mass response to the decline in underground coal mining. J. Min. Science, Vol. 42, No.1, 2006, 15-26.
  • K. Holub, J. Knejzlik, B. Ruzek, J. Rusajova, O. Novotny: Some Features of Seismic Waves Observed in the Territory of Moravia and Silesia. Acta Geodyn. Geomater., Vol. 3, No. 3 (143), 2006, 97-107.
  • K. Holub, J. Malek, O. Novotny, J. Rusajova, J. Valenta: Mean vertically inhomogeneous models of the uppermost crust along seismic profiles in the Ohre rift and Moravo-Silesian region. In: Transactions of the VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Civil Engineering Series, 2, Vol. VI, 2006, 125-131.
  • K. Holub: A study of mining-induced seismicity in Czech coal mines with long-wall coal exploitation. J. Min. Science, Vol. 43, No. 1, 2007, 37-44.
  • P. Hradil, Z. Kalab, J. Knejzlik, R. Korinek, V. Salajka, V. Kanicky, V. (2007): Response of Panel Building to Mining Induced Seismicity in Karvina Area (Czech Republic). Tectonophysics, 2007.
  • E. Hrubesova, Z. Kalab: Example of Modeling of the Mining Induced Seismicity Impact on the Building Using Numerical System Plaxis. In: Konecny, Pa. (ed): EUROCK 2005 – Impact of Human Activity on the Geological Environment, A.A.Balkema Publisher, Leiden, 2005, 213-218.
  • Z. Kalab, J. Knejzlik, R. Korinek, P. Zurek: Cultural Monument Jeronym Mine, Czech Republic – Contribution to the Geomechanical Stability Assessment. Publs. Inst. Geophys. Pol. Acad. Sc., M-29(395), Warszawa, 2006, 137-146.
  • Z. Kalab: Measurements of Seismic Vibrations Induced by Quarry Blasts at the Mostecka Basin. Zeszyty Naukowe Politechniki Śląskiej, Ser. Gornictwo z.271, Nr. 1715, Gliwice, 2006, 49-58.
  • J. Knejzlik, Z. Kalab: Seismic Recording Apparatus PCM3-EPC. Publs. Inst. Geophys. Pol. Acad. Sc., M-24(340), 2002, 187-194.
  • M. Lednicka, B. Lunackova, Z. Kalab, E. Hrubesova, R. Korinek: Contribution to Evaluation of Technical Seismicity Effect on Buildings - Case Study, Earth Sciences Research Journal (formerly Geofisica Colombiana), Vol. 10, No. 1, 2006, 7-14.
  • A.A. Lyubushin Jr., Z. Kalab, N. Castova: Application of Wavelet Analysis to the Automatic Classification of Three-Component Seismic Records. Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth, Vol.40, No.7, 2004, 587-593.
  • V. Schenk, Z. Kalab, R. Grygar, K. Holub, J. Jelinek, J. Knejzlik, P. Kottnauer, Z. Schenkova: Fundamental Mobility Trends in the Northern Part of the Moravo-Silesian Zone (the Bohemian Massif) - A Complex Geodynamic Analysis. Acta Research Reports, No. 13, Prague, 2004, 75-90.