Seismological observatory activity

Basic research objectives

Research into natural seismicity on the territory of northern Moravia and Silesia

Long-term seismological observations on the territory of northern Moravia and Silesia proved the existence of natural seismic events (microearthquakes) in this region. However, the overall level of seismic activity can be estimated as low, especially as for their number, but also in regard of their intensity classification according to the magnitude scale. Another important source of regional seismicity comes from the mining activities in the Karvina area and the adjacent Polish coal regions. Seismic short-periodic stations operated on the territory of Moravia represent virtual network called MONET that is operated by Institute of Physics of the Earth, Masaryk University of Brno (IPE), and co-operated by the Institute of Geonics of the CAS, Ostrava (IGN). The basic, internal part of the MONET network in its current configuration consists of 10 stations in northern and central Moravia operated by IPE Brno, for the purposes of the CzechGeo/EPOS project, KLOK, STEB and ZLHC stations operated by IGN Ostrava are also assigned to this network.

On the territory, seismic stations of the Czech Regional Seismic Network are also operated. Institute of Geophysics of the CAS, Prague (IG) is administrator of this network.

The automation applied in the process of transmission of all available seismic data and evaluated results significantly contributes to the primary determination of earthquake foci almost in real time; arrival times of P- and S-waves and data describing position of microearthquake foci are part of regional seismic bulletin, which is being completed by the IG. Data from the seismic stations ZLHC and KLOK that is not directly included in the regional seismic bulletin is also processed and added with a certain delay. This data can serve for the refinement of already localized focal regions. The purpose of this virtual seismic network is completed the detection of weak microearthquakes, which are expected in the immediate vicinity of the known focal regions. At present, a mutual exchange of data observed at the seismic stations included into MONET is considered a purposeful approach. On this basis, it is possible to determine foci positions in the region under investigation more precisely by extending the data set.

Investigation of technical seismicity manifestations

A very important group of observed seismic events encompasses events denoted as technical seismicity. This group includes, first of all, events induced by mining and quarry blasts fired in quarries situated on the territory of northern Moravia and Silesia.

Mining induced events originate mainly in the Karvina area, but also in Polish coal mines near Katowice and Rybnik, as well as copper mines situated in the Legnice-Glogow region. Rockbursts and very intensive mining induced seismic events are also reliably detected by the stations of the Czech Regional Seismological Network. Events from the technical seismicity category, which are not included in the regional bulletin, represent a complementary source of information included into local bulletin of the stations operated by the IGN.

As for research objectives relating to the technical seismicity, observations of quarry blasts are considered very purposeful and useful. This has several reasons. First, the knowledge of a quarry position and the firing time of explosions makes the unambiguous discrimination between an explosion and a tectonic microearthquake easier. Second, the knowledge of the exact time of a quarry blast also enables to test and operate a precise current velocity model (see visualization and animation of a 3D regional velocity model) in order to check the accuracy of the quarry localization. Moreover, records from a quarry blast can be used in research of the properties of seismic waves generated by the explosion. Overall available information will, therefore, be continuously put into the local bulletin, which will serve for seismological data interpretation by other institutions. Similarly, information about mining induced seismic events enables to obtain new parameters of seismic characteristics of the area.

Seismic stations

Three-component short-period system
  • seismometer: LE-3D lite, T0 = 1 s
  • data acquisition: apparatus BRS32
  • continuous record, sampling frequency f = 250 Hz
  • data gathering approx. once a month

2007 - 2017
  • seismometers: SM-3, T0 = 2 s, D ≈ 0,7
  • data acquisition: apparatus PCM-EPC (IGN)
  • triggered registration, sampling frequency f = 100 Hz
  • GSM data transmission to the laboratory of IGN
  • data format ESSTF ½
Three-component short-period system
  • seismometers: Le3D/5s, T0 = 5 s
  • seismometers: Le3Dlite, T0 = 1 s (2010 - 16.5.2018)
  • data acquisition: apparatus GAIA Q
  • data acquisition: apparatus GAIA 3 (2010 - 16.5.2018)
  • continuous record
  • sampling frquency f = 100 Hz / 20 Hz
  • data record used flash
  • data gathering approx. once a month
  • data format MiniSEED
  • daily seismograms
Three-component short-period system
  • seismometers: Le3Dlite, T0 = 1 s, D ≈ 0,7
  • data acquisition: apparatus GAIA 3
  • continuous record, sampling frquency f = 100 Hz
  • data record used flash card 2x 1 GB
  • data gathering approx. once a month
  • data format MiniSEED

A part of the Czech Regional Seismological Network, operated in cooperation with IGF and VSB-TU.

Three-component broadband system
  • seismometers: Guralp CMG-3ESP, T0 = 30 s, D ≈ 0,7
  • data acquisition: Quanterra - Q 330s
  • data acquisition: EarthData+SeisComp (2003 - 2011)
  • continuous record, sampling frequency f = 20 Hz
  • data format MiniSEED

Three-component short-period system
  • seismometers: SM-3, T0 = 1,4 s, D ≈ 0,7
  • continuous record, sampling frequency f = 100 Hz
  • data format MiniSEED
  • on-line data transmission to IGF and to IGN
  • daily seismograms
Three-component short-period system
  • seismometers: S5S, T0 = 5 s, D ≈ 0,7
  • data acquisition: apparatus PCM-EPC (IGN)
  • triggered registration, sampling frequency f = 100 Hz
  • GSM data transmission to the laboratory of IGN
  • data format ESSTF ½

Local bulletin

 ZLHCSTEBKLOKOKC
202301 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 
20220102030405060708 09 10 11 12 01020304050607080910 11 12 01020304050607080910 11 12 01020304050607080910 11 12 
2021010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2020010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2019010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2018010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2017010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2016010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2015010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2014010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2013010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2012010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2011010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
201001020304050607080910111201 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
 ZLHCRADCKLOKOKC
2009010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2008010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112
2007010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112010203040506070809101112