Microseismicity induced during fluid-injection: A case study from the geothermal site at Groß Schönebeck,North German Basin

The technical feasibility of geothermal power production in a low enthalpy environment will be investigated in the geothermal site at Groß Schönebeck, North German Basin, where a borehole doublet was completed in 2007. In order to complete the Enhanced Geothermal System, three massive hydraulic stimulations were performed. A seismic network was deployed including a single 3-component downhole seismic sensor at only 500 m distance to the injection point. Injection rates reached up to 9 m³/min and the maximum injection well-head pressure was as high as ～60 MPa. A total of 80 very small (?1.8 < M _W < ?1.0) induced seismic events were detected. The hypocenters were determined for 29 events. The events show a strong spatial and temporal clustering and a maximum seismicity rate of 22 events per day. Spectral parameters were estimated from the downhole seismometer and related to those from other types of induced seismicity. The majority of events occurred towards the end of stimulation phases indicating a similar behavior as observed at similar treatments in crystalline environments but in our case at a smaller level of seismic activity and at lower magnitudes.     

Seismic Event Identification of Earthquakes and Explosions in Germany Using Spectral Lg Ratios

v—vAt the German NDC initial work on seismic event identification has focused on the application of spectral amplitude ratios for Lg in order to discriminate naturally occurring seismic events from other events associated with mining and quarry activities. Only about 10% of all seismic events occurring in Germany and adjacent areas are due to natural seismicity and are mostly constrained to the Alpine regions and areas along the Rhinegraben, Rhenish massif, Swabian Jura, and the Bohemian massif (Vogtland region). Using data from the broadband GRSN network, spectral amplitude ratios are calculated from maximum trace amplitudes in the 1–2uHz and 6–8uHz frequency bands, which are within the passbands of the deployed STS-2 instruments and the recorded 20uHz data streams. These amplitude ratios then must be corrected with an appropriate attenuation model in order to remove propagation paths effects. For event identification, a scoring scheme is applied across the GRSN network, based on station-dependent scoring thresholds. In a case study aimed at testing the identification scheme, events are investigated from a quarry in southern Germany that provided ground-truth information for six events in 1997 to demonstrate the suitability of this identification approach. Except for one event with a rather strong earthquake signature, i.e., a low spectral Lg ratio, these events could be screened out from the earthquake population by their large Lg ratios. In a second step, aimed at applying the identification scheme, all events in Germany and neighboring areas that occurred in 1995 were processed, with approximately 800 out of more than 1200 events showing explosion-type Lg ratios, while only 10% remain in the earthquake population. However, specific mining areas appear to consistently produce earthquake-type spectral ratios indicative of particular blasting practices.     

Seismic activation of tectonic stresses by mining

Hard coal mining in the area of the Bytom Syncline (Upper Silesia Coal Basin, Poland) has been associated with the occurrence of high-energy seismic events (up to 10⁹ J; local magnitude up to 4.0), which have been recorded by the local mining seismological network and regional seismological network. It has been noticed that the strongest seismic events occur when the mine longwall alignments coincide with the syncline axis. Data recorded by the improved local seismic network in the Bobrek Mine allow the estimation of the depths of the events’ hypocentres during excavation of longwall panel 3 as it approached the syncline axis. The recorded data were also used to estimate the location of the rupture surface and stress distribution in the seismic focus region. It was concluded that tectonic stresses, particularly horizontal stress components, are essential in the distribution of seismic tremors resulting from reverse faulting. The stresses induced by mining activity are only triggering tectonic deformations. The hypocentres of the strongest seismic events during mining of longwall panel 3/503 were located 300–800 m deeper than the level of coal seam 503.     

Changes in the Frequency-Energy Distribution of Seismic Events During Mining in the Ostrava-Karviná Coal Field

The relation between the number of seismic events N and their magnitude and/or energetic magnitude is one of the basic relations in the statistics of earthquakes and mining-induced events. A detailed analysis of the b-values in the relation log N =a–b logE for the induced seismic events occurring in the Ostrava-Karviná Coal Basin is given in this paper. The least-squares method, as well as the maximum likelihood method were applied in solving this problem mathematically. Based on the results of frequency-energy distribution analysis, it was proved that the variations of b-values in space and time do exist, and that these values are inversely proportional to the level of induced seismicity influenced by the various mining activities being carried out in-situ. This statement could, in general, be supported by the fact that lower b-values correspond to higher seismic activity, while higher b-values correspond to low and moderate seismic activity.     

腾冲火山区地震事件(LP,VT,VE)的识别研究

利用腾冲流动数字台网资料，用多种方法对腾冲火山区的地震事件进行识别研究，认为腾冲火山区记录到的地震事件按波形主要分为两类：P波最大振幅明显大于S波及Lg波最大振幅的事件；P波最大振幅小于S波及Lg波最大振幅的事件。其中P波最大振幅明显大于S波及Lg波最大振幅的事件是火山地震的可能性较大。根据多个事件频谱随时间变化扫描图中的频谱特征，认为目前这个地区未记录到长周期事件；但流动台网记录到几组振幅较小，频率较高，振动持续时间双腾冲地震事件的持续时间（一般为6－7s)明显长，达20余秒的颤动事件，波形与Tremor事件曲型图有相似之外，这几个事件是否是Tremor事件，值得深入研究。     

A Temporary Network For Seismological Monitoring In West-Saxony: First Results

Since December 1997 a network of 10 autonomously recording digital seismic stations operates in W-Saxony to monitor microseismic activity generated by tectonic movements in the Gera-Jáchymov fault zone and induced by the flooding of the uranium mining area near Aue. Further goals to be followed with these data are the in situ verification of engineering seismological parameters and the study of the transmission properties of seismic waves across the Gera-Jáchymov fault zone to improve seismic risk evaluation. So far 19 tectonic and more than 50 induced events have been located and source parameters have been determined. Event clusters near Zwickau and within the Aue mining area could be spatially resolved with a master event technique. The cluster near Zwickau occured on a common fault plane striking parallel to the Gera-Jáchymov fault zone and dipping at an angle of about 60° towards ENE. The induced events near Aue occured within a volume of approximately 5 km ³ . The majority of these events were located in the granite body underneath the mining area. Fault plane solutions show a variety of focal mechanisms with no clear relation to the regional stress field.     

2007年宁洱6.4级地震研究

根据云南宁洱地区地质构造、 历史强震资料、 云南监测中心区域台及现场流动台数字化观测台网测定的2007年宁洱6.4级地震序列资料及1970年以来宁洱地区6级地震序列等, 深入分析研究了宁洱地区中强地震活动规律、 宁洱6.4级地震的余震时空展布以及参数变化等特征, 并利用2007年宁洱6.4级地震地震现场数字化观测流动台测定的余震波资料研究了该序列地震波动力学特征。 研究结果认为, 宁洱6级地震活动在空间上具有较高的原地重复性, 在时间上具有强弱交替活动的韵律; 2007年6月3日宁洱6.4级地震的余震展布方向与穿过震区NW向宁洱断裂的走向大致一致, 宁洱6.4级地震可能是由无量山断裂活动构造加剧所引起;根据2007年6月3日宁洱6.4级地震序列及历次宁洱6级地震序列时序发展特征分析研究得出, 宁洱6.4级地震序列能量主要集中在震后3天内释放, 4.9级以上余震发生在主震当天, 地震序列早期参数和3.0级以上余震的垂直方向P波最大振幅与S波最大振幅非线性关系等显示, 宁洱6.4级地震序列具有较明显的主-余震型特征。     

Rushan earthquake swarm in eastern China and its indications of fluid-triggered rupture

An extraordinary earthquake swarm occurred at Rushan on the Jiaodong Peninsula from October 1, 2013, onwards, and more than 12,000 aftershocks had been detected by December 31, 2015. All the activities of the whole swarm were recorded at the nearest station, RSH, which is located about 12 km from the epicenter. We examine the statistical characteristics of the Rushan swarm in this paper using RSH station data to assess the arrival time difference, \(t_{{{\text{S}} \,-\, {\text{P}}}}\), of Pg and Sg phases. A temporary network comprising 18 seismometers was set up on May 6, 2014, within the area of the epicenter; based on the data from this network and use of the double difference method, we determine precise hypocenter locations. As the distribution of relocated sources reveals migration of seismic activity, we applied the mean-shift cluster method to perform clustering analysis on relocated catalogs. The results of this study show that there were at least 16 clusters of seismic activities between May 6, 2014, and June 30, 2014, and that each was characterized by a hypocenter spreading process. We estimated the hydraulic diffusivity, D, of each cluster using envelope curve fitting; the results show that D values range between 1.2 and 3.5 m²/d and that approximate values for clusters on the edge of the source area are lower than those within the central area. We utilize an epidemic-type aftershock sequence (ETAS) model to separate external triggered events from self-excited aftershocks within the Rushan swarm. The estimated parameters for this model suggest that α = 1.156, equivalent to sequences induced by fluid-injection, and that the forcing rate (μ) implies just 0.15 events per day. These estimates indicate that around 3% of the events within the swarm were externally triggered. The fact that variation in μ is synchronous with swarm activity implies that pulses in fluid pressure likely drove this series of earthquakes.     

Space-time variations of the frequency-energy relation for mining-induced seismicity in the Ostrava-Karviná mining district

The values of parameters of the relation logN=a–b logE characterize in general the level of seismicity of individual regions. In the present paper, a detailed analysis ofb values of the frequency-energy distributions was carried out with the aid of a database of seismic events recorded by the seismological networks in the Ostrava-Karviná Coal Mine District (Czech Republic), using the least squares regression and maximum likelihood method, as well. The determination ofb value was performed for a relatively large number of regions investigated and for different time series of observations. Special attention has been paid to induced seismic events statistics for the vicinity of one of the coalfaces in the Lazy Mine. It could be generally stated that lowerb values correspond to a higher level of induced seismic activity, while the higher ones correspond to a low and a moderate seismic activity.     

The pattern of diurnal periodicity of weak earthquakes in Iran

The catalogue of earthquakes recorded in Iran during 2006–2010 by a dense network of digital telemetric seismic stations is analyzed. The spectrum of the time series of these earthquakes contains a sharp maximum at 24 h. The corresponding curve of diurnal periodicity constructed by the superposed epoch method has a clear double-peak maximum near noon(11 a.m.-5 p.m. local time), which exceeds the level of seismic activity observed during the rest time of the day by a factor of 3-3.5. In the same time interval, the average hourly magnitudes of seismic events sharply drop from M = 2.15 to M = 1.95. The ratio of the normalized number of earthquakes in the daytime to those at other times of the day, which was determined within a moving window half a square degree in size, has seven distinct compact spatially isolated maxima whose magnitudes attain several dozens to a hundred units. These maxima are probably caused by industrial activity, such as road building and quarry explosions. We also note the presence of the weekend effect when the daytime maximum in the weekly curve of diurnal variations in seismic activity almost completely disappears on Friday, which is the weekend in Muslim countries. At the same time, elimination of the supposed noise component from the catalogue by the approved technique changes nothing for the daytime maximum in the daily pattern of earthquakes in Iran. In order to account for this inconsistency, we suggest invoking additional information on the technogenic seismicity and considering weak earthquakes induced by quarry explosions and vibrations of industrial machines, in particular, power units of numerous hydroelectric power stations distributed over the territory of Iran.     

Coal Mining Induced Seismicity in the Ruhr Area, Germany

Over the last 25 years mining-induced seismicity in the Ruhr area has continuously been monitored by the Ruhr-University Bochum. About 1,000 seismic events with local magnitudes between 0.7 ≤ M _L ≤ 3.3 are located every year. For example, 1,336 events were located in 2006. General characteristics of induced seismicity in the entire Ruhr area are spatial and temporal correlation with mining activity and a nearly constant energy release per unit time. This suggests that induced stresses are released rapidly by many small events. The magnitude–frequency distribution follows a Gutenberg–Richter relation which is a result from combining distributions of single longwalls that themselves show large variability. A high b-value of about 2 was found indicating a lack of large magnitude events. Local analyses of single longwalls indicate that various factors such as local geology and mine layout lead to significant differences in seismicity. Stress redistribution acts very locally since differences on a small scale of some hundreds of meters are observed. A regional relation between seismic moment M ₀ and local magnitude M _L was derived. The magnitude–frequency distribution of a single longwall in Hamm was studied in detail and shows a maximum at M _L = 1.4 corresponding to an estimated characteristic source area of about 2,200 m². Sandstone layers in the hanging or foot wall of the active longwall might fail in these characteristic events. Source mechanisms can mostly be explained by shear failure of two different types above and below the longwall. Fault plane solutions of typical events are consistent with steeply dipping fracture planes parallel to the longwall face and nearly vertical dislocation in direction towards the goaf. We also derive an empirical relation for the decay of ground velocity with epicenter distance and compare maximum observed ground velocity to local magnitude. This is of considerable public interest because about 30 events larger than M _L ≥ 1.2 are felt each month by people living in the mining regions. Our relations, for example, indicate that an event in Hamm with a peak ground velocity of 6 mm/s which corresponds to a local magnitude M _L between 1.7 and 2.3 is likely to be felt within about 2.3 km radius from the event.     

Classification of seismic events using linear discriminant function (LDF) in the Sakarya region,Turkey

The Sakarya prefecture is an interesting area with various seismicity types. This activity comes from earthquakes occurring at the North Anatolian Fault Zone and from a few quarry blast areas in the region. These quarry blast recordings produce errors in the determination of active faults and mapping of the microearthquake activity. Therefore, to recognize the tectonic activity in the region, we need to be able to discriminate between earthquakes and quarry blasts in the catalogues. In this study, a statistical analysis method (linear discriminant function) has been applied to classify seismic events occurring in the Sakarya region. We used 110 seismic events that were recorded by Sakarya University Seismic Station between 2012 and 2014. Time and frequency variant parameters, maximum S wave and maximum P wave amplitude ratio (S/P), the spectral ratio (Sr), maximum frequency (f_max), and total signal duration of the waveform were used for discrimination analyses. The maximum frequency (f_max) versus time duration of the seismic signal gives a higher classification percentage (94%) than the other discriminants. At the end of this study, 41 out of 110 events (44%) are determined as quarry blasts, and 62 (56%) are considered as earthquakes.     

New insights into the 1999 eruption of Shishaldin volcano,Alaska, based on acoustic data

Data collected by a pressure sensor provide new insights into the 1999 eruption of Shishaldin volcano, Unimak Island, Alaska. On 19 April 1999, after 3 months of unrest and an extended period of low-level Strombolian activity, Shishaldin experienced a Subplinian eruption (ash plume to >16 km), followed by several episodes of strong Strombolian explosions. Acoustic data from the pressure sensor allow us to investigate the details of an eruption which was instrumentally well recorded, but with few visual observations. In the 12 h prior to the Subplinian phase, the pressure sensor detected a series of small, repeated pulses with a constant spectral peak at 2–3 Hz. The amplitude and occurrence rate of the pulses both grew such that the signal became a nearly continuous hum just before the Subplinian eruption. This humming signal may represent gas release from rising magma. The main Subplinian phase was heralded by (1) the abrupt end of the humming signal, (2) several pulses of low-frequency sound interpreted as ash bursts, and (3) a dramatic increase in seismic tremor amplitude. The change in acoustic signature at this time allows us to precisely time the start of the Subplinian eruption, previously approximated as the time of strongest tremor increase. The 50-min Subplinian phase actually contained several bursts of signal, each of which may represent a discrete volume of magma passing through the system. Following the Subplinian event, the pressure sensor recorded four discrete episodes of Strombolian gas explosions on 19–20 April and another on 22–23 April. Four of the five episodes were accompanied by strong seismic tremor; the fifth has not been previously recognized and was not associated with anomalous tremor amplitudes. In time series these events are similar to explosions recorded at other volcanoes but in general they are much larger, with maximum amplitudes of >65 Pa at 6.5 km from the vent, and they have low (0.7–1.5 Hz) peak frequencies. These large explosions occurred at rates of 3–20 per minute for 1–5 h in each episode. The explosions were accompanied by a small (<5 km above sea level) ash plume and only minor amounts of ejecta were produced. Thus, the explosion activity was dominated by gas release.     

Investigation of mining-induced earthquakes in Iran within a time window of 2006–2013

Iran is one of the most seismically active areas of the world and frequently suffers from destructive earthquakes. Rare studies on anthropogenic-induced seismicity in Iran may be related to less attention to triggered events and more concern to natural origin of earthquakes. Hence, the present study as a frontier research aims to investigate the mining-induced earthquakes in Iran. For this purpose, distribution of ~?76,000 seismic events was investigated between the years 2006 and 2013. This study considered a correlation test to investigate the possible mining triggering of the seismic events based on a network of 194 geographical pixels (1°?×?1°) in ArcGIS. Results conveniently confirmed a positive meaningful relation between all earthquake events with magnitudes M?>?0.5 and mining activities in Iran (R?=?0.42). Detailed results confirmed that the most of earthquake swarms (at least ~?60%) had mining-induced origin, which were spatially located in same pixels of metallic mineral mining sites. The correlation test between earthquake swarms and mining activities indicated positive and meaningful relationships in four regions of Alborz, Kopet Dag, Kerman, and Zagros, respectively (R?=?0.61, 0.54, 0.51, and 0.50). Hence, aforementioned seismic regions exposed sensitive seismic responses toward mining triggering effects in Iran.     

Seismic Monitoring of Poland–Description and Results of Temporary Seismic Project with Mobile Seismic Network

The paper describes a temporary seismic project aimed at developing the national database of natural seismic activity for seismic hazard assessment, officially called “Monitoring of Seismic Hazard of Territory of Poland” (MSHTP). Due to low seismicity of Poland, the project was focused on events of magnitude range 1–3 in selected regions in order to maximize the chance of recording any natural event. The project used mobile seismic stations and was divided into two stages.Five-year measurements brought over one hundred natural seismic events of magnitudes M_L range 0.5–3.8. Most of them were located in the Podhale region in the Carpathians. Together with previously recorded events this made it possible to conduct a preliminary study on ground motion prediction equation for this region. Only one natural event, of magnitude M_L = 3.8, was recorded outside the Carpathians in a surprising location in central-west Poland.     

Periodicity of Mining and Induced Seismicity in the Mayrau Mine,Czech Republic

Mine excavation in deep black-coal Mayrau Mine, Czech Rep., has a pronounced 7-day periodicity due to the absence of mining during weekend days. Also seismicity induced by mining exhibits some features of the 7-day period. It was found that the number of events generally depends on the intensity of mining, while the analogous dependences of mean energy per event and the total energy per day are weaker. Selective analysis showed that total extent of exploitation has more influences on the seismicity than coining of drifts. The statistical parameters of seismicity (b-value) do not change in accordance with the day of the week.     

Acceleration Time Histories for a Scenario Earthquake in Moscow at Sites with Different Soil Conditions

According to general seismic zoning maps, Moscow is in an area with a seismic intensity of 5, in which the maximum seismic effect is expected from remote deep-focal earthquakes in the Vrancea zone (Eastern Carpathians, Romania). In our previous studies, an earthquake with a hypocenter at a depth of 80–150 km in the Vrancea zone, a moment magnitude of M_w = 8.0, and a drop in stress of Δσ = 325 bar was used as a scenario earthquake for Moscow. A series of model acceleration time histories for ground vibrations was calculated for this earthquake for the reference local conditions of the Moskva seismic station (Moscow, Pyzhevskii per. 3). In this paper, these acceleration time histories are used to calculate the acceleration time histories and estimate the ground vibration parameters for an scenario earthquake at other sites on the territory of Moscow for which information on soil conditions is available. Since the epicentral distance is large (~1300 km), it can be assumed that changes in the shape and spectral content of the acceleration time histories at different sites in Moscow are only caused by different local conditions.     

Seismic hazard assessment in the megacity of Blida (Algeria) and its surrounding regions using parametric-historic procedure

The region of Blida is characterized by a relatively high seismic activity, pointed especially during the past two centuries. Indeed, it experienced a significant number of destructive earthquakes such as the earthquakes of March 2, 1825 and January 2, 1867, with intensity of X and IX, respectively. This study aims to investigate potential seismic hazard in Blida city and its surrounding regions. For this purpose, a typical seismic catalog was compiled using historical macroseismic events that occurred over a period of a few hundred years, and the recent instrumental seismicity dating back to 1900. The parametric-historic procedure introduced by Kijko and Graham (1998, 1999) was applied to assess seismic hazard in the study region. It is adapted to deal with incomplete catalogs and does not use any subjective delineation of active seismic zones. Because of the lack of recorded strong motion data, three ground prediction models have been considered, as they seem the most adapted to the seismicity of the study region. Results are presented as peak ground acceleration (PGA) seismic hazard maps, showing expected peak accelerations with 10% probability of exceedance in 50-year period. As the most significant result, hot spot regions with high PGA values are mapped. For example, a PGA of 0.44 g has been found in a small geographical area centered on Blida city.     

Regularities in the time variations of seismic parameters and their implications for prediction of strong earthquakes in Greece

Time variations in the parameters of seismic activity in two regions in Greece, which are known to have different geodynamical conditions, are analyzed using the FastBEE algorithm suggested in (Papadopoulos and Baskoutas, 2009). The study is based on the data on weak earthquakes that occurred in two local regions. One region pertains to the zone dominated by intensive compression stress field, while another is located in the region of a relatively lower intensity extension stress field. It is shown that in the zone of compression the seismic parameters exhibit anomalous temporal behavior before strong earthquakes with Ms ≥ 5.7, whereas in the zones of extension, similar anomalies precede earthquakes with lower magnitudes of up to Ms ≥ 4.9. The most informative parameters for the purposes of predicting strong seismic events are the released seismic energy in the form logE ^2/3 and the slope of the frequency-magnitude dependence, b-value. The seismic activity in the region, expressed in terms of the logarithmic number of earthquakes, per unit time in some cases does not exhibit any particular pattern of behavior before strong earthquakes. In the time series of the studied parameters, four stages in the seismic process are clearly distinguished before strong earthquakes. Typically, a strong earthquake has a low probability to occur within the first two stages. Instead, this probability arises at stage III and attains its maximum at the end of this stage coinciding with the occurrence of the strong earthquake. We suggest these features of the time series to be used for the assessment of seismic hazard and for the real-time prediction of strong earthquakes. The time variations in the b-value are found to be correlated with the time variations inlogE ^2/3. This correlation is closely approximated by the power-law function. The parameters of this function depend on the geodynamical features of the region and characterize the intensity and the type of the regional tectonic stresses. The results of our study show that the FastBEE algorithm can be successfully applied for monitoring seismic hazard and predicting strong earthquakes.     

Ground motion simulations for seismic stations in southern and eastern Romania and seismic hazard assessment

This research focuses on the evaluation of soil conditions for seismic stations in southern and eastern Romania, their influence on stochastic finite-fault simulations, and the impact of using them on the seismic hazard assessment. First, the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (HVSR) are evaluated using ground motions recorded in 32 seismic stations during small magnitude (M _W  ≤ 6.0) Vrancea seismic events. Most of the seismic stations situated in the southern part of Romania exhibit multiple HVSR peaks over a broad period range. However, only the seismic stations in the eastern-most part of Romania have clear short-period predominant periods. Subsequently, stochastic finite-fault simulations are performed in order to evaluate the influence of the soil conditions on the ground motion amplitudes. The analyses show that the earthquake magnitude has a larger influence on the computed ground motion amplitudes for the short- and medium-period range, while the longer-period spectral ordinates tend to be influenced more by the soil conditions. Next, the impact of the previously evaluated soil conditions on the seismic hazard results for Romania is also investigated. The results reveal a significant impact of the soil conditions on the seismic hazard levels, especially for the sites characterized by long-period amplifications (sites situated mostly in southern Romania), and a less significant influence in the case of sites which have clear short predominant periods.