Objective
To develop, build and test the prototype of a compact broad band
magnetotelluric/audiomagnetotelluric system with special characteristics designed for
application in earthquake prediction research; subsequently to detect temporal changes of
magnetotelluric parameters in the seismogenic zone of the crust by continuously monitoring
the natural electric and magnetic field variations in all three components, respectively. It is
expected to contribute to clarifying the relationship of observed anomalous variations to the
occurence of earthquakes, to earthquake activity patterns and to the local and regional
tectonic structure, in order to identify their importance for earthquake prediction.
A compact broad band magnetotelluric/audiomagnetotelluric system
is to be developed, which includes online data analysis, and
allows for continuous high data rate recording without
maintenance over a period of one month.
Continuous recording in the field will be carried out in three
regions : Central Greece, the central Apennines in Italy, and the
North Anatolian Fault Zone in north-west Turkey. Two types of
instruments will be used. One type developed within EPOCH will
be run in all three areas in order to investigate unknown
anomalies in the natural electric and magnetic field variations
at low frequencies down to DC. The other type will be a new
development for earthquake prediction research in order to extend
the observable frequency range up to 1000 Hz, and in particular
to investigate changes of the conductivity structure in the earth
crust as an indication for an earthquake preparation process. It
will be applied in Greece and Turkey.
Three prospection campaigns are planned for the above mentioned
areas in order to study the local conductivity structure of the
Earth's crust, and, thus, provide information necessary for
selecting favourable sites for continuous recordings. An
additional field campaign will be organised for testing and
further developing a new technique of measuring the vertical
component of electric field variations.
Data analysis and scientific interpretation includes the
inversion of the magnetotelluric data of the prospection
campaigns for studying the conductivity structure in the vicinity
of the most favourable sites. It should also reach a definite
conclusion on the conditions under which the new
"vertical-component-technique" can be introduced successfully.
The analysis and interpretation of the continuous recordings in
the three different areas is supposed to detect possible
earthquake precursory phenomena, and will be based on a
multiparameter approach that compares the results of broad band
magnetotellurics with interdisciplinary data sets of other kind.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contracts
Coordinator
14473 Potsdam
Germany
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Participants (3)
95101 Argenteuil
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67010 Assergi
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15784 Zographos, Athens
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