Temporary dense seismic network during the 2016 Central Italy seismic emergency for microzonation studies

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Seismology
• Earthquake Science

Background:

• A significant seismic sequence, including a M6.0 mainshock and subsequent M5.9 and M6.5 events, struck Central Italy in August 2016.
• In response, four Italian institutions established a temporary seismic network comprising 50 stations within a 260 km² area.

Purpose of the Study:

• To archive and make publicly accessible the continuous seismic data and associated metadata from the 2016 Central Italy earthquake sequence.
• To facilitate diverse seismological studies by providing a comprehensive dataset.

Main Methods:

• Deployment of a dense temporary seismic network (50 stations, code 3A) following the mainshock.
• Data processing, including conversion to miniSEED format, quality control, and metadata generation.
• Archiving of 99 GB of continuous seismic data and metadata in the European Integrated Data Archive (EIDA).

Main Results:

• Successful registration of the temporary network with the International Federation of Digital Seismograph Networks (FDSN).
• Creation of a structured data archive with checked data quality and completeness.
• Public release of seismic data and metadata after an embargo period.

Conclusions:

• The collected seismic data and metadata provide a valuable resource for understanding the 2016 Central Italy seismic sequence.
• Open data access promotes further research and enhances seismological knowledge.
• The collaborative effort highlights the importance of data sharing in earthquake studies.