Publication Date:
2023-02-03
Description:
The Near Fault Observatories (NFOs) community is one of the European Plate Observing System
(EPOS, http://www.epos-eu.org) Thematic Communities, today consisting of six research infrastructures
that operate in regions characterised by high seismic hazard originating from different
tectonic regimes.
Earthquakes respond to complex natural systems whose mechanical properties evolve over time.
Thus, in order to understand the multi-scale, physical/chemical processes responsible for the faulting
that earthquakes occur on, it is required to consider phenomena that intersect different research
fields, i.e., to put in place multidisciplinary monitoring. Hence, NFOs are grounded on modern and
multidisciplinary infrastructures, collecting near fault high resolution raw data that allows generation
of innovative scientific products.
The NFOs usually complement regional backbone networks with a higher density distribution of
seismic, geodetic, geochemical and other geophysical sensors, at surface and sometimes below
grade. These dense and modern networks of multi-parametric sensors are sited at and around active
faults, where moderate to large earthquakes have occurred in the past and are expected in the future.
They continuously monitor the underlying Earth instability processes over a broad time interval.
Data collected at each NFO results in an exceptionally high degree of knowledge of the geometry and
parameters characterizing the local geological faults and their deformation pattern. The novel data
produced by the NFO community is aggregated in EPOS and is made available to a diverse set of stakeholders
through the NFO Federated Specific Data Gateway (FRIDGE). In the broader domain of the
Solid Earth sciences, NFOs meet the growing expectations of the learning and communication sectors
by hosting a large variety of scientific information about earthquakes as a natural phenomenon and a societal issue. It represents the EPOS concept and objective of aggregating and harmonising the
European research infrastructures capabilities to facilitate broader scientific opportunity.
The NFOs are at the cutting edge of network monitoring. They conduct multidisciplinary experiments
for testing multi-sensor stations, as well as realise robust and ultra-low latency, transmission
systems that can routinely accommodate temporary monitoring densification. The effort to
continuously upgrade the technological efficiency of monitoring systems positions the NFO at the
centre of marketing opportunities for the European enterprises devoted to new sensor technology.
The NFOs constitute ideal test beds for generating expertise on data integration, creating tools for
the next generation of multidisciplinary research, routine data analysis and data visualization. In
particular focus is often on near-real time tools and triggering alarms at different levels are tested
and implemented, strengthening the cooperation with the Agencies for risk management. NFOs have
developed innovative operational actions such as the Testing Centre for Earthquake Early Warning
and Source Characterisation (CREW) and detailed fast ground shaking and damage characterization.
Complementing the recent growth of modern laboratory and computational models, the NFOs can
provide interdisciplinary observations of comparable high resolution to describe the behaviour
of fault slip over a vast range of spatial and temporal scales and aiding to provide more accurate
earthquake hazard characterizations.
Description:
Published
Description:
DM316
Description:
1IT. Reti di monitoraggio e sorveglianza
Description:
JCR Journal
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
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