The National Weather Service’s round-the-clock watch.
- As of today, SeisComP has officially been adopted as the primary system for earthquake monitoring and analysis by the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO).
- The SIL system, which has been in operation since 1991, is being phased out after serving three decades.
- SeisComP significantly enhances the IMO’s capacity to monitor seismic activity in real-time, facilitating reliable communication regarding natural hazards.
- While SeisComP is fine-tuned and historical data is being migrated, the SIL system will continue to function as a secondary protocol to ensure seamless continuity of earthquake records.
- An upgraded version of Skjálftalísa has replaced the previous iteration, now featuring a new data gateway that simplifies user access to earthquake data.
Today marks a pivotal moment for the Icelandic Meteorological Office as it formally commissioned SeisComP as its primary system for earthquake monitoring and analysis. This transition signals the end of an era for the SIL system, which has been a bedrock of earthquake monitoring in Iceland since the inception of digital, automated seismic measurements in 1991. At its launch, SIL was groundbreaking, showcasing innovations in automation and neural networks. The process of harmonizing data retroactively to February 1 is underway.
A Major Advancement in Earthquake Monitoring
The introduction of SeisComP represents a significant leap in the capabilities of the IMO’s earthquake monitoring framework. Years of preparation have culminated in this system transition, which encompasses both technical upgrades and procedural enhancements aimed at elevating analytical capabilities, data dissemination, and providing a more contemporary work environment for experts in the field.
“With SeisComP, we are bolstering the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s ability to detect and evaluate seismic activity in real-time. Such advancements are essential for public safety and ensuring effective communication regarding natural hazards.”
Kristin Jonsdóttir,
Head of the Department of Earth Sciences (volcanology, seismology, and crustal deformation), Service and Research Division, Icelandic Meteorological Office
New Skjálftalísa and Enhanced Data Access
In conjunction with the system transition, the Skjálftalísa web interface has undergone a significant upgrade. The new version boasts an expanded range of layers and advanced analytical tools.
As part of this transition, efforts are ongoing to channel the historical SIL earthquake catalogue into SeisComP, with corresponding updates to Skjálftalísa. Additionally, a new data gateway (Quakes API) is being rolled out, allowing users to engage with earthquake data more efficiently.
The newly revamped Skjálftalísa, now based on data from the SeisComP system, provides real-time seismic activity visualization along with analyses of earthquake depth, frequency, and temporal trends.
What Can Users Expect?
- The number of reviewed earthquakes may see a temporary decline as manual analysis aligns with previous standards.
- Minor adjustments in earthquake locations may occur due to differing processing methodologies between the systems.
- SeisComP has been fine-tuned to detect smaller earthquakes, rendering it more sensitive in specific regions.
- The new Skjálftalísa has now officially launched.
SeisComP – A Robust System with Deep Roots
SeisComP is the world’s most widely utilized earthquake monitoring system. The Icelandic Meteorological Office’s partners, including ÍSOR, the Swedish National Seismic Network (SNSN), and the Swiss Seismological Service (SED), have incorporated SeisComP into their operations and supported the IMO throughout this implementation journey.
This open-source system (AGPL) is developed and maintained in partnership with the software firm Gempa, which provides licensed extensions and services. One of SeisComP’s standout features is its capacity for integrating custom processing methods directly into the system. In recent years, the IMO has tailored specialized software modules to meet the distinct sensitivity demands of Iceland’s active seismic regions. The system integrates every aspect of workflow, from data acquisition and distribution to quality control and real-time analysis.
The Legacy of SIL – A Milestone in Icelandic Earthquake Research
The SIL earthquake monitoring system was inaugurated in 1991, coinciding with the shift towards digital and automated seismic measurements in Iceland. It was able to automatically detect micro-earthquakes down to a magnitude of M0, producing detailed data invaluable for research on earthquake forecasting and stress accumulation in the Earth’s crust.
The SIL’s development was spearheaded by seismologists across the Nordic countries, led by Ragnar Stefánsson, alongside notable contributors like Reynir Böðvarsson from Uppsala University and Ragnar Slunga from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI). This system was specifically crafted for the South Iceland Seismic Zone, lending it the acronym SIL, derived from “South Iceland Lowland.”
To fulfill its objectives, a dense network of seismic stations was established, devising processing methods to detect faint micro-seismic signals even amidst high environmental noise. The project proved tremendously successful; for a period, the SIL system ranked among the globe’s leading micro-earthquake detection and analysis frameworks.
The initial eight seismic stations were installed in South Iceland between 1989 and 1990, with automated processing commencing in late May 1991. The network has since undergone significant expansion, currently monitoring both the country’s plate boundaries and its volcanic systems, comprising roughly 100 stations.
In its formative years, the system logged between two and three thousand earthquakes annually. As the network grew, so too did its sensitivity, leading to an uptick in detected earthquakes, especially during seismic swarms, magma intrusions, and volcanic eruptions. To date, the SIL system has automatically recorded over 1.1 million earthquakes, approximately 780,000 of which have been assessed by specialists at the Icelandic Meteorological Office.
Example of earthquake recording in the SIL system, showcasing the manual picking of P- and S-waves. This cornerstone of earthquake monitoring in Iceland has shaped research for over three decades but is now transitioning to innovative technologies with SeisComP.
Looking Ahead
The deployment of SeisComP marks the dawn of the second phase of this project. Over the coming months, efforts will continue to enhance analytical capabilities, improve earthquake location accuracy, refine documentation, and upgrade the system’s user interface.
The Icelandic Meteorological Office extends its gratitude to all who have contributed to this remarkable transition.
