Earthquake monitoring and seismic hazard mitigation in Balkan countries: proceedings of the NATO advanced research workshop on earthquake monitoring and seismic hazard mitigation in Balkan countries, 11-18 september 2005, Borovetz, Bulgaria

Seismology is rated the Queen of Earth Sciences due to its ability to provide detailed structural information bearing on the Earth interior and on-going dynamic processes. This is due to the advanced theoretical foundation of seismology and the extensive cooperation among seismologists on recording and disseminating of data worldwide. In contrast, some 40 years ago seismology was a backward science and hence funding was poor. This abruptly changed with the political interest in seismology as the principal tool for monitoring compliance with a potential Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban treaty (CTBT) banning nuclear testing in any environment. Major countries like USA, UK and USSR launched large-scale research programs including deployment of modern seismograph stations and arrays and these developments are detailed in the book for CTBTO (UN), IRIS (USA), MedNet (Italy), Geofon (Germany) and the tiny Karelia network, NW Russia. Station and network operations require near real time record analysis and topics dealt with here are 2-D signal detector, epicenter location and earthquake monitoring. Balkan is seismically the most active part of Europe due to multiple plate interactions in the Aegean Sea. The tectonic evolution and on-going geodynamic deformations are described in 2 articles. Earthquake hazard analysis and topographic site effects are discussed and likewise large earthquake hazards in the Aegean and the Marmara seas relate to practical applications of such procedures. Foremost; the book gives a good account of past, present and likely future seismological developments in Balkan countries and various kinds of network operations on local to global scales. Contents......Page 6 Foreword......Page 9 List of Sponsors, Scientific Directors, Organizing Committees......Page 12 List of Participants......Page 13 Part I: Tectonic Framework and Geodynamics of the South Balkan Region......Page 17 Patterns of Cenozoic Extensional Tectonism in the South Balkan Extensional System......Page 18 Crustal Motion and Strain Accumulation in the South Balkan Region Inferred from GPS Measurements......Page 34 Part II: Seismicity Studies in the South Balkan Region......Page 59 Recent Devastating Earthquakes in Turkey and Active Tectonics of the Aegean and Marmara Seas......Page 60 Estimates of Stress Drop and High Frequency Diminution Parameter from Strong Motion Data Recorded in Albania......Page 69 Seismicity of Croatia......Page 92 Seismicity of the Pannonian Basin......Page 110 Part III: Seismic Network Operations on Global, Regional and National Scales......Page 122 The CTBTO International Monitoring System and Global Seismicity......Page 123 The IRIS Consortium: Community Based Facilities and Data Management for Seismology......Page 131 The Mediterranean Broad Band Seismographic Network Anno 2005/06......Page 143 GEOFON and its Role in Earthquake Monitoring and Tsunami Warning......Page 160 The Karelian Regional Seismic Network in NW Russia......Page 172 Part IV: Seismic Network Operations, Event Location and 2-D Signal Detection......Page 178 Cossack Ranger II – A High Quality, Versatile and Affordable 3-Component Short-Period Seismograph......Page 179 A 2-D Seismic Signal Detector for Stand Alone 3-Component stations......Page 196 Accurate Location of Seismic Sources With and Without Travel Time Model......Page 204 Earthworm Auto-Earthquake Location Performance and Recent Improvements in Seismic Data Acquisition, Processing, Archiving and Dissemination at Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute......Page 224 Part V: Seismic Hazard Analysis and Assessment......Page 241 Data Driven Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment Procedure for Regions with Uncertain Seimogenic Zones......Page 242 Seismicity and Seismic Hazard Assessment in Greece......Page 257 Are Rock Avalanches and Landslides Due to Large Earthquakes or Local Topographic Effects? A Case Study of the Lurøy Earthquake of August 31, 1819, A 3D Finite Difference Approach......Page 275 The Balkans are seismically the most active part of Europe due to plate interactions in the Aegean Sea. This book gives a good account of past, present and likely future seismological developments in this area. It describes the tectonic evolution and on-going geodynamic deformations. Coverage also discusses earthquake hazard analysis, topographic site effects, and examines large earthquake hazards in the Aegean and the Marmara seas as practical applications of such procedures.