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, Borovetz, Bulgaria, 11-18 September 2005

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. Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Patterns of Cenozoic Extensional Tectonism in the South Balkan Extensional System....Pages 3-18 Crustal Motion and Strain Accumulation in the South Balkan Region Inferred from GPS Measurements....Pages 19-43 Recent Devastating Earthquakes in Turkey and Active Tectonics of the Aegean and Marmara Seas....Pages 47-55 Estimates of Stress Drop and High Frequency Diminution Parameter from Strong Motion Data Recorded in Albania....Pages 57-79 Seismicity of Croatia....Pages 81-98 Seismicity of the Pannonian Basin....Pages 99-110 The CTBTO International Monitoring System and Global Seismicity....Pages 113-120 The IRIS Consortium: Community Based Facilities and Data Management for Seismology....Pages 121-132 The Mediterranean Broad Band Seismographic Network Anno 2005/06....Pages 133-149 GEOFON and its Role in Earthquake Monitoring and Tsunami Warning....Pages 151-162 The Karelian Regional Seismic Network in NW Russia....Pages 163-168 Cossack Ranger II – A High Quality, Versatile and Affordable 3-Component Short-Period Seismograph....Pages 171-187 A 2-D Seismic Signal Detector for Stand Alone 3-Component stations....Pages 189-196 Accurate Location of Seismic Sources With and Without Travel Time Model....Pages 197-216 Earthworm Auto-Earthquake Location Performance and Recent Improvements in Seismic Data Acquisition, Processing, Archiving and Dissemination at Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute....Pages 217-233 Data Driven Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment Procedure for Regions with Uncertain Seimogenic Zones....Pages 237-251 Seismicity and Seismic Hazard Assessment in Greece....Pages 253-270 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....Pages 271-289 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.