UK earthquake monitoring 2011/2012 : BGS Seismic Monitoring and Information Service : twenty-third annual report

The British Geological Survey (BGS) operates a network of seismometers throughout the UK in order to acquire seismic data on a long-term basis. The aims of the Seismic Monitoring and Information Service are to develop and maintain a national database of seismic activity in the UK for use in seismic hazard assessment, and to provide near-immediate responses to the occurrence, or reported occurrence, of significant events. The project is supported by a group of organisations under the chairmanship of the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) with major financial input from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). In the 23rd year of the project, five new broadband seismograph stations were established, giving a total of 38 broadband stations. Real-time data from all broadband stations and nearly all other short period stations are being transferred directly to Edinburgh for near real-time detection and location of seismic events as well as archival and storage of continuous data. We have also upgraded data acquisition hardware at most broadband stations to improve local storage and data communications. All significant events were reported rapidly to the Customer Group through seismic alerts sent by e-mail. The alerts were also published on the Internet (http://www.earthquakes.bgs.ac.uk). Monthly seismic bulletins were issued six weeks in arrears and compiled in a finalised annual bulletin (Galloway, 2012). In all reporting areas, scheduled targets have been met. Seven papers have been published in peer-reviewed journals. A chapter was also published in a book. Two presentations were made at international conferences. Three BGS internal reports were prepared along with six confidential reports. We have continued to collaborate widely with academic partners across the UK and overseas on a number of research initiatives.