State-of-the-art seismographs have been purchased by the Seismic Monitoring and Research Unit at the University of Malta’s Department of Physics.
These instruments will be used to establish the Malta Seismic Network, and also complement the increasing number of sophisticated geophysical equipment now used by the SMRU to conduct its research.
The network will consist of three broadband seismographs located in Malta and Gozo, together with other temporary installations. The new seismic stations, which will continuously transmit recorded signals to the University data centre, will help locate regional earthquakes more accurately, study local seismic site effects, and also enhance real-time earthquake monitoring for the central Mediterranean.
Funding for the equipment came from the Integrated Civil Protection System for the Italo-Maltese Cross-Border Area (SIMIT) project and European Research Development Funds (ERDF 310 – Expanding the Physics and Applied Interdisciplinary Research Capabilities at the Faculty of Science).