Hochstaufen trembors: seismologist is looking for causes of the earthquake series

Hochstaufen trembors: seismologist is looking for causes of the earthquake series

Around the Hochstaufen near Bad Reichenhall has recently occurred an increased earthquake activity. In the past few weeks, the Bavaria Earth Office has registered over 200 of these so -called swarm objects, some of which were clearly noticeable. The magnitude of these vibrations were between 1.8 and 2.5, which does not make it dangerous, but is perceived as annoying. These quake are part of a dynamic geological activity in the entire alpine arch.

Joachim Wassermann, geophysicist and seismologist at the geophysical observatory of the Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU) in Munich, has been committed to researching these seismic events. His team not only observes the activities around Bad Reichenhall, but also other areas of the Free State to better understand what moves the earth in this region. According to Wassermann, the quakes often result in several equal vibrations that occur in a short time, similar to a thunderstorm.

causes and symptoms of seismic activity

Aquarius examines the seismic activities in the region particularly intensively because they have historical importance. As early as 1390, there was a continuous earthquake that left considerable damage. It is currently assumed that many rainwater plays an important role in the newer earthquakes. The upper one is considered to be killed, which means that there are underground cavities and cracks, through which water can quickly penetrate into the mountain. This leads to tensions in the rock, which then express themselves in quakes.

The swarm quakes are a specific phenomenon that increasingly occurs in this region between April and September. Wassermann explains that the mountain moves back into its original form through the load generated by rain and other factors. These changes in voltage can also lead to aftershocks that are less pronounced, but are still noticed.

In the past decades, there have also been important observations such as a series of microbe removal, which was documented 29 years ago. At that time, several hundred earthquakes were recorded over seismic mobile stations, with the causes being researched. Much of the current herd of earthquakes is located in the Staufengebirge, where smaller quakes are occasionally registered near Ramsau.

The geology of the region plays an essential role for the respective activity. Various geological formations meet at the Hochstaufen, including the sediment rocks of the Flysch as well as the hazel mountains and limestone. This complexity explains the increased seismicity. In addition, there are known disorders in the northern Alps, which often lead to seismic activities, such as the Saalach and Inn Valley disorders.

In order to get to the bottom of the seismic movements, the employees of the Bavarian earthworks service have installed seven seismographs around the Hochstauf. These highly sensitive measuring instruments are able to precisely record the movements of the earth's surface. A special copy is located on the summit of the Hochstaufen, while another measuring device is not far from the salt mine in Berchtesgaden. The latter is installed in a blind shaft about 30 meters underground to minimize disorders by visitors. With these devices, Aquarius and his team even have the opportunity to record worldwide earthquakes and to analyze their causes.

The scientific efforts that stand behind these earthquakes could provide a more comprehensive explanation in the future why these swarm quakes will be in Bad Reichenhall. The team under the direction of Aquarius strives to bring more light into this seismic puzzle and to better understand the dynamics of the earthly movements. The constant surveillance and research give hope that one day the riddle of Mother Earth can be decrypted. Further information on this topic can be found on muenchen.t-online.de .