AdriaArray – a Passive Seismic Experiment to Study Structure, Geodynamics and Geohazards of the Adriatic Plate

Abstract

AdriaArray is a multinational initiative to cover the Adriatic Plate and its tectonically active surroundings – including units of Adriatic origin – with a dense regional array of seismic stations. AdriaArray provides data for imaging of the crustal and upper mantle structure and for the analysis of seismic activity and hazard. It will help to understand the causes of active tectonics and volcanic fields in the region. The network consists of 1092 permanent and 436 temporary broadband stations from 23 mobile pools. A homogeneous coverage of broadband stations is achieved in an area from the Massif Central in the west to the Carpathians in the east, from the Alps in the north to the Calabrian Arc and mainland Greece in the south. The backbone network (2022‑2026) is complemented by locally densified broadband deployments in the western Carpathians, along the Dubrovnik fault and in the Vrancea region. Data recorded by AdriaArray stations is transmitted in real-time to 12 nodes of the European Integrated Data Archive (EIDA) where it is accessible as a single virtual network. Regular availability and quality checks ensure high data usability. AdriaArray, the largest passive seismic experiment in Europe to date, is based on the cooperation between local network operators, mobile pool providers, technicians, engineers, field teams, researchers, students, and organizations such as ORFEUS (Observatories and Research Facilities for European Seismology) and EPOS (European Plate Observing System). The AdriaArray Seismology Group, founded in 2022, encompasses 64 institutions from 30 countries with 451 participants. Initial Collaborative Research Groups have been established to coordinate data analysis and scientific research. We present the evolution of the experiment and its objectives, describe its preparation and planning, and show maps of the AdriaArray Seismic Network, station properties and coverage. We further describe the data archiving and distribution, list the participating institutions, individuals and networks and discuss collaborative research topics.