Besides seismic-wave data recorded on various instruments, reports and descriptions of earthquakes from people living where they occur are the most important source of information on earth tremors in Switzerland. Information from the public on earthquakes strong enough to be felt by the local population is valuable on account of its sheer depth of detail as to a quake’s impact. However, the knowledge that a specific earthquake was not strong enough to be felt is just as valuable.
By collecting and analysing (via a partially automated process) observations submitted to the Swiss Seismological Service (SED) by members of the public filling out an online form or responding to a printed questionnaire, it is possible to:
- produce a swift assessment of the effects of and scale of damage caused by an earthquake;
- calibrate earthquakes parameters of historical quakes based on macroseismic analysis;
- characterise and document, from a macroseismic standpoint, any earthquakes that occur;
- determine site-specific effects to support seismic microzonation;
- bases for calibrating earthquake scenarios.
Population details are displayed on macroseismic maps. For each felt earthquake, a corresponding map is published on the SED website (see details of each quake).
