Earthquakes used to be measured using seismographs, but today's modern measuring devices are called seismometers (see the question "What's a seismometer and how does it work?“).
More than 200 earthquake stations installed and operated by the SED constantly monitor earthquake activity in Switzerland and its neighbouring regions. The measuring instruments at these stations can be divided into three different types:
- Broadband seismometers: these highly sensitive instruments register even the slightest ground tremors caused by weak local, moderate regional and moderate to strong earthquakes around the world. They are preferably installed in remote locations on solid rock.
- Accelerometers: these instruments are suitable for measuring moderate and strong local tremors. They are mainly installed in urban areas and particularly high-risk regions.
- Short-period seismometers: these instruments register weak local tremors.
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Earthquake monitoring