Interdisciplinary assessment of the pre-instrumental and early instrumental period of systematic earthquake monitoring

The goal of this project is the historical-critical revision of the Swiss earthquake catalogue for the pre-instrumental and early instrumental period of systematic earthquake observations in Switzerland, 1878–1963, with a special focus on events of intermediate magnitude reaching epicentral intensities of IV–VI (EMS-98).

To ensure correct interpretation of the large amount of heterogeneous scientific and non-scientific earthquake records, it is essential to investigate the historical, scientific and technological context of their production. This is achieved through the approaches of historical sciences. The proposed work relies on a systematic investigation and a historically sound assessment of the reliability and factuality of historically reported events.

By the use of descriptive primary and secondary sources, macroseismic intensity fields will be established for intermediate-size earthquakes with an intensity in the range IV–VI (EMS-98). This will facilitate the assessment of event parameters such as magnitude, location and depth in a calibrated procedure that will be developed in the project. These parameters are verified by the analysis of the historical seismograms of the Swiss Seismological Service’s early instrumental station network.