IUGG International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics
IASPEI International Association of Seismology and Physics
of the Earth´s Interior
EUROPEAN SEISMOLOGICAL COMMISSION
Activity Report 1994-1996
and
Proceedings of the XXV General Assembly 1996
Reykjavik, Iceland
Web: www.gsrg.nmh.ac.uk/esc/
Edited by
P. Suhadolc and Alice B. Walker
Secretary General Assistant Secretary
1996
Preface
The XXV General Assembly 1996 was held at the Hotel Loftleidir in Reykjavik, Iceland, on invitation of the Meteorological Office of Iceland. The location provided an excellent place to convene 29 symposia and workshops with more than 550 papers for about 450 participants.
The weather was rainy with low clouds for most of the conference time, but that kept the number of participants attending the sessions and workshops high.
The Local Organizing Committee and its chairman Prof. Ragnar Stefansson worked hard to make the meeting a success and we would like to express our most sincere thanks to them. In particular, Bardi Thorkelsson and Helga Bjarnason earn special recognition for their excellent organization.
Also the ladies program was well organized and had some very nice and instructive tours to historic places in and around Reykjavik. An excursion to Thingvellir took place during the meeting and several post-conference excursions within Iceland were organized after the meeting. We would like to thank, in particular, prof. Pall Einarsson for his excellent guidance of the 3-days post-conference tour in the Myvatn area.
Due to the substantial support granted by the LOC a number of scientists mainly from Eastern European countries could be hosted during the meeting. Without this generosity many of them could not have managed to attend. The Bureau of ESC wants to express its deepest gratitude and appreciation.
Not many changes took place this time in the ESC-Bureau. We have a new Vice President, Dr. Avi Shapira. Our Past-President Dr. Ludvik Waniek has passed away shortly before the expiration of his term. We all owe him deep gratitude for everything he has done for the growth and success of ESC.
On the other hand, several Subcommissions have changed their chaipersons and many working groups have been redefined. This will certainly bring new life and fresh ideas to the ESC activities. We are all very much looking forward to some stimulating work in the years ahead and should actively participate in the WG of our interest.
In the past year the ESC Bureau has created, mainly through the efforts of our Assistant Secretary Dr. A B Walker, the ESC Homepage on the Internet. The address is: http:/www.gsrg.nmh.ac.uk/esc/, and I urge everybody to regularly check it in order to read the lastest ESC related news and be thus informed on the ongoing ESC activities.
ESC is looking forward to its XXVI General Assembly in the city of Tel Aviv and appreciates very much the interest and efforts of the colleagues in Israel.
Peter Suhadolc
ESC Secretary General
THE XXV ESC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
REYKJAVIK, 9 - 13 SEPTEMBER 1996
Hotel Loftleidir
Meeting of the Bureau
Sunday, September 8
Participants: G Sobolev, R Stefansson, P Suhadolc, A B Walker
Excused: J. Drakopoulos
1. Changes in the Bureau
J Drakopoulos (Vice-Pres.) is resigning, having served for two terms.
2. Appointments
Nominating Committee: H Aichele, C Eva, J Bonnin, R Gutdeutsch
Resolutions Committee: I Stimpson, L Vinnik, D Mayer-Rosa.
Joint EMSC-ORFEUS Scientific Advisory Committee: J Havskov.
3. Titular members
7 Titular members (D Solakov, Bulgaria; J Sileny, Czech rep.; P Heikkinen, Finland; C Tabet, Lebanon; R Sleeman, The Netherlands; Y Tyupkin, Russia; J Badal, Spain) are newly appointed for the period 1996-2000. Lebanon is again present at the General Assembly, Dr. C Tabet has been appointed as Titular member.
P Wiejacz will be the proxy of S. Gibowicz for Poland and P Suhadolc will be the proxy of D Solakov for Bulgaria and of D Skoko for Croatia.
Jordan, Monaco and Malta (obs.) did not react to the letters of the General Secretary inviting to appoint a Titular member. Suggestions for Titular members from these countries are discussed.
Albania is presently not an IUGG member but will be invited to participate as an observer. They will be invited to the ESC Council meeting on Thursday but will not have voting rights.
An Application for membership has been received from FYRO Macedonia (V Mihajlov proposed as Titular member). The FYRO Macedonia has satisfied the conditions required to be a member of ESC (members of IUGG) and there are, therefore, no more restrictions for its ESC membership.
It was decided that P Suhadolc should write letters to the National committees requesting them to rotate titular members.
4. Next General Assemblies
Invitations by The Institute for Petroleum Research and Geophysics in Tel-Aviv (Israel) and from the Institute of Geophysics of the University of Lisbon (Portugal) for 1998 were received. The titular members will vote on the 1998 venue at the ESC Council on Thursday.
5. Athens 1994 Proceedings
Published in 1996 by the University of Athens, Faculty of Sciences, Subfaculty of Geosciences, Department of Geophysics and Geothermy (Editors: K Makropoulos, P Suhadolc). The Bureau acknowledges with thanks the big effort in the publication and distribution of the three volumes.
6. Amendment of ESC Bylaws
After extensive discussions on the matter and following several suggestions raised by WG responsibles, the ESC Bureau agrees to propose to the Executive Committe the following Bylaws amendments:
1. Inclusion in the ESC Executive of a representative from Observatories and Research Facilities for European Seismology (ORFEUS).
2. A limit on the serving of Subcommission Burea members.
3. A timetable for sending SC and WG reports to the ESC Bureau.
The last two points refer to changes of the internal rules for Subcommissions.
P Suhadolc volunteered to represent ESC on the ORFEUS board of Directors and A Walker would represent ESC on the EMSC executive council. These changes will be proposed at the Executive meeting.
7. SC
H Berckhemer and U Luosto are resigning from the positions of Subcommission chairpersons. The Bureau acknowledges with thanks their long and fruitful service to the ESC.
Proposals for an improved interaction between SC's and the ESC Bureau have been discussed and some changes to the internal rules for Subcommissions proposed (see point 6).
Meeting of the Executive and Local
Organising Committees
Sunday, September 8, 1996
Participants: G Sobolev, R Stefansson, P Suhadolc, A B Walker, K B Makropoulos, L Vinnik, A Deschamps, U Luosto, A Ansal, B Thorkelsson, H Bjarnason, S S Jokobsdottir, I Th Bjarnason, B Brandsdottir, J Solnes, R Sigbjornsson, H Palsson
1. The Reykjavik General Assembly
The printed programme of the Reykjavik General Assembly is presented and all facilities are explained by R Stefansson, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee. Many conference papers have been printed by LOC in the book "Seismology in Europe".
The Executive acknowledges with thanks the excellent work done so far.
2. Athens 1994 Proceedings
The three volumes of the Athens Proceedings have been published and distributed in 1996. There are still copies available for interested persons. The Executive Committee acknowledges with thanks the big effort in the publication and distribution. 300 copies are available free of charge with only postage required (about 10 USD). Interested persons should contact K Makropoulos.
3. EAEE and EMSC Representation
For the period 1996-2000, ESC will be represented in EAEE by the SC-F chairperson and in the EMSC by the Assistant Secretary. If the Council will adopt the proposed Bylaw amendment (see point 6) on ORFEUS, ORFEUS will be represented in the ESC Executive and the ESC Secretary General will represent the ESC on the ORFEUS Board of Directors. The appointment of J Havskov as member of the Joint EMSC-ORFEUS Scientific Advisory Committee is approved. A link between the EAEE and ESC home pages was suggested by A Ansal. The establishment of the link is approved.
4. Changes in the Bureau and Subcommissions
J. Drakopoulos (Vice-Pres.) has already served two terms and is not eligible for re-election. U Luosto is resigning and proposes to contact J Mechie from Potsdam for a possible replacement. H Berckhemer is resigning and proposes J Zschau from Potsdam as replacement. The Executive acknowledges with thanks the work being done.
5. SC & WG
A need for a closer co-operation between Working Groups and the dissemination of information to the Bureau about their activities is stressed. Several ideas on Task Groups, discussions, Open forums are brought forward.
Reports of the activities of the WG should be sent to the SC chairperson and the Bureau 6 months before the GA. The SC chairperson then interprets the reports and sends them together with an overview of the WG achievements to the Bureau, 4 months before the GA. The Bureau reviews the reports and asks for external evaluation where appropriate.
It is proposed that the SC Bureau be in charge for a maximum term of 6 years, starting at this General Assembly.
It is proposed (Vinnik, Stefansson, Ansal) that a report is produced within 3 months after the GA on the highlights of each SC session to be printed along with the ESC Administrative proceedings. Ansal offered to publish the short reports also in the EAEE Bullettin.
6. Amendments of the ESC Bylaws
After extensive discussions on the matter the Executive agrees to propose to the ESC Council the following Bylaw amendments:
1. Inclusion in the ESC Executive of a representative from Observatories and Research Facilities for European Seismology (ORFEUS).
2. A maximum term of 6 years for serving in the Subcommissions.
3. Reports of the activities of the WG should be sent to the SC chairperson and the Bureau 6 months before the GA. The SC chairperson then interprets the reports and sends them together with an overview of the WG achievements to the Bureau, 4 months before the GA. The Bureau reviews the reports and asks for external evaluation where appropriate.
The last two points refer to changes of the internal rules for Subcommissions.
Opening Plenary Session
Monday, September 9, 1996
Present: About 120 participants.
1. General Activity Report of the ESC President
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me present a short review of ESC activities in the years 1994-1996.
The Proceedings of XXIV General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission in the Athens were edited, printed and distributed. This edition contains a number of excellent scientific papers and details the work carried out by European seismologists. Owing to the excellent work of the editors - Kostas Makropoulos and Peter Suhadolc - a valuable report in three volumes has been issued, presenting a detailed insight into ESC administration and new scientific results. We congratulate the whole editorial staff and express our sincere thanks to them.
The ESC Bureau has met twice since the assembly in Athens, in July 1995 during the Boulder IUGG conference and in June 1996 in Iceland to prepare for the Reykjavik General Assembly. Moreover, the Secretary General and Assistant Secretary had two more meetings in this respect with the LOC. A business meeting was held in July 1995 during the Boulder IUGG conference.
The ESC Bureau has in the past two years entered the computer age with its world-wide web home page which was established by Alice Walker - the Assistant Secretary. I would like to thank her, particularly, for this initiative. The home page is designed both as an information pack, covering ESC history, structure, aims and administrative infrastructure and, more importantly, as a platform for information, dissemination and communication between its members. It is intended to provide links to all members who wish to be closely involved with ESC affairs. For this Icelandic Assembly it also provides convenient links to factual information about our forthcoming events. A Walker in collaboration with R Stefansson linked the bulletin board in Iceland to the ESC home page and this allowed delegates up-to-date information about the progress of this Assembly. We need to think about the next step - creating a logical network of the European Seismological Commission.
The ESC - nominated scientists actively participated in the efforts of the European Advisory Evaluation Committee for Earthquake Prediction, chaired by Luis Mendes Victor. Two actions have been undertaken in 1995. The probability of a strong earthquake in Portugal has been estimated, first as a test exercise. Then, the evaluation of the earthquake predictions issued in Greece have been made following a request from the Greek Government.
The ESC-nominated scientists of the Joint EMSC-ORFEUS Scientific Advisory Board have produced a report, which makes substantial recommendations for the improvement of the Seismological Service in Europe. It is now up to the EMSC and ORFEUS to consider these proposals and take forward the recommendations. In this respect we think it would be reasonable to amend the ESC Bylaws in order to have an ORFEUS representative present at ESC Executive meetings.
The ESC General Assembly 1992 in Prague recommended “use of the new European Macroseismic Scale 1992 proposed by ESC - Working group in parallel to the existing scales for a time period of three years“. The scale was indeed introduced in different countries and proved to be successful. A resolution will be presented at this Assembly to adopt the new Macroseismic Scale - EMS-92.
An extensive debate was held at the ESC business meeting in Boulder, Colorado, in July 1995 in order to explore the feasibility to have an ESC European Earthquake Catalogue. The long and fruitful discussion at the Boulder ESC business meeting can be summed up as follows:
- It is not possible to have a single European catalogue.
- It is difficult to solve border problems so researchers need more access to basic data.
- It is not possible now to reach the unique quantification of magnitudes and other earthquake parameters.
- It is necessary to have one place to provide access to databases - EMSC may be one from the natural candidates.
Following the suggestion made by Jean Bonnin we plan to have a special discussion on the problem of European system of catalogues and data base after the Workshop on Friday, 13th of September. And we hope to reach workable solution to the problem.
It was our old dream to attract more young seismologists to the ESC. The ESC with financial support from IASPEI sponsored a seminar for young seismologists (up to age 33) in order to expose them to fundamental investigations and new techniques (eg. digital acquisition and processing). This has resulted in a Training Course held for two days before the opening of the present Assembly and hosted by the Icelandic Meteorological Office, with grateful acknowledgements by the ESC.
The Asian Seismological Commission (ASC) has been formally established and the IASPEI regional meeting took place in August 1996 in Tangshan. P Suhadolc attended and represented the ESC. The ASC is a confirmation that the policy of a regional commission pursued by the ESC for decades has proved to be correct. However, no SC's or WG's have been foreseen in the structure of Asian Seismological Commission, but, simply, Task Groups.
European seismologists continued in the activity along the "Global Seismic Hazard Assessment Programme". The President of the ESC and a number of our colleagues took part in organising and holding the Caucasus Regional Meeting of GSHAP in Ashabad.
V. Karnik's death led ESC to suggest to A Spicak, head of the seismology lab at the Geophysical Institute, CAS in Prague, that his archives be carefully indexed and preserved and access to the material be available through an ESC memorial room in Prague which would be given to the scientific community. The ESC has partiallyth ESC affairs. For this Icelandic Assembly it also provides convenient links to factual information about our forthcoming events. A Walker in collaboration with R Stefansson linked the bulletin board in Iceland to the ESC home page and this allowed delegates up-to-date information about the progress of this Assembly. We need to think about the next step - creating a logical network of the European Seismological Commission. The ESC - nominated scientists actively participated in the efforts of the European Advisory Evaluation Committee for Earthquake Prediction, chaired by Luis Mendes Victor. Two actions have been undertaken in 1995. The probability of a strong earthquake in Portugal has been estimated, first as a test exercise. Then, the evaluation of the earthquake predictions issued in Greece have been made following a request from the Greek Government. The ESC-nominated scientists of the Joint EMSC-ORFEUS Scientific Advisory Board have produced a report, which makes substantial recommendations for the improvement of the Seismological Service in Europe. It is now up to the EMSC and ORFEUS to consider these proposals and take forward the recommendations. In this respect we think it would be reasonable to amend the ESC Bylaws in order to have an ORFEUS representative present at ESC Executive meetings. The ESC General Assembly 1992 in Prague recommended “use of the new European Macroseismic Scale 1992 proposed by ESC - Working group in parallel to the existing scales for a time period of three years“. The scale was indeed introduced in different countries and proved to be successful. A resolution will be presented at this Assembly to adopt the new Macroseismic Scale - EMS-92. An extensive debate was held at the ESC business meeting in Boulder, Colorado, in July 1995 in order to explore the feasibility to have an ESC European Earthquake Catalogue. The long and fruitful discussion at the Boulder ESC business meeting can be summed up as follows:- It is not possible to have a single European catalogue.- It is difficult to solve border problems so researchers need more access to basic data.- It is not possible now to reach the unique quantification of magnitudes and other earthquake parameters.- It is necessary to have one place to provide access to databases - EMSC may be one from the natural candidates. Following the suggestion made by Jean Bonnin we plan to have a special discussion on the problem of European system of catalogues and data base after the Workshop on Friday, 13th of September. And we hope to reach workable solution to the problem. It was our old dream to attract more young seismologists to the ESC. The ESC with financial support from IASPEI sponsored a seminar for young seismologists (up to age 33) in order to expose them to fundamental investigations and new techniques (eg. digital acquisition and processing). This has resulted in a Training Course held for two days before the opening of the present Assembly and hosted by the Icelandic Meteorological Office, with grateful acknowledgements by the ESC. The Asian Seismological Commission (ASC) has been formally established and the IASPEI regional meeting took place in August 1996 in Tangshan. P Suhadolc attended and represented the ESC. The ASC is a confirmation that the policy of a regional commission pursued by the ESC for decades has proved to be correct. However, no SC's or WG's have been foreseen in the structure of Asian Seismological Commission, but, simply, Task Groups. European seismologists continued in the activity along the "Global SeismicHazard Assessment Programme". The President of the ESC and a number of our colleagues took part in organising and holding the Caucasus Regional Meeting of GSHAP in Ashabad. V. Karnik's death led ESC to suggest to A Spicak, head of the seismology lab at the Geophysical Institute, CAS in Prague, that his archives be carefully indexed and preserved and access to the material be available through an ESC memorial room in Prague which would be given to the scientific community. The ESC has partiallyin Romania. His research contributed to scientific understanding in these fields and aroused international interest: Seismicity of Europe (Prague, 1968; 1971); Catalogue of Balkan earthquakes (UNESCO, 1974; 1993); Atlas of isoseismal maps for Balkan earthquakes (UNESCO, 1974). He published his scientific results in about 100 papers in journals from Romania and abroad.
Dr. Radu devoted all his long and productive scientific activity to the development and promoting of seismological research in Romania. His death was a heavy loss to Romanian seismology.
We shall never forget his outstanding contributions. His memory will always live in our hearts.
(Luminita Ardeleanu and Mircea Radulian)
Nikolai Vissarionovich Shebalin (1927-1996)
One of the outstanding seismologists, Nikolai V. Shebalin, passed away on June 19, 1996, after a long struggle with a severe illness. During his entire scientific career, he worked at the Institute of Physics of the Earth (now the Institute of Seismology) of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He was one of the organizers of the Interdepartmental Geophysical Committee (now the National Geophysical Committee, Russian Federation) and an active participant in international geophysical cooperation. Nikolai V. Shebalin is the author of several fundamental works in seismology and adjacent sciences, the initiator and leader of numerous extensive research programmes that had a large impact on the development of scientific thought and on the improvement of observational systems. Nikolai V. Shebalin was esteemed in international scientific bodies and elected to leading positions (e.g. in 1979 he was elected Vice-President of the IUGG). With his penetrating insight and sustained industry, Nikolai V. Shebalin produced new ideas and acquired results across a broad spectrum of science and culture.
We shall remember his contribution, we owe him great respect and thanks.
(G. Sobolev)
Albert Stein (1929-1996)
On January 26, 1996, the German seismologist Prof. Dr. A. Stein passed away at the age of 67 years. Until his retirement in 1993 he was director at the NLFB in Hannover, Germany and head of the explosion seismology group.
For more than 30 years he was responsible for organizing the programme for deep seismic sounding in Germany and the Alps, the latter, in close cooperation with French and Italian Colleagues.
During the post war decades, Albert Stein contributed considerably to the progress of explosion seismology in Germany and Central Europe and his memory as a scientist and a person will continue with the community he served.
(Frank Scherbaum)
3. Call of Titular Members
1994-1996
Country Titular member Confirmed Proxy
or proposed
Algeria M Benhallou 16.06.92
Austria W Lenhardt 12.06.92
Belgium Th Camelbeeck 14.09.94
Bulgaria L Christoskov 13.08.92 P Suhadolc
Croatia D Skoko 15.09.94 P Suhadolc
Czech republic L Waniek 24.01.94 J Sileny
Denmark J Hjelme 04.09.92 E Hjortenberg
Egypt M Dessokey 01.09.92
Finland U Luosto 03.06.92
France A Deschamps 09.02.94
Germany F Scherbaum 21.08.92
Greece J Drakopoulos 12.09.94 K Makropoulos
Hungary T Zsiros 16.09.94
Island R Stefánsson 26.08.92
Ireland A W Jacob 25.08.92
Israel A Hofstetter 30.06.92
Italy C Eva 13.08.92
Jordan Z El-Isa 25.08.92
Lebanon RPJ Plassard C Tabet
Luxembourg J Flick 26.05.92
Morocco D Ben Sari 25.06.92
Monaco N Bethoux
Netherlands Th De Crook 11.06.92
Norway S Mykkelveit 25.08.92
Poland S Gibowicz 16.09.94 P Wiejacz
Portugal L A Mendes Victor 15.06.92
Romania D Enescu 01.09.92 M Radulian
Russia S Arefiev 01.09.92 S Tyupkin
Slovakia P Moczo 22.02.94
Slovenia J Lapajne 02.03.94
Spain J Mezcua 03.09.92 J Badal
Sweden O Kulhanek 03.06.92
Switzerland D Mayer-Rosa 21.02.94
Tunisia M Allouche 08.09.94
Turkey R Yilmaz 28.01.94
UK I Stimpson 08.04.94
4. Activity reports of the Subcommissions
Short activity reports of the Subcommissions are delivered
by:
SC-A: "Seismicity" - K. Makropoulos
SC-B: "Data Acquisition and Interpretation" - L. Vinnik
SC-C: "Source Physics" - A. Deschamps
SC-D: "Deep Seismic Sounding" - U. Luosto
SC-E: "Earthquake Prediction" - G. Sobolev
SC-F: "Engineering Seismology" - V. Schenk
The full reports, as received, are to be found in the Subcommission section.
5. Amendment of ESC Bylaws
The Secretary-General informs that amendments to the ESC Bylaws have been proposed by the Bureau and Executive Committee. The amendments are posted on the bullettin board near the registration area and copies are available for Titular members in the ESC office. The amendments will be discussed at the Council meeting.
6. Announcements
- The Nominating and Resolutions Committees are
announced
Nominating Committee H. Aichele
J. Bonnin
C. Eva
R. Gutdeutsch
Resolutions Committee L. Vinnik
D. Mayer-Rosa
I. Stimpson
- Resolutions are adopted by the ESC-Council (should be transmitted in writing to the Resolution Committee on the day before the Council ) and are posted at least 12 hours before the Closing plenary.
- There are still plenty of copies of the Athens 1994 ESC General Assembly Proceedings available upon request by paying for the postage only (10 USD). Please submit the request at the Registration desk.
7. Opening of the General Assembly
The President declares the 25th General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission open, and wishes much success to all participants.
Opening Ceremony
Monday, September 9, 1996
Reykjavik Brass Quintet
Welcome speeches by:
President LOC, R. Stefansson
Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment of Iceland, Magnus Johannesson
President of IASPEI, C. Froidevaux
President of ESC, G. Sobolev
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great privilege for me to express our sincere gratitude for the invitation to hold the XXV General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission here in Iceland. Its juvenile and still scalding soil provides unique possibilities for the study of processes forming the Earth's crust and causing earthquakes and volcanism.
In recent years, the scientists of Iceland have greatly improved the observation network by installing modern instruments and providing means for operative transmission and processing of data. The scientists in other countries will gain much by studying their methods. Impressive results are achieved in the investigation of the observed regularities in local seismicity.
It is gratifying to note that the seismologists of Iceland work in close collaboration with representatives of the adjacent sciences, primarily volcanology, meteorology and hydrology. And now Iceland is a test area for international cooperation in geosciences.
Allow me to make a brief review of some of the acute problems of seismology and of the ESC activities. The technical progress has now produced, on the one hand, the digital seismology and, on the other hand, the new possibilities for geophysical data exchange. The modern communication services of the Internet type and the systems of accessibility and presentation of data of the WWW type provide a close to real time transmission of not only data, but of the results of their processing in the form of charts and plots. It is apparent that seismologists can now expand these possibilities, for instance, by compiling libraries of scientific articles and electronic journals.
Furthermore, the numerous conversations with many researchers have shown their common interest in setting up a system of seismic catalogues available to the seismological community. I mean both the historical and the instrumental catalogues. The discussion of this problem at the ESC Business Meeting during the IUGG General Assembly in Boulder, USA, has indicated that the best way forward is to organize an easily accessible centralized or distributed database for the member countries of the ESC and for a number of other countries. This kind of system would allow countries to correlate results which were obtained by different methods but from the same raw material, to deal with parameters of earthquakes that occur near the borders of different countries, to provide means for researchers to compare data obtained from national seismic networks, and to make corrections in their catalogues.
Moreover, the preparation of strong earthquakes may involve a territory covering hundreds and even thousands of kilometers, and the same distances are involved to evaluate the interaction effects of earthquakes. A combined application of several regional catalogues will reveal with greater clarity the complex character of processes of accumulation and relaxation of energy in the Earth. We plan to have a special discussion on the problem of the European system of catalogues and databases after the Workshop on Friday, the thirteenth of September.
Among other advantages, the elucidation of the problem will enable the young seismologists, inexperienced in the compilation and checking of catalogues, to seek support in the results of acknowledged authorities. I should add that the ESC Bureau and the LOC have given much thought and effort to organize a special "Training course for young scientists" in the frame of this Assembly, which took place yesterday and the day before.
I am glad to take this opportunity to thank the IASPEI administration for financial support of this Course and of its Lecturers, who have generously given their time and knowledge to our young colleagues. It seems symbolic that the first experience of that nature for young scientists was held in this young land. We trust that it will become a tradition.
The development of geosciences and of seismology, among other things, calls for a closer international cooperation. We are now on the verge of the Third Millennium. It is vitally important that we secure and make accessible the vast amount of observation data collected in the 20th (twentieth) century and in the previous centuries. Russia is now approaching the international scientific and governmental bodies with the initiative to conduct the Fourth International Geophysical Year (IGY) on the boundary between the Twentieth and the Twenty First centuries.
During the previous IGY in 1957-59, most of the studies were concentrated in the atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere of the Earth. We now feel greater demand for correlated research in the solid Earth. I hope the seismologists will duly appreciate this enterprise and will actively contribute to its success.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honour for me to welcome many outstanding participants and guests of the Assembly not only from Europe, but from America, Asia, and Africa. We are glad to greet here the representatives of the Government, of City of Reykjavik, of the Ministries, of the scientific and social institutions, and of the media of Iceland.
I trust that the tremendous work accomplished by the Local Organizing Committee under the guidance of Dr. Ragnar Stefansson, Vice-President of ESC, the active and interested attendance of scientists from many countries, and the wonderful facilities in this hotel will ensure the success of the Assembly.
Meeting of the ESC Council
Thursday, September 12, 1996
Present: Titular Members and Executive Committee
The ESC President welcomes all participants and announces the names of the people he has invited as observers to the meeting:
Secretary-General of the Asian Seismological Commission Prof. Zhu Chuanzhen, the EMSC president Dr. Chris Browitt, the representative of Macedonia (FYRO) that has applied for ESC membership Prof. Vladimir Mihajlov, and the representative of Albania (not an IUGG member) Dr. Betim Muco.
1. Presence of a quorum
P Suhadolc ascertains the presence of the quorum. 30 out of 36 are present.
2. Appointment of the Election Chairman and tellers
C Browitt is proposed as Election Chairman, T Camelbeeck and J Sileny as tellers. The proposal is approved.
3. ESC General Assemblies in 1998
P Suhadolc informs the Council that two invitations have been received by the ESC Bureau for the organisation of the 1998 ESC General Assembly: the first one from The Institute for Petroleum Research and Geophysics in Tel-Aviv (Israel), the second from the Institute of Geophysics of the University of Lisbon (Portugal).
No other candidacies are raised from the floor.
C Browitt asks the representatives from both centres to briefly illustrate their candidacies. A Hofstetter and L Mendes Victor illustrate their candidates.
The voting is done by secret ballot. The outcome is:
Tel Aviv 21 votes
Lisbon 19 votes
The 1998 ESC General Assembly will be, therefore, organised by The Institute for Petroleum Research and Geophysics in Tel-Aviv (Israel). Contact person A Hofstetter.
4. Elections
The Nominating Committee presents the candidates in sequential order.
Results of the elections:
- Bureau:
President: G Sobolev is presented as candidate. No further candidates are raised from the floor. Election is carried out by show of hands. G. Sobolev is elected (votes: 39 yes, 0 no, 1 abs.)
Vice-Presidents: For the first of the two Vice-presidents R Stefansson is presented. No further candidates are raised from the floor. Election is carried out by show of hands. R Stefansson is reelected (38 yes, 0 no, 2 abs.)
For the second of the two Vice-presidents A Shapira is presented. The candidacy of L Mendes Victor is proposed from the floor. Election is carried out by secret ballot. The outcome is: A Shapira 24 votes, L Mendes Victor 16 votes. A Shapira is elected.
Secretary General: P Suhadolc is presented as candidate. No further candidates are raised from the floor. Election is carried out by show of hands.
P Suhadolc is elected by show of hands (39 yes, 0 no, 1 abs.)
Assistant Secretary: A B Walker is presented as candidate. No further candidates are raised from the floor. Election is carried out by show of hands.
A B Walker is elected by show of hands (39 yes, 0 no, 1 abs.)
- Subcommissions
SC-A: K B Makropoulos is presented as candidate. No further candidates are raised from the floor. Election is carried out by show of hands. K B Makropoulos is elected.
SC-B: L Vinnik is presented as candidate. No further candidates are raised from the floor. Election is carried out by show of hands.
L Vinnik is elected.
SC-C: A Deschamps is presented as candidate. No further candidates are raised from the floor. Election is carried out by show of hands.
A Deschamps is elected.
SC-D: J Mechie is presented as candidate. No further candidates are raised from the floor. Election is carried out by show of hands.
J Mechie is elected.
SC-E: G Purcaru is presented as candidate. The candidacy of J Zschau is proposed from the floor. Election is carried out by secret ballot. The outcome is: G Purcaru 14 votes, J Zschau 24 votes, 2 abstentions.
J Zschau is elected.
SC-F: D Slejko is presented as candidate. No further candidates are raised from the floor. Election is carried out by show of hands.
D Slejko is elected.
5. Titular Members
P Suhadolc reports that the ESC Bureau has received one application for membership to the ESC from FYRO Macedonia. According to the ESC Bylaws Article 1 and 2, the membership countries must be located in the ESC area defined in Article 1 and must be members of the IUGG. The applicant fulfills the two requirements. In view of this, the ESC Bureau proposes to accept FYRO Macedonia as an ESC member.
C Browitt asks if there is no objection to a show of hands. No objection is raised. The election is carried out by a show of hands. FYRO Macedonia is accepted unanimously.
The Bureau then proposes the confirmation of Titular Members appointed by their respective countries, including the Titular Member appointed by FYRO Macedonia. P Suhadolc reports that he has not received the official letters of appointment for the Titular members of the Netherlands, Germany, Jordan, Monaco and Norway. The Bureau proposes to the Council that R Sleeman is Titular Member for the Netherlands, F Scherbaum for Germany, Z El-Isa for Jordan, Van Klaveren for Monaco and S Mykkeltveit for Norway. The Council approves the proposal.
The List of Titular Members for the Administrative period 1996-1998 is therefore:
Country Titular member Confirmed
Algeria M Benhallou 06.08.96
Austria W Lenhardt 31.07.96
Belgium Th Camelbeeck 14.09.94
Bulgaria D Jordanov 13.06.96
Croatia D Skoko 15.09.94
Czech rep. J Sileny 02.09.96
Denmark E Hjortenberg 19.08.96
Egypt M Dessokey 16.07.96
Finland P Heikkinen 13.08.96
France A Deschamps 09.02.94
Germany F Scherbaum 12.09.96
Greece J Drakopoulos 12.09.94
Hungary T Zsiros 16.09.94
Iceland R Stefánsson 23.07.96
Ireland A W Jacob 12.08.96
Israel A Hofstetter 25.08.96
Italy C Eva 26.07.96
Jordan Z El-Isa 12.09.96
Lebanon C Tabet 07.08.96
Luxembourg J Flick 31.07.96
Macedonia FYRO V Mihajlov 04.09.96
Monaco Van Klaveren 12.09.96*
Morocco D Ben Sari 16.08.96
Netherlands R Sleeman 12.09.96
Norway S Mykkeltveit 12.09.96
Poland S Gibowicz 30.08.96
Portugal L Mendes Victor 10.07.96
Romania D Enescu 18.08.96
Russia Y Tyupkin 13.08.96
Slovakia P Moczo 12.08.96
Slovenia J Lapajne 02.03.94
Spain J Badal 10.07.96
Sweden O Kulhanek 15.08.96
Switzerland D Mayer-Rosa 21.02.94
Tunisia M Allouche 08.09.94
Turkey R Yilmaz 28.01.94
UK I Stimpson 08.04.94
* With a letter dated October 3, 1996 Monaco has subsequently appointed P. Mondielli as its Titular member for the next two administrative periods (1996-2000).
6. Amendments of ESC Bylaws
The ESC Bureau and Executive Committee propose the following amendments to the ESC Bylaws (the deleted parts are strikethrough typed, the added parts are typed in bold).
P Suhadolc presents the first amendment, which has been approved by the ESC Bureau and the ESC Executive Committee.
Article VI. The Executive Committee
The members of the Bureau and the chair-persons of the Subcommissions form
the Executive Committee. It meets at least once during the General Assembly
and at other times if necessary. It advises the Bureau in the preparation
and the co-ordination of the General Assemblies. In addition it intervenes
in any important question at the initiative of the President or of at least
one third of its members. The International Association of Seismology and
Physics of the Earth's Interior (IASPEI), the European-Mediterranean Seismological
Centre (EMSC), and the European Association for Earthquake
Engineering (EAEE) and Observatories and Research Facilities for European
Seismology (ORFEUS) are represented in the Executive Committee.
The decisions of the Executive Committee must be confirmed or rejected by the Council.
P Suhadolc asks B Dost to give a short presentation on the work of ORFEUS.
B Dost describes the purpose and objectives of ORFEUS, among which the collection and distribution of broadband digital waveform data and related software. He emphasises the complementary position of ORFEUS with respect to the EMSC activities.
C Browitt asks the Council to vote on the first amendment. The Council approves the amendment unanimously.
P Suhadolc presents the second amendment, which has been approved by the ESC Bureau and the ESC Executive Committee.
Internal Rules for the Subcommissions
I. Membership and Administration
Everybody interested in the objectives of a subcommission is qualified for membership. Each subcommission is administered by a Bureau consisting of a President, a Vice-President and a Secretary.
The subcommission Bureau members are elected for a maximum of 6 years.
C Browitt asks the Council to vote on the second amendment. The Council approves the amendment unanimously.
P Suhadolc presents the third amendment, which has been approved by the ESC Bureau and the ESC Executive Committee.
Internal Rules for the Subcommissions
II. Obligations
The President of a subcommission is responsible for:
1. the delivery of progress reports from its WGs at least 6 months before the ESC General Assembly and the delivery of an evaluation and summary of these progress reports to the ESC Bureau at least 4 months before the ESC General Assembly,
2. the delivery of a review of subcommission activities during the ESC General Assembly within 3 months after its conclusion;
1
3. the delivery of activity reports of the subcommission to the ESC
General Assembly,
2
4. the announcement of the results and decisions taken by the subcommission
to the ESC Bureau,
3
5. the timely forwarding of resolutions to the Resolutions Committee.
The proposed resolutions or recommendations shall concern scientific matters
only.
C Browitt asks the Council to vote on the third amendment. The Council approves the amendment unanimously. The Council decides to post the amendments for a limited period on the ESC WWW Homepage.
7. Resolutions
Each resolution is presented, by D Mayer-Rosa, President of the Resolutions Committee. With minor amendments the following resolutions have been adopted.
Parametric European Earthquake Catalogues
Considering that
1. European Parametric Earthquake Catalogues (EPEC) have to be developed rapidly,
2. Most scientists agree that parametric earthquake catalogues can be compiled according to varied perspectives and procedures from a databank of primary data.
3. The main problem is the improvement of primary data and procedures for determining earthquake parameters,
4. The ongoing initiatives will provide a substantial progress in this direction and a methodology for its follow-up,
The ESC recommends
The continuation and possible expansion of ongoing initiatives to the whole European area, with the aim of producing regularly updated EPEC releases under the co-ordination of Subcommission A.
Preservation of all seismological material
Recognising
the importance of historical seismograms, seismological bulletins and catalogues for reliable evaluation of seismicity and seismic hazard in various parts of the world,
the ESC recommends
that all institutes and other organizations which possess seismograms, bulletins, catalogues and other relevant material from the last century and the first half of this century handle these with utmost care and archive them in a way which provides easy access. Means should be found, as a matter of urgency to identify the location and curatorship of existing seismological archives, and that this information should be made available to all interested parties.
Array Seismology
Considering
the importance of array techniques for global seismology and
recognising
the efforts to upgrade existing regional seismic networks to perform as seismic arrays within the Japanese GARNET project
the ESC recommends
to support all efforts for similar initiatives in Europe.
EU Support: Earthquake Prediction
Recognising
the efforts made by the European Union (EU) to improve the scientific research cooperation in the field of earthquake prediction through the European area and noting the new development in this direction
the ESC recommends
the strengthening of the EU support of research programs to foster wider geographic cooperation in order to assure a faster development in earthquake prediction.
Data for Noise-Precursor Discrimination
Recognising
the importance of comparative analysis of data accumulated in the different or similar geological conditions for noise-precursor discrimination and taking into account new technical channels for data exchange and transmission
the ESC recommends
that the members who are involved with ESC activity provide access to the files of their seismological, geochemical and other geophysical observations through INTERNET.
European Macroseismic Scale (EMS-92)
Considering
the successful testing period of three years of the new ‘European Macroseismic Scale’ (EMS-92).
the ESC recommends
the use of the EMS-92 in its improved version in future macroseismic studies in Europe.
ESC Training Course for Young Seismologists
Considering
the very positive response of participants in the first “ESC Training Course for Young Seismologists” in conjunction with the Reykjavik General Assembly of the ESC, the Bureau of the ESC expresses its sincere thanks to the organizers and lecturers of this course and,
the ESC recommends
that such training courses are made an integral part of future ESC General Assemblies.
Thanks
Recognising
the great success of the XXV General Assembly of the ESC (1996),
the participants gathered in Reykjavik
express their appreciation to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the Ministry for the Environment and the University of Iceland for hosting this meeting, and
express their gratitude to the Local Organizing Committee for their excellent and efficient work in preparing and managing this meeting and for the very enjoyable social programme.
8. Miscellanea
The ESC Council decides to send greeting cards from the XXV ESC General Assembly in Reykjavik to E Petershmitt (Strasbourg), A Galanopoulos (Athens), J Hjelme (Copenhagen), H Berckhemer (Frankfurt), St. Mueller (Zurich) and M Bath (Uppsala), who has celebrated his 80th birthday this year.
Closing Plenary
Friday, September 23, 1994, 16:30-17:30
1. Address by ESC President
The President thanks all participants for the scientific contributions and the Local organising committee, in particular
Ragnar Stefansson
Bardi Thorkelsson
Helga Bjarnasson
for the successful work done during this meeting.
2. The new Bureau 1996-1998
The new ESC Bureau 1996-1998 is introduced:
President: G Sobolev (Russian Fed.)
Vice President: R Stefansson (Iceland)
Vice President: A Shapira (Israel)
Secretary General: P Suhadolc (Italy)
Assistant Secretary: A B Walker (UK)
3. Confirmation of the Subcommission Chairpersons
SC-A: "Seismicity" K Makropoulos
SC-B: "Data Acquisition and Interpretation" L Vinnik
SC-C: "Source Physics" A Deschamps
SC-D: "Deep Seismic Sounding" J Mechie
SC-E: "Earthquake Prediction" J Zschau
SC-F: "Engineering Seismology" D Slejko
4. Confirmation of Titular Members
The General Assembly confirms the ESC Titular members (see list under point 4 of ESC Council meeting) for 1996-1998.
5. The next General Assembly
The next General Assembly in Tel-Aviv 1998 is announced with thanks to The Institute for Petroleum Research and Geophysics in Tel-Aviv (Israel)
6. Proceedings and publication
All authors of oral or poster papers will have the option of publishing in special volumes of journals. Authors will be invited by the Conveners with special letters.
7. Adoption of Amendments to ESC Bylaws
The amendments to the ESC Bylaws accepted by the ESC-Council are read and adopted by the General Assembly.
8. Adoption of resolutions
The resolutions accepted by the ESC-Council are read one by one and adopted by the General Assembly.
9. Closing word of the ESC President
The President G. Sobolev thanks, on behalf of the ESC, all participants, the Local Organising Committee and the staff of the Hotel Loftleidir for the excellent conference and invites everybody to attend the XXVI ESC General Assembly in Tel-Aviv.
ESC SUBCOMMISSIONS AND WORKING GROUPS
Activity Reports
SC-A Seismicity of the European Region
Bureau 1994-1996
Chairperson: K Makropoulos (Greece)
Vice-Chairperson: J Bonnin (France)
Secretary: Z Schenkova (Czech republic)
Working Groups 1994-1996
1. European Earthquake Catalogue. Responsible: J Bonnin (France)
2. Instrumental Classification of Earthquakes. Responsible: L Christoskov (Bulgaria)
3. Carpathian Balkan Region. Responsible: V I Marza (Romania)
4. Ibero-Maghrebian Region. Responsible: L Mendez-Victor (Portugal)
5. Historical Earthquake Data. Responsible: R Gutdeutsch (Austria)
6. Central and Eastern Europe. Responsible: Z Schenkova (Czech Rep.)
7. Integrated Research of Aftershock Sequences. Responsible: S Arefiev (Russian Fed.)
8. Volcanism and Earthquakes. Responsible: R Schick (Germany), B Martinelli (Switz.)
9. Seismotectonic Analysis. Responsible: C Eva (Italy)
10. Statistical Models of Earthquake Occurrence. Responsible: G Papadopoulos (Greece)
Activity Report 1994-1996 by K. Makropoulos
During the Athens XXIV General Assembly four scientific sessions and two special symposia were held under the Subcommission’s auspices with one hundred and twenty (120) oral and poster presentations.
During the last two years (1994-1996), most of the working Groups were active by either organising workshops or participating in international conferences like the XXI General Assembly of IUGG in Boulder, Colorado (July 2-14, 1995).
The two years of activity was expressed during the Reykjavik XXV General Assembly (Sep 9-14 1996) through five Scientific Sessions, three Special Symposia and two Workshops with a total of two hundred (200) oral and poster presentations.
Working Groups No. 2, 3, and 7 (see list above), however, did not show any activity for the second consecutive period and therefore, during the Subcommission’s business meeting, held in Reykjavik, with eight out of the eleven Chairpersons present, they were cancelled. However, their subjects will be taken care of by the other Working Groups of our Subcommission.
A fruitful discussion took place about future activities and the advantages and opportunities for closer co-operation and new initiatives, offered now by the European Union through the INCO-COPERNICUS and similar projects were highlighted. These propositions were finally adopted by the ESC Council.
Bureau 1996-1998
Chairperson: K Makropoulos (Greece)
Vice-Chairperson: J Bonnin (France)
Secretary: Z Schenkova (Czech republic)
Working Groups 1996-1998
1. European Earthquake Catalogue. Responsible : J Bonnin (France)
2 Ibero-Maghrebian Region. Responsible: L Mendez-Vistor (Portugal)
3. Historical Earthquake Data. Responsible: R Gutdeutsch (Austria)
4. Central and Eastern Europe. Responsible: Z Schenkova (Czech Rep.)
5. Volcanism and Earthquakes. Responsible: R Schick (Germany), B Martinelli (Switz.)
6. Seismotectonic Analysis. Responsible: C Eva (Italy)
7. Statistical Models of Earthquake Occurrence. Responsible: G Papadopoulos(Greece)
8. Personal Computers in Seismicity Studies. Responsible: M Garcia Fernandez (Spain), N Voulgaris (Greece).
SC-B Data Acquisition Theory and Interpretation
Bureau 1994-1996
Chairperson: L Vinnik (Russia)
Vice-Chairperson: H Aichele (Germany)
Secretary: B Dost (Netherlands)
Working Groups 1994-1996
1. Instruments, Data Collection and Processing. Responsible: B Dost (The Netherlands)
2. Standardisation and Interpretation. Responsible: N Kondorskaya (Russian Fed.), R Pearce (U.K.)
3. Microseisms. Responsible: E Hjortenberg (Denmark)
4. Theory of Seismic Wave Propagation. Responsible: I Psencik (Czech rep.) has resigned
5. History of Seismometry. Responsible: G Ferrari (Italy)
Activity Report 1994-1996 by L Vinnik and H Aichele
The ESC Training course for young seismologist was dedicated to the topics of our Subcommission, in particular, to the processing of digital data. Several members of our Subcommission took part as lecturers to the Training Course. The Subcommission strongly supports the continuation of training courses, depending on the financial situation. Moreover, the Subcommission chairman delivered a keynote lecture at the Reykjavik General Assembly.
The Subcommission was involved during the past period with different IASPEI initiatives which were followed up on the European level within the Subcommission itself: the IASPEI working group on geographical regionalisation, and the IASPEI working group for the new Manual of Observatory Practice.
The Subcommission had also several connections with the other ESC Subcommissions, in particular, Source Process, Earth Deep Structure and Signal Detection. Array techniques and a European interest for cooperation within the Garnet activities have been also a recurrent theme in the Subcommission activities.
Bureau 1996-1998
Chairperson: L Vinnik (Russia)
Vice-Chairperson: H Aichele (Germany)
Secretary: B Dost (Netherlands)
Working Groups 1996-1998
1. Data Centres and Data Exchange. Responsible: B Feignier (France)
2. Data Processing and Interpretation. Responsible: F Scherbaum (Germany)
3. Microseisms. Responsible: E Hjortenberg (Denmark)
4. Theory of Wave Propagation and Deep Earth Structure. Resp.: P Malischewski (Germany)
5. History of Seismometry. Responsible: G Ferrari (Italy)
6. IASPEI Manual on Seismological Observatory Practice. Resp.: P Bormann (Germany)
SC-C Earthquake Source Physics
Bureau 1994-1996
Chairperson: A Deschamps (France)
Vice-Chairperson: C-I Trifu (Romania)
Secretary: E Buforn (Spain)
Working Groups 1994-1996
1. Paleoseismicity. Responsible: D Pantosti (Italy) and M Meghraoui (Algeria)
Activity Report 1994-1996 by C. Trifu and D. Pantosti
The Working Group on Paleoseismicity of the Mediterranean area was started at the XXIV ESC Assembly held in Athens in September 1996. One of our main goals was to create connections between scientists working in active tectonics and paleoseismology around the Mediterranean and stimulate cooperation. This was mainly done by contacting scientists and distributing a list of participants including 35 members plus 5 corresponding members from a total of 14 countries, and co-ordinating our group with other groups working on paleoseismology such as the ILP task group II-3 and INQUA paleoseismology WG.
During these two years the spreading of paleoseismological and active tectonics methodologies was positively pursued by (1) organizing collaborations within different groups mainly to transfer trenching techniques; (2) by helping to organize workshops and courses such as (a) the Summer School on Structural Geology and Neotectonics, with emphasis on Paleoseismology organized by S. Pavlides of the Thessaloniki University in May-June 1995, (b) the workshop, Active Faulting Studies for Seismic Hazard Assessment held in Erice (Sicily), organized by D. Giardini, D. Pantosti and G. Valensise in Sept 1995, and (c) the E.S.F. Research Conference, Large Earthquakes in the Geological Record held in Isthmia (Greece), organized by G. Valensise and R. Collier in May 1996; (3) by publishing a special section of the Annali di Geofisica “Active Faulting and Paleoseismicity in the Mediterranean Area” containing contributions presented at the XXIV Assembly.
As part of general SC-C activities a special volume on Seismic Source Parameters: “From Microearthquakes to Large Events” was published in Tectonophysics. It was based on one of the symposia organized in Athens by our Subcommission, and was benefited by the participation and submissions of colleagues from North America and Japan. In addition, the participation of some specialists from outside Europe, to our symposium on Fault Dynamics and Earthquake Nucleation organised during the XXV Assembly in Reykjavik, proved that the Subcommission’s scientific debates are a challenge for world-wide contributions.
In Athens discussions took place about preparing a workshop on moment tensors. This was not done for the Reykjavik meeting, but a workshop or even a symposium is scheduled on this topic at the next ESC General Assembly.
Bureau 1996-1998
Chairperson: A Deschamps (France)
Vice-Chairperson: C-I Trifu (Romania)
Secretary: E Buforn (Spain)
Working Groups 1996-1998
1. Paleoseismicity. Responsible: M Meghrauoi (Algeria)
2. Focal parameters determinations. Responsible: C-I Trifu (Romania)
SC-D Deep Seismic Sounding
Bureau 1994-1996
Chairperson: U Luosto (Finland)
Vice-Chairperson: A Guterch (Poland)
Secretary: C-E Lund (Sweden)
Working Groups 1994-1996
1. Synthesis. Responsible: K Osypov (Russia), C Prodehl (Germany)
2. Region N-Europe. Responsible: M Sellevoll (Norway), C-E Lund (Sweden)
3. Region SW-Europe. Responsible: P Giese (Germany), A Hirn (France)
4. Region E-Europe. Responsible: A A Ostrowsky (Russia)
5. Deep Reflections. Responsible: K Fuchs (Germany)
6.Surface wave and tomographic studies of Lithospheric structure. Responsibles: T Yanovskaya (Russian Fed.)
Activity Report 1994-1996 by U. Luosto
The detailed activity report of the Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) subcommission was collected by Dr. C-E Lund, secretary of the subcommission, and delivered in Reykjavik, September 1996. We asked for information about the activity from the responsibles of the working groups, and project leaders. The report is not complete, but includes only those projects for which the information was submitted. The whole report contains 140 pages in addition to the cover and contents and therefore the detailed report is only discussed briefly here.
Almost all the projects were international. The projects cover the European area from the Spitsbergen in the North to the Mediterranean Sea in the South, but European scientists have actively participated in the DSS projects also in the other continents or in the ocean and sea areas. The most popular method used in DSS or DSR during the time period under review was marine deep reflection combined with wide angle measurements at land stations or measurements by OBS. In addition, there are many long range land DSS profiles already surveyed or are being planned in Europe, especially as parts of the EUROPROBE studies. The main sources for the signals were airguns but explosive shots and vibroseis were also used for the land profiles.
EUROPROBE/EUROBRIDGE is a long range DSS profile that extends from Baltic Sea across Lithuania and Belarus to Ukraine. The principal organizers of the land profile were geological and geophysical organizations within the countries of the profile. The Baltic Sea part was organized by the University of Hamburg, Germany and Uppsala University, Sweden. Other groups from Finland, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland and Sweden also participated in the land profile. The offshore project was performed in 1994, the land profile in Lithuania in 1995 and in Belarus 1996. The Ukrainian part of the profile is planned to be measured in 1997.
Another big EUROPROBE project, is that of the Trans-European Suture Zone Project. DSS measurements were made in 1993 across, and in 1994, along the Teisseure-Tornquist Zone in Poland. The principal organizer was the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, with scientists from Finland, Germany and Sweden participating in the recording and interpretation of the data.
EUROPROBE Seismic Reflection Profiling in the Urals (ESRU) was performed between 1993 and 1996 as a co-operative project between institutions in Sweden (Uppsala Univ.), Russia, U.S., Germany and Switzerland. Among the many interesting results, an important one is the imaging of the main Uralian fault down into the middle crust.
As part of EUROPROBE, the COST-profile project was organized by Uppsala University (Sweden) with help from institutions in Russia, Finland and Denmark. It involved recording airgun shots at eight points on a 200 km line in the Baltic Sea along the Swedish coast.
Under the DECORP2000 project several sub-projects were carried out in Germany and Russia with the GeoForschungsZentrum (GFZ), Potsdam as the principal organizer.
- The main target of the DECORP2000:KTB'94-3D project was the imaging of seismic structures at depths ranging between 7 and 9 km. It was during the German Deep Drilling Project, where most of the drilling problems occurred.
- The DECORP2000:URSEIS'95, 500 km long (integrating explosive and vibroseismic), near vertical and refraction seismic profiling of the Ural and adjacent basins was performed as a collaborative study between Russian, German, Spanish and U.S. institutes and universities. Among the most spectacular results is the imaging of 30-40_ dipping tectonic shear zones reaching from the surface to the crust-mantle boundary and of a crustal root of 55 km depths close to the axis of the Uralian orogenic belt.
- The DECORP2000:GRANU'95 was 110-km long vibroseis high-resolution profiling in the Saxsonian Massif and DECORP2000:NGB'96 a lithospheric seismic profiling of the North German intracontinental basin in co-operation with Oil- and Gas companies.
High density vertical and wide-angle seismic reflection and refraction data were recorded along the Pannonian and Hungarian Geotraverses to obtain signals from the lithosphere and asthenosphere in a Hungarian-Canadian-Swiss co-operative project. One of the most surprising results is an anomalous rise of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary to 40 km below the Bekes Basin.
The profile FENNIA in Southern Finland is a co-operative project between scientists from the universities of Helsinki, Copenhagen, Leicester, Oulu, Uppsala and Warsaw, and the Geophysical Institute, Polish Acad. Sc., Warsaw. Interpretation of good quality data in a Worksop by the Fennia Working Group is in press.
An interesting revision of DSS data from the 1970's and early 1980's was performed as an international co-operation by Italian, German and French institutions. Reanalysing of the Gargano- Salerno-Palermo Pantelleria profile, revealed the presence of the Adriatic slab, while reanalysing the seismic data of the Northern Apennines, the Ligurian Sea and Corsica did not confirm the presence of the European subduction between Corsica and Tuscany.
With IRRS-CNR, Milano as the main organizer, refraction-wide angle reflection recordings were made in Central Italy. The results support the near vertical reflection CROP project in Central Italy. The model which was obtained shows, e.g. a shallow tuscan moho, from 22 km depths in the tyrrhenian side to 27 km below the foothills of the Apenninic chain. Wide-angle recordings were made on land around the Tyrrhenian Sea using air gun shots by the "Sea Land Group" for the CROP Mare II Project.
Acquisition of 15 regional OBS profiles, total length of 2600 km, in the Lofoten margin was surveyed by Univ. of Bergen, Norway with co-operation of Univ. of Sapporo (Japan). The main purpose is to map deep sedimentary structures, and also the crystalline crust from the continental basins to the oceanic crust.
Study of the seismic structure of the North-Western Spitsbergen area has continued as a project by Polish Institutions. It is based on the travel times of P-waves from nuclear explosions recorded on the GrÑfenberg array. An average P-wave velocity model of the Upper Mantle of central Eurasia was constructed in co-operation with Polish and German scientists.
Deep seismic survey by CDP-DSS methods in the area of NW Russia and the Barents Sea was studied within the project POMORJE, with the Geological Institute of Kola Science Centre as the main organizer. The pilot soundings comprise of 200 km of sea profiles and recordings along the 700-km long profile on land.
Center GEON, Russia, performed between 1992-1995 in the Central East-European Platform, five DSS profiles in Russia. The results of analysis show large variations in crustal velocities and thickness (39-50 km).
Interpretation of the geological and geophysical data of the BALTIC SEA PROFILE (1989) was continued at Inst. of Oceanology, R.A.S., Moscow.
As part of the Central Scandinavian Transect, Uppsala University has organized with cooperation from the Univ. of Bergen, Norway, a seismic reflection profile through the central Scandinavian Caledonides. The data showed a highly reflective upper crust in the Caledonian region, well correlated to surface geology. The wide angle profile CABLES, organized by scientists from Uppsala Univ., GEON, Moscow and Univ. of Glasgow with other participants from Finland and Norway is a continuation of the CDP-profiling mentioned above. Good- quality data for the major crustal and upper mantle phases were recorded.
Deep Seismic Studies outside Europe are also described here:
Three projects PISCO 94, CINCA 95 and ANCORP 96 were carried out with the Freie University of Berlin as the main organizer, together with German and South-American institutions in the Precordillera, off- and on-shore Nazca - Central Andes.
The project, KODIAK-SEIS - Sonne Cruise SO 96 was carried out by GEOMAR, Kiel who were the main organizers with co-operation of USGS, Menlo Park, in the Aleutian margin near Kodiak Island. Together with Kiel University, CSIS, Barcelona and American Universities the CONDOR project was performed across the Chilean continental margin. Two refraction lines were shot across Costa Rica with GEOMAR as a main organizer. This revealed some interesting results including imaging, the downgoing slabs.
- KRISP-94 (Kenya Rift International Seismic Project) was organized by geophysical institutes of the universities at Karlsruhe, Germany, Texas and El Paso, USA, Leicester, U.K. and Nairobi, Kenya. Tele- and refraction seismic investigations of the Kenya Rift were performed as a large international co-operative project. Several papers on KRISP-94 are published or are in press.
- EXCO project, University of Hamburg as main organizer, marine seismic soundings were surveyed along lines across the East Pacific Rise. The project was planned to give multi-disciplinary information about "Processes of Convective Exchange between Sea Water and the Oceanic Subbottom".
- ANTARCTIC MARGIN PROJECT, interpretation of OBS refraction and wide angle reflection data obtained during co-operative works between scientists from the Polish Academy of Sciences, Universities of Warsaw and Hokkaido 1990/1991 was continued.
Forty-three recent publications are reported in the complete activity report of the Subcommission.
Bureau 1996-1998
Chairperson J Mechie (Germany)
Vice-Chairperson A Guterch (Poland)
Secretary C-E Lund (Sweden)
Working Groups 1996-1998
1. Synthesis. Responsible: K Prodehl (Germany), K Osypov (Russian Fed.)
2. Region N-Europe. Responsible: M Sellevoll (Norway), C-E Lund (Sweden)
3. Region SW-Europe. Responsible: P Giese (Germany), A Hirn (France)
4. Region E-Europe. Responsible: A Ostrovsky (Russian Fed.)
5. Deep Reflections. Responsible: K Fuchs (Germany)
6. Surface wave and tomographic studies of lithospheric structure. Responsible: T Yanovskaya (Russian Fed.)
SC-E Earthquake Prediction Research
Bureau 1994-1996
Chairperson: H Berckhemer (Germany)
Vice-Chairperson: G Sobolev (Russian Fed.)
Secretary: G. Martinelli (Italy)
Working Groups 1994-1996
1. Precursors. Responsible: G Sobolev (Russian Fed.), T Chelidze (Georgia)
2. Field Observations and Techniques. Resp.: J Zschau (Germany), A Prozorov (Russ. Fed.)
3. Algorithms and Models of Earthquake Prediction. Responsible: G Purcaru (Germany)
4. Man-made Earthquakes. Responsible: P Knoll (Germany)
Activity Report 1994-1996 by H.Berckhemer and G. Sobolev
At the XXIV GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the ESC in Athens Subcommission E organized the following symposia:
" Earthquake Prediction: Achievements and Problems " ;
" Nonlinear Dynamics of Seismogenic Fault Systems and Earthquakes ";
" Fracture Process of Induced Seismic Events ".
The " European Advisory Evaluation Committee for Earthquake Prediction " of the Council of Europe, which is recruited mainly from members of the SC-E became active in the reporting period. On the initiative of L.A.Mendes Victor, chairman of the Committee, an earthquake prediction evaluation exercise was arranged for a magnitude 6.0 -6.5 earthquake in the region of S.Teotonio-Odemira in SW Portugal. Certain data and arguments were provided to the members of the Committee. Some members submitted a written opinion and eight members met for an evaluation meeting on the invitation of the Council of Europe in Estoril, Portugal on October 30 and 31, 1995. The conclusion was that a M = 6-6.5 earthquake can not be excluded in the next few years in that region but the material at the disposal of the Committee does not indicate that the probability of such an event is becoming high.
The first true earthquake prediction evaluation was made by the Committee on the request of the Greek Government. A prediction of a potential earthquake of M = 4-5 in the area of Livadia-Amphisa or, with less probability, south of Scopelos Island within a time window ending on December 10 +/- a few days was issued by the VAN Group on November 6, 1995. Four members of the Committee met on Nov. 26 and 27 in Athens and discussed the case with Prof. Varotsos and Dr. Stavrakakis, Deputy Director of the National Observatory of Athens. The Committee concluded that the prediction can easily fall in the statistical earthquake occurrence, and made some recommendations for future procedures and cooperation.
The SEISMOLAP - METHOD which emerged from the Turkish-German Project for Earthquake Prediction Research was continuously improved and refined by J Zschau and applied with positive results also to large earthquakes in the Caucasus Region, and in Japan.
As a result of co-ordinated measurements carried out by the GPS method, the direction and extent of crustal movements were determined in the adjoining areas of Armenia, Georgia, and Russia. The main task of this project is to study the deformation field in the Caucasus region and to reveal the post seismic movements in the aftershock zone of the Rachinsky earthquake.
A joint Working Group of Russian and Chinese scientists ( chairmen G Sobolev and Zhan Zhao Cheng ) has been established and they have had two meetings ( one in Russia and the other in China ) to make joint analysis of geophysical dynamic fields before some earthquakes. The statistical significant anomaly was revealed before the Tanshang earthquake as a result of multi-parameter analysis of data. The GEOTIME ( version 1.02 ) computer system and GEO 2.5 computer environment were transferred to the Chinese.
The international seminar on " The Physics of Rock Failure " was held in October, 1995 in the Borok Observatory, Russia ( co-ordinator A.Ponomarev ).