British Geological Survey (BGS)
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Contact: |
David Galloway |
E-mail: | |
Phone: | +44 131 667-1000 |
Fax: | +44 131 667-1877 |
Address: | Global Seismology Unit, Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3LA, United Kingdom |
Status: | active |
Last data: | 2025-04-11 |
Web page: | |
Publications: | |
Description: | InstrumentationThroughout the UK and surrounding islands, BGS maintains a national network of over 140 seismic monitoring instruments arranged into 23 local networks. The instruments comprise seismometers capable of detecting many small, and the few larger, earthquakes experienced in the UK together with microphones to help in the discrimination of sonic booms. The data is sent by radio to recording computers (SEISLOG) at the local centres. The SEISLOG recording systems are accessible by telephone line and modem, and data files are automatically transferred several times daily to BGS in Edinburgh for analysis. BGS seismologists are also equipped with home computers so that a rapid response time is achieved for enquiries at any time from the sponsors of the Service, the media, the public, police and local authorities.AnalysisOn average, the network locates between 300 and 400 earthquakes per year and is capable of detecting all events greater than 1.5 ML (Richter local magnitude) in mainland Britain. In a typical year, 40 events will have magnitudes greater than 2.0 ML and about 20 are felt by local residents. Data from the present digital network and from digitised analogue records going back to 1970 are held in a database for immediate interrogation and for input to local and national seismic hazard assessment. Information is routinely disseminated in the form of monthly and annual Earthquake Bulletins, seismicity maps, reports and papers on significant British earthquakes, together with commissioned reports to customers. |
Original data contributed to ISC: |
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