The DEnse mulTi-paramEtriC observations and 4D high resoluTion imaging (DETECT) experiment, a new paradigm for near-fault observations

Near-fault observations can provide insights into the physical process interaction between fault slip activation, fluid presence/migration and seismicity production, processes acting at different timescales that generate large earthquakes.

The DETECT experiment aims at exploiting very dense seismic networks deployed across a segmented faults system to foster the development of scientific integrated methodologies for monitoring and imaging the faults behavior during the inter-seismic phase. Target of the monitoring is to: detect and track space-time trends of different source parameters that could be related to a preparation process leading to a larger earthquake; investigate the frictional and stress states of the fault segments to anticipate the characteristics of the future large earthquake (e.g., hypocenter but also future large seismic energy release locations); analyze the interactions between the different fault segments to model/anticipate potential cascade effects.

The DETECT experiment is carried out in the Irpinia area (southern Italy), one of the regions in Italy and Europe showing the highest seismic hazard. Since august 2021, a constellation of 20 seismic arrays, for a total of 200 seismic stations (20 broad-band sensors and 180 short-periods), has been installed over the fault segments responsible for the Ms 6.9, 1980 Irpinia earthquake, the strongest and most destructive seismic event of the last half-century in southern Italy.

DETECT results from a joint effort of local Universities, National and International Research Institutes. A novel and crucial aspect is that, differently from most studies concerning intra-plate earthquakes which are usually carried out after that large magnitude earthquakes have occurred, DETECT aims to put us in advantageous position and to unveil the preparatory process that generate large earthquakes and anticipate the role of the segmentation by studying at one time different fault segments, some of which are in rather late stage of their seismic cycle.

With this contribution, we aim to present the DETECT experiment, the preliminary results and foster additional cooperation including complementary expertise to further enrich the partnership.