Advancing Seismic Monitoring using Interferometric Data Recorded on Telecom Fiber Networks

The MEGLIO project aims to observe seismic waves using coherent laser interferometry on an active telecommunication fiber network. Open Fiber, one of Italy's leading optic fiber infrastructure providers, promoted this experiment on a buried optic cable connecting Ascoli Piceno and Teramo, Italy, spanning approximately 30 km.

The cable's route, passing through roads with moderate traffic, bridges, viaducts, and urban areas, poses challenges due to anthropogenic noise. However, one of the goals of the experiment aims to demonstrate the sensitivity of the measurement technique in real-world telecommunication networks. Nevertheless, many earthquakes with Ml2+ magnitudes have been recorded at different distances from the fiber optic cable.

The physical quantity measured here is the time variation of a phase-shift, i.e. an angle. The objective of the presentation is to show the waveform signatures of seismic waves on this type of measure and their frequency spectra from a seismological perspective. We also may quantify seismological attributes such as seismic phase arrival times, frequency content, and earthquake magnitudes. Furthermore, we compare the interferometric data with traditional seismic recordings from nearby velocimeter sensors.

In essence, the MEGLIO experiment seeks to advance seismic monitoring capabilities by leveraging existing telecommunication infrastructure. Through comprehensive waveform analysis and seismological attribute measurement, valuable insights into earthquake characteristics can be obtained, contributing to improved our seismic monitoring efforts.