Performance of Automatic Detector & Locator Tested on Synthetic Seismograms : Case Study from Litoměřice in Czech Republic

Abstract

Seismic network sensitivity and event detection performance are critical for assessing earthquake risks, particularly in regions susceptible to induced seismicity. In seismically inactive zones, the network monitoring presents unique challenges, even when adapting automated detection and location systems originally designed for active zones. In this study, we evaluate the capabilities of the seismic network deployed in the Litoměřice region of the Czech Republic, where a geothermal project is underway and no seismicity was recorded in years of monitoring. Using synthetic seismograms, we simulate a potential earthquake in the geothermal well to assess the network's detection efficiency at the most exposed area. PEPiN, an automated earthquake picker and locator which was originally designed for the West Bohemia region, is employed to analyze the synthetic dataset with real background seismicity. Our results demonstrate that PEPiN detects and localizes 82% of the synthetic events with magnitude of completeness M(L)-0.5, slightly above the value predicted by our previous research. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into the seismic monitoring capabilities of the Litoměřice network, shedding light on the potential strengths and limitations of seismic surveillance systems in similar geothermal and underground operation settings.