EuroArray as a significant part of the European Plate Observatory Imaging Europe in 4D by completing the existing infrastructure to enable co-ordinated acquisition of seismic, MT, GPS and other geoscientific data across Europe In planning since 2004 Hans Thybo, University of Copenhagen Alan G. Jones, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies Greg Houseman, University of Leeds

EuroArray: Image structure and processes NERIES: Infrastructure, Interpretation, Earthquakes Imaging Europe in 4D by completing the existing infrastructure to enable co-ordinated acquisition of seismic, MT, GPS and other geoscientific data across Europe Complementary!!! All will benefit from total coverage of Europe

EuroArray, Main Issue: 4-D Europe – Assembly of a continent Inhomogeneous knowledge of the European lithospheric mantle: some areas known in excellent detail some areas hardly known at all Not possible to build a comprehensive model, thus cannot be predictive about hazards or resources need a European reference model (absolute velocities) Need a comprehensive, pan-European imaging of continental dynamics to hypothesize, measure and document processes. Include geophysical imaging methods (seismology, GPS & MT) and other geosciences, supplemented by e.g. climatology, oceanography, geochemistry....

European Broadband Seismograph Network is very dense in central Europe

...but does not provide dense coverage in “marginal areas”

EuroArray - Scientific themes: Deep Earth processes and the Earth’s topography Lithosphere secular Evolution Plumes and Rifting Continental margin development Basin formation and mineral resources; North Atlantic Uplift; Volcanic Hazards; Magma processes in the crust and mantle; Active tectonics; Faults, Earthquakes, Hazards Will help define the European Reference Model

Schematic illustration of the Backbone array: 120 km spacing VEBSN station Backbone to be developed from the existing observatory networks!!! 120x120 km grid

Schematic illustration of the Backbone array: 60 km spacing After three times side-stepping: The resulting 60x60 km coverage of Europe 60 km spacing VEBSN station Need ocean deployments How much is possible? (Schematic, non-detailed illustration!

EuroArray data philosophy is fundamental to EPOS Multi-sensor platform! physical Strategic Technology Platform Real-time data transfer as far as possible Immediate OPEN access over the Internet Uniform and homogeneous data stream Full metadata descriptions

EuroArray design Complement existing coverage by a semi-mobile array Seismology Backbone: VEBSN + 300 VBB instruments, ~120 km spacing, move every 2-3 years to obtain 60x60 grid Targeted (Roving): 1000+ instruments (SP & BB) MT: Bigfoot: 200 instruments at Backbone sites Targeted (Roving): 100 instruments GPS: at each onshore site Need ocean equipment – OBSs and OBMTs These are the technological challenges re. real-time

EuroArray will build on the current strengths in Europe A very dense network of permanent seismic stations already exists – this is unique for Europe! EuroArray will further European collaboration on data exchange ! The backbone deployments will make this collaboration attractive to a wide community! The observatories should have a strong role in running the backbone array Targeted deployments will address regional and local problems

EuroArray a large scale European interdisciplinary research programme an integral part of EPOS (& Topo-Europe) build on a strong existing seismic instrumentation in central Europe Integrate with ORFEUS/NERIES The whole community will benefit!!! Pilot projects are in progress: PICASSO and TopoScandesDeep Funding opportunities should be discussed during the planning of EPOS

An integral part of EPOS EuroArray An integral part of EPOS Will integrate the community EPOS needs EuroArray to demonstrate the value of its infrastructure to the scientific community EuroArray needs EPOS to provide secure framework for funding the programme through EU and National sources